Tim Thompson
Tim Thompson | |
---|---|
Catcher | |
Born: Coalport, Pennsylvania | March 1, 1924|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 28, 1954, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
April 27, 1958, for the Detroit Tigers | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .238 |
Home runs | 8 |
RBI | 47 |
Teams | |
|
Charles Lemoine "Tim" Thompson (born March 1, 1924) is a retired American professional baseball player and former catcher in the Major Leagues. He appeared in 187 games over all or parts of four seasons (1954; 1956–58) for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers.
Early life
He was born in Coalport, Pennsylvania, the son of Maurice Frederick "Tommy" Thompson, a coal miner,[1] and Dorothy Elizabeth Thompson.[2]
Growing up, Thompson’s family moved around from Williamsburg to Altoona to Spangler, where his father earned much of his living as a pitcher and an outfielder for coal mining teams.[3]
He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, where he flew lighter-than-air K-class blimps built by Goodyear to patrol the Pacific coast for subs and mines. He was based out of Moffett Federal Airfield in the Silicon Valley.[4]
In 1945 he took a job on the third-shift manufacturing line at the America Viscose Company factory so he could play baseball during the day.[5]
Pro baseball career
Thompson batted left-handed and threw right-handed; he was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 190 pounds (86 kg). He broke into professional baseball after service in the navy, signing with the Brooklyn organization. His pro career extended for 16 seasons (1947–62) and included almost 1,500 games in the minor leagues.
He made his MLB debut at age 30 on April 20, 1954, pinch-hitting for pitcher Clem Labine and fouling out to the catcher against Phillies pitcher Murry Dickson in a 6-3 Dodgers loss.[6] His first hit came in his second at-bat about three weeks later on May 14. Pinch-hitting for pitcher Joe Black against the St. Louis Cardinals' Vic Raschi, Thompson singled in the 10-1 Dodgers loss.[7]
In 1956, Thompson was the Athletics' most-used starting catcher, starting in 63 games; he set personal bests that year in games played (92), hits (73), runs batted in (27) and batting average (.272). The following year, playing behind regular backstop Hal Smith, Thompson slugged seven home runs in 81 games, but his average declined to .204. He then was included in a 12-player trade with the Tigers that November. He appeared in only four games with the Tigers, with one hit in six at bats, before he was acquired by the independently-operated Toronto Maple Leafs of the Triple-A International League. He played almost five full years for the Leafs, until his retirement from the field at age 38 in 1962, and was the club's player-manager for the latter weeks of the 1961 season; the Leafs went 25–23 under Thompson but missed the playoffs. Thompson's 123 MLB hits included 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.
After his active career, Thompson was a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981 and scouted for the Cardinals, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.
Personal life
Thompson was married to Lois right out of high school; as of 2020 they had been married 77 years.[8] Son Timmy Jr., who sas born in 1945, played college and professional baseball; he died of cancer at age 63.[9]
References
- ^ https://www.annerkeene.com/single-post/2020/04/02/tim-thompson-the-catcher-who-flew-blimps
- ^ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3147/images/43191_647350_0754-02846?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=9ca6d18da279fefea20033fe279c9cb9&usePUB=true&_phsrc=UWh9&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.156863355.1363887515.1602197722-1927779671.1602105574&pId=989957
- ^ Growing up, Thompson’s family moved around from Williamsburg to Altoona to Spangler, where his father Maurice “Tommy” earned much of his living as a pitcher and an outfielder for coal mining teams
- ^ https://www.annerkeene.com/single-post/2020/04/02/tim-thompson-the-catcher-who-flew-blimps
- ^ https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/local-news/2020/05/from-blimps-to-baseball/
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI195404200.shtml
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195405140.shtml
- ^ https://www.annerkeene.com/single-post/2020/04/02/tim-thompson-the-catcher-who-flew-blimps
- ^ https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/local-news/2020/05/from-blimps-to-baseball/
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics
- 1924 births
- Living people
- American expatriate baseball people in Canada
- Baltimore Orioles scouts
- Baseball players from Pennsylvania
- Brooklyn Dodgers players
- Cambridge Dodgers players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Elmira Pioneers players
- Kansas City Athletics players
- Leones del Caracas players
- Los Angeles Dodgers scouts
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Minor league baseball managers
- Montreal Royals players
- Newport News Dodgers players
- People from Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
- St. Louis Cardinals coaches
- St. Louis Cardinals scouts
- St. Paul Saints (AA) players
- Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) managers
- Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players