Myles Thomas
From BR Bullpen
Myles Lewis Thomas (Duck Eye)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9½", Weight 170 lb.
- School Pennsylvania State University
- Debut April 18, 1926
- Final Game June 21, 1930
- Born October 22, 1897 in State College, PA USA
- Died December 12, 1963 in Toledo, OH USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Myles Thomas was a pitcher on the great New York Yankees teams which went to the 1926-28 World Series. He relieved in Games #3 and # 6 of the 1926 World Series, giving up one run in three innings of work.
Thomas was born in State College, PA and attended Pennsylvania State University in 1920-21. His time there overlapped with that of John Jones, Hinkey Haines and Pip Koehler.
He started in the minors with Hartford in 1921 and then Reading in 1922. From 1923-25 he spent three years with Toronto, most notably going 28-8 in 1925.
After the 1925 season, the Yankees picked him up from Toronto, and he appeared in 33 games for the 1926 Yankees, 13 as a starter. At age 28, he was three years younger than teammate Babe Ruth.
Myles went 7-4 for the great 1927 Yankees, who dominated the 1927 American League with 110 wins. With the 1928 Yankees, he was in 12 games.
The Yankees traded him in June 1929 to the 1929 Senators, who used him much more heavily. He went 7-8 for manager Walter Johnson's team, which finished 71-81. Thomas' 3.52 ERA was much better than the team ERA of 4.34.
He was not effective in the first half of 1930, and spent the second half back in the minors with Newark. In 1931 he stayed at Newark, going 18-6, but he didn't come back to the majors. After a year with Hollywood, for whom he went 14-18, he spent two years with St. Paul, winning 15 and 12 games respectively. His last year as a minor league pitcher was in 1940.
He managed in the minors at least a couple times. The book Baseball in Toledo has a couple photos of the 1938 Toledo Mud Hens, including Thomas, whom the book calls a coach.
- He was nicknamed "Duck Eye" by Babe Ruth.
- Thomas wore the number 20 with the Yankees in 1929.
- His body is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Won two World Series with the New York Yankees (1927 & 1928; he played in neither World Series)
