| Frank Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Left fielder / Third baseman / First baseman | |
| Born: June 11, 1929 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| August 17, 1951 for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1966 for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .266 |
| Home runs | 286 |
| Runs batted in | 962 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Frank Joseph Thomas (born June 11, 1929) is a former left fielder and first and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1951–58), Cincinnati Reds (1959), Chicago Cubs (1960–61, 1966), Milwaukee Braves (1961, 1965), New York Mets (1962–64), Philadelphia Phillies (1964–65), and the Houston Astros (1965). He batted and threw right-handed.
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Thomas signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1947. He debuted with the Pirates in 1951. With the Pirates, he made three All-Star Games, and finished fourth in the voting for Most Valuable Player in 1958, when he batted .281, finished second in the National League to Ernie Banks with 35 home runs, and had 109 RBIs. Thomas appeared on the cover of the July 28, 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated.[1]
In 1959, he was traded by the Pirates with Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton and John Powers to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix and Don Hoak. Following the season, he was traded by the Redlegs to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Henry, Lou Jackson and Lee Walls. In 1961, he was traded by Cubs to the Milwaukee Braves for Mel Roach.
Thomas was traded by Braves with a player to be named later (Rick Herrscher) to the New York Mets for a player to be named later (Gus Bell) and cash. Despite the team's historically poor inaugural season, Thomas led the expansion Mets with 34 HRs and 94 RBIs. His home run mark would last as a Mets' team record until 1975, when Dave Kingman hit 36.
In 1964, Thomas was traded by the New York Mets to the Philadelphia Phillies for Wayne Graham, Gary Kroll and cash. He was purchased by the Houston Astros from the Phillies in July 1965, but was traded to Braves for a player to be named later (Mickey Sinnerud) in September 1965.
On April 5, 1966, Thomas was released by the Braves. He signed with the Cubs on May 14, 1966, and after recording five plate appearances without a hit, he was released on June 4, 1966.
In a 16-season career, Thomas posted a .266 batting average with 286 home runs and 962 RBIs in 1766 games.
Thomas' entry in The Sporting News' Baseball Register during his playing career contained a reference to the fact that Thomas studied for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church from 1941 through 1946. His physical stature (6'3" and 205 lbs.) was larger than the average player at that time, and one of his nicknames as a player was "The Big Donkey."
Frank has been married to his wife Dolores for 60 years and they have 8 children Joanne (Dick) Harrison, Patty, Frank (Dianne) Thomas, Peter (Barb) Thomas, Maryanne (Jimmy) Pacconi, Paul (Linda) Thomas, and Father Mark Thomas. They also have 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
| Preceded by Willie Mays & Stan Musial |
Major League Player of the Month June 1958 |
Succeeded by Joey Jay |