Buck Thrasher
Encyclopedia
Frank Edward "Buck" Thrasher (August 6, 1889 – June 12, 1938) was a right fielder
in Major League Baseball
. He played two seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics
and also played nine seasons in the minor leagues. Thrasher was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 182 pounds.
.351 for the Appalachian League's Cleveland Counts. The following year, he batted .340 and led the Appalachian League in hits
(126) and total bases (163). Thrasher then moved to the Virginia League
's Norfolk Tars
in 1914. In 1915, he batted .348, hit a career-high 11 home run
s, and led the circuit in batting average, hits (150), and total bases (216).
In 1916, Thrasher played 103 games for the Atlanta Crackers
of the Southern Association
. He batted .337 and then joined the major league Philadelphia Athletics. He made his MLB debut on September 27. In seven late-season games, Thrasher had a batting average of .310. He started 1917 with the Athletics, but after hitting .234 in 23 games, he returned to the Atlanta Crackers. That was his last full season as a player.
Thrasher had two short stints with the Virginia League's Wilson Bugs in the 1920s and was a manager
in the Georgia-Alabama League
in 1929. Over his nine-season minor league career, Thrasher played in 680 games, had 819 hits, and batted .330.
, in 1889, to Isaac W. Thrasher and Louise Murry. He was married to the former Grace Phillips.
Thrasher died of coronary thrombosis
in 1938 and was buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee
.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played two seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and also played nine seasons in the minor leagues. Thrasher was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 182 pounds.
Baseball career
Thrasher started his professional baseball career in 1911. In his first season, he battedBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.351 for the Appalachian League's Cleveland Counts. The following year, he batted .340 and led the Appalachian League in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(126) and total bases (163). Thrasher then moved to the Virginia League
Virginia League
The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928....
's Norfolk Tars
Norfolk Tars
The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955, and from 1934...
in 1914. In 1915, he batted .348, hit a career-high 11 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and led the circuit in batting average, hits (150), and total bases (216).
In 1916, Thrasher played 103 games for the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. He batted .337 and then joined the major league Philadelphia Athletics. He made his MLB debut on September 27. In seven late-season games, Thrasher had a batting average of .310. He started 1917 with the Athletics, but after hitting .234 in 23 games, he returned to the Atlanta Crackers. That was his last full season as a player.
Thrasher had two short stints with the Virginia League's Wilson Bugs in the 1920s and was a manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in the Georgia-Alabama League
Georgia-Alabama League
The Georgia-Alabama League was a minor league baseball league that operated in its two namesake states. The circuit first operated from 1913 to 1917, was revived from 1928 to 1930, then returned to operation for a final time from 1946 through 1951. The league's existence thus spanned some 39 years,...
in 1929. Over his nine-season minor league career, Thrasher played in 680 games, had 819 hits, and batted .330.
Personal life
Thrasher was born in Watkinsville, GeorgiaWatkinsville, Georgia
Watkinsville is a town in Oconee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,097. The city is the county seat of Oconee County...
, in 1889, to Isaac W. Thrasher and Louise Murry. He was married to the former Grace Phillips.
Thrasher died of coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis is a form of thrombosis affecting the coronary circulation. It is associated with stenosis subsequent to clotting. The condition is considered as a type of ischaemic heart disease.It can lead to a myocardial infarction...
in 1938 and was buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
.