Frank Thomas (outfielder)

Frank Joseph Thomas (June 11, 1929 – January 16, 2023) was an American outfielder and third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for seven National League (NL) teams from 1951 to 1966. He was a three-time All-Star.

For the American League baseball player, see Frank Thomas (designated hitter).

Frank Thomas
A photograph from a 1963 baseball card showing Thomas holding a bat
Outfielder / Third baseman / First baseman
Born: (1929-06-11)June 11, 1929
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: January 16, 2023(2023-01-16) (aged 93)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 17, 1951, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
May 30, 1966, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average.266
Home runs286
Runs batted in962
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Beginning his career as a center and left fielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thomas hit 30 home runs with 102 runs batted in (RBIs) in his first full season in 1953 before being named to the All-Star team each of the next two seasons. He had career highs of 35 home runs and 109 RBIs in 1958, and was named the starting third baseman for the All-Star Game. Thomas was traded after that season, however, in the first of four trades in three years. He continued his productivity, hitting at least 20 home runs in all but one season between 1953 and 1962.

After being acquired by the expansion New York Mets, he led the team with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs in their first season in 1962. His hitting declined after that year, and he ended his career playing for five clubs in his last three seasons. By the end of his career, Thomas had played every infield and outfield position except shortstop, and his 163 home runs with the Pirates placed him second in team history at the time behind Ralph Kiner. His 34 home runs with the 1962 Mets remained the team record until 1975, and his 94 RBIs that year were the team's top mark until 1970.

Early life

Thomas was born in Pittsburgh to Bronaslaus Tumas, a Lithuanian immigrant, and Anna Marian Thomas of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He had three siblings.[1] He attended high school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School of Mississauga, Ontario. As a teenager he attended a seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and he studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood for 4+1⁄2 years before entering pro baseball.[1][2]

Career

Thomas signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1947. He made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1951. With the Pirates, he made three All-Star Games,[1] and finished fourth in the voting for Most Valuable Player in 1958,[3] when he batted .281, finished second in the National League to Ernie Banks with 35 home runs, and had 109 runs batted in (RBIs). Thomas appeared on the cover of the July 28, 1958, issue of Sports Illustrated.[4] He also won his only NL Player of the Month award in June, batting .275 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs.[5] On August 16, 1958, Thomas hit three home runs in a 13–4 rout of the Cincinnati Reds.[6]

Before the 1959 season, the Pirates traded Thomas, Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton, and John Powers to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix, and Don Hoak.[7] Due to a shattered nerve in the thumb of his right hand, Thomas home run output fell from 35 to 12 in 1959.[8] Following the season, he was traded by the Redlegs to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Henry, Lou Jackson, and Lee Walls.[9] On May 9, 1961, the Cubs traded Thomas to the Milwaukee Braves for Mel Roach.[10]

After the 1961 season, the Braves traded Thomas with a player to be named later (Rick Herrscher) to the New York Mets for a player to be named later (Gus Bell) and $100,000 cash.[11][12] Despite the team's historically poor inaugural season, Thomas led the expansion Mets with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs. His home run mark was a Mets' team record until broken by Dave Kingman in 1975.[13] On August 7, 1964, the Mets traded Thomas to the Philadelphia Phillies for Wayne Graham, Gary Kroll, and cash.[14][15]

On July 3, 1965, Thomas got into a fight with Richie Allen, in which he hit Allen with a bat in the shoulder. After that night's game, the Phillies placed Thomas on irrevocable waivers.[16] He was purchased by the Houston Astros from the Phillies on July 10, 1965.[17] While the Phillies prohibited Allen from telling his side of the story, there was no restriction on Thomas, who made it seem that Allen's behavior had gotten Thomas released.[18] The Astros traded Thomas to Braves for a player to be named later (Mickey Sinnerud) in September 1965.[19][20]

On April 5, 1966, Thomas was released by the Braves.[21] He signed with the Cubs on May 14,[22] and after recording five plate appearances without a hit, he was released on June 4.[23]

In a 16-season career, Thomas posted a .266 batting average with 286 home runs and 962 RBIs in 1,766 games. He was larger than the average player of his time, and known for his opinionated nature.[1] His nicknames as a player included "The Big Donkey"[24] and "Lurch".[16]

Personal life and death

Thomas and his wife, Dolores Wozniak, were married in 1951 and had eight children before her death in 2012. He had 12 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.[1]

Thomas suffered a fall in 2021 which required a hospital stay.[25] Despite the fall, Thomas was well enough to attend the Mets' Old Timers' Day in August 2022.[26]

Thomas died in Pittsburgh on January 16, 2023, at age 93.[27][28]

See also

References
  1. Hurte, Bob (July 1, 2013). "Frank Thomas". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  2. "Thomas' calling was big league". April 13, 1987. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  3. "Chicago's Ernie Banks wins 'Most Valuable' in National". November 25, 1958. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  4. Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society's Official Website and Online Shoppe Archived November 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "The Pittsburgh Press 03 Jul 1958, page Page 16". July 3, 1958. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "The Anniston Star 17 Aug 1958, page Page 19". August 17, 1958. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "The Terre Haute Tribune 01 Feb 1959, page Page 41".
  8. "Frank Thomas signs Cub pact". January 14, 1960. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  9. "Red Legs trade Thomas to Cubs". December 7, 1959. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  10. "Braves trade Mel Roach for Frank Thomas". May 10, 1961. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  11. "St. Louis Globe-Democrat 29 Nov 1961, page 25". November 29, 1961. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Edmonton Journal 22 May 1962, page 11". May 22, 1962. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Kingman's 35th homer". September 19, 1975. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  14. "The Spokesman-Review 08 Aug 1964, page 15". August 8, 1964. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Nevada State Journal 12 Aug 1964, page Page 10". August 12, 1964. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "50 years on, the Dick Allen-Frank Thomas fight still resonates". Inquirer.com. July 3, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  17. "Astros claim Frank Thomas". July 11, 1965. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  18. "Dick Allen remembrance: I used to drink beers with the Phillies legend – On top of Philly news". Billypenn.com. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  19. "Hartford Courant 01 Sep 1965, page Page 55". September 1, 1965. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "The Austin American 12 Sep 1965, page 58". September 12, 1965. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Frank Thomas is placed on waivers". April 2, 1966. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  22. "Springfield Leader and Press 15 May 1966, page 35". May 15, 1966. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Latrobe Bulletin 04 Jun 1966, page 15". June 4, 1966. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. James, Bill (May 11, 2010). The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Simon & Schuster. p. 710. ISBN 9781439106938.
  25. Horwitz, Jay. "Frank Thomas Looks to Homer at Mets Old Timers' Day". metsinsider.mlbbogs.com. Mets Insider Blog. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  26. Esposito, Andy (August 29, 2022). "When Old Was New Again at Citi Field Oldtimers Day Revival…and Finally, 24!". nysportsday.com. NYSportsDay. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  27. "Original Met Frank Thomas passes away". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  28. Goldstein, Richard (January 16, 2023). "Frank Thomas, Power-Hitting Original Met, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.

Further reading
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