Gorman Thomas

From BR Bullpen

James Gorman Thomas III

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.

Debut April 6, 1973
Final Game October 5, 1986
Born December 12, 1950 in Charleston, SC USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Gorman Thomas had one of the longest careers of the low-average sluggers from the 1980s. Thomas was the same general type of player as Rob Deer, Pete Incaviglia, Bob Horner and others, but managed to play 13 seasons and hit 268 home runs in spite of batting only .225 lifetime.

One reason was his fielding. He played center field for most of his career, and although he didn't look like a speedy center fielder, his range factors and fielding percentages were good enough for him to play there for most of his career. He was originally drafted as an infielder and he possessed an infielder's speed for at least the early part of his career. Injuries finally relegated him to DH.

Secondly, he drew copious walks, and his .324 on-base percentage to some extent made up for his low batting average.

Third, he was able to win a couple home run championships, which gave him a star status that helped him remain in the big leagues after his prime was over.

He was an All-Star only once, in 1981. With the Milwaukee Brewers in 1982, he was a prominent member of Harvey's Wallbangers. The team went to the 1982 World Series and Thomas led the league in home runs.

He was originally a shortstop who was drafted out of Florida State University in the first round. In Triple A in 1974, he hit 51 home runs, though to be fair Hughes Stadium was a football field that had a leftfield fence 232 ft. away when converted to baseball. He hit another two home runs in the major leagues that season for a total of 53.

Thomas's 45 homers in 1979 were the Milwaukee Brewers record for 28 years until surpassed by Prince Fielder; Richie Sexson had twice tied Thomas's record.