Robby Thompson
Encyclopedia
Robert Randall "Robby" Thompson (born May 10, 1962) is an American professional baseball
coach and former college and professional player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball
as the second baseman
for the San Francisco Giants
from to . Thompson is the current bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
. He was known as a team leader for the Giants during their resurgence in the late 1980s, who played the game with a gritty determination.
. He attended Forest Hill Community High School
in West Palm Beach, where he played high school baseball for the Forest Hill Falcons. Thompson received an athletic scholarship
to attend the University of Florida
in 1983 where he played for coach Jack Rhine's Florida Gators baseball
team. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
, and decided to forgo his remaining NCAA
eligibility. In while playing for the Shreveport Captains in the Texas League
, he posted a .261 batting average
along with 9 home run
s and was named to the league All-Star team.
Thompson made his major league debut with the Giants on April 8, 1986
at the age of 24. In June he became the first player in major league history to be caught stealing
four times in one game (three occurred during attempted hit and run
plays). Despite his rocky start, Thompson ended the season with a .271 batting average as the Giants leadoff hitter
and provided steady defense. He won the The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
and finished second to Todd Worrell
in the National League
Rookie of the Year Award
. Thompson had to undergo surgery at the end of the season to have cartilage removed from his right knee.
Thompson continued to perform well defensively in 1987
, teaming up with Giants shortstop José Uribe
to form one of the best double play
combinations in baseball, and helped the Giants lead the major leagues with 183 double plays. The Giants clinched the National League Western Division
title by six games over the Cincinnati Reds. In the 1987 National League Championship Series
, Thompson played in pain with a bulging disc but still played well defensively helping the Giants set a playoff record with 10 double plays. He also hit 1 home run and had 2 runs batted in as the Giants were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals
in a seven-game series.
In 1988
, Thompson was hitting above .300 at mid-season to earn a spot as a reserve on the National League All-Star
team. Unfortunately, he was once again plagued by an injury and had to miss the game due to a pinched nerve in his leg. Brett Butler took over as the Giants leadoff hitter and Thompson, as the new number two hitter in the batting order
, struggled to make contact, striking out
111 times and ending the year with a .264 average.
In 1989 Thompson's batting average dropped to .241. However, he led the National League with 11 triples
and scored a career-high 91 runs
while hitting ahead of Will Clark
and Kevin Mitchell in the batting order. The Giants once again won the Western Division crown and faced the Chicago Cubs
in the 1989 National League Championship Series
. Thompson hit 2 home runs in the series including a game-winning two-run home run in Game 3 as the Giants went on to win the series in five games. Thompson was held to only one hit in the 1989 World Series
against the Oakland Athletics
as the Giants were swept in four straight games.
Thompson's best year statistically was in 1993
when he was hitting for a .325 average at mid-season to earn his second All-Star
selection; however, a leg injury would once again force him to miss the game. The Giants had a nine-game lead on August 11 but faltered in September and were caught by the Atlanta Braves
, though by no fault of Thompson, who increased his offensive output late in the season including a period in August where he hit home runs in five consecutive games. With 10 games left in the season on September 24, Thompson suffered a broken cheek bone when he was hit by a pitch
thrown by Trevor Hoffman
of the San Diego Padres. He missed 8 games due to the injury, but with the Giants and Braves tied for first place Thompson returned to play the final game of the season. Despite his determination, playing with a bloodshot eye and wearing a clear plastic mask in the field, the Giants lost the pennant
on the last day of the season.
Thompson ended the season with career highs in batting average (.312), doubles
(30), home runs (19) and runs batted in (65). Although Thompson was one of the best fielding second basemen in the National League, he was often overlooked in post-season awards because his playing career coincided with that of Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg
. By , Sandberg was past his prime and Thompson finally received recognition when he won the Gold Glove Award
for fielding excellence and the Silver Slugger Award, which is awarded annually to the best offensive
player at each position
. He was rewarded by the Giants in November when he signed a three-year contract for $12 million, making him the second-highest paid second baseman in baseball after Ryne Sandberg.
During spring training
in 1994
, Thompson received a scare when he was hit on the left ear flap of his batting helmet by pitcher Mike Harkey
of the Colorado Rockies. Thompson later stated the two beanings
by Hoffman and Harkey were on his mind when he batted during games. In May, he went onto the disabled list
and missed almost two months of the season. He returned in late June, but played in only seven games before undergoing surgery on his right shoulder and missed the rest of the season. Thompson's injuries continued to hamper his playing time in 1995
and in September he had to undergo surgery again, this time on his left shoulder. He returned to play in 1996
but injuries continued to take their toll as he appeared in only 63 games. Thompson played his last major league game on September 22, at the age of 34.
Thompson was known for the well-used baseball glove
with which he played for almost his entire career. Thompson was offended when the San Francisco Chronicle printed a story titled, Thompson's Ugly, Pathetic Glove is a Gem. His teammate, Rich Aurilia
, who played at shortstop next to Thompson near the end of his career said, "I think by the time Robby was done, the glove mainly consisted of pine tar and chew spit. I don't even know how much leather was left in it. I know for a fact Robby still has that glove."
, accumulating 1,187 hits
in 4,612 at bats for a .257 career batting average along with 119 home runs, 458 runs batted in and a .329 on base percentage
. He led the National League in triples in 1989 with 11 and he finished his career with a .983 fielding percentage
. Thompson led National League second basemen in double plays for three consecutive seasons from to . He hit for the cycle in a game on April 22, 1991.
A two-time All-Star
, Thompson was the recipient of one Gold Glove Award and one Silver Slugger Award. He won the Willie Mac Award
in 1991
, honoring his spirit and leadership. At the time of his retirement, Thompson was the all-time leader among Giants second basemen in games (1,304), at bats (4,612), runs (671), hits (1,187), doubles (238), triples (39), home runs (119), runs batted in (458), stolen bases (103), fielding percentage (.983) and double plays (873).
and 2001
. He was hired by the Cleveland Indians
as a first base coach in December 2001. In he was promoted to special assistant to the Cleveland Indians General Manager before returning to the field in June 2005 as the Indians' bench coach. In November , Thompson was hired by the Seattle Mariners as their bench coach.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach and former college and professional player. He played his entire career 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...
as the second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from to . Thompson is the current bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He was known as a team leader for the Giants during their resurgence in the late 1980s, who played the game with a gritty determination.
Baseball career
Thompson was born in West Palm Beach, FloridaWest Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. He attended Forest Hill Community High School
Forest Hill Community High School
Forest Hill Community High School also known as Forest Hill or The Hill, is a coeducational public high school in West Palm Beach, Florida with an enrollment of more than 1800 students...
in West Palm Beach, where he played high school baseball for the Forest Hill Falcons. Thompson received an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1983 where he played for coach Jack Rhine's Florida Gators baseball
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
team. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
, and decided to forgo his remaining NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
eligibility. In while playing for the Shreveport Captains in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, he posted a .261 batting average
Batting 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 :...
along with 9 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 was named to the league All-Star team.
Thompson made his major league debut with the Giants on April 8, 1986
1986 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* October 24, 1985: George Riley and Alonzo Powell were traded by the Giants to the Montreal Expos for Bill Laskey.* December 11, 1985: Manny Trillo was traded by the Giants to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Owen....
at the age of 24. In June he became the first player in major league history to be caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
four times in one game (three occurred during attempted hit and run
Hit and run (baseball)
A hit and run is a high risk/high reward offensive strategy used in baseball.When the offense has a baserunner on first base , the runner on first breaks for second as the pitch is thrown...
plays). Despite his rocky start, Thompson ended the season with a .271 batting average as the Giants leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
and provided steady defense. He won the The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1946 by The Sporting News .*In 1947-48, and again in 1950, a single award was given for all of Major League Baseball....
and finished second to Todd Worrell
Todd Worrell
Todd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from to ....
in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year Award
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
. Thompson had to undergo surgery at the end of the season to have cartilage removed from his right knee.
Thompson continued to perform well defensively in 1987
1987 San Francisco Giants season
The 1987 San Francisco Giants season saw the Giants finish in first place in the National League West with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses. They lost the National League Championship Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.-Offseason:...
, teaming up with Giants shortstop José Uribe
Jose Uribe
José Altagracia González Uribe was a Dominican Major League Baseball shortstop from until . Most of his ten-year career was spent with the San Francisco Giants...
to form one of the best double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
combinations in baseball, and helped the Giants lead the major leagues with 183 double plays. The Giants clinched the National League Western Division
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
title by six games over the Cincinnati Reds. In the 1987 National League Championship Series
1987 National League Championship Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 6, 1987 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Giants struck first on an RBI groundout by Candy Maldonado, but the Cardinals tied it in the third on Vince Coleman's RBI single...
, Thompson played in pain with a bulging disc but still played well defensively helping the Giants set a playoff record with 10 double plays. He also hit 1 home run and had 2 runs batted in as the Giants were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals
1987 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1987 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 106th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 96th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-67 during the season and finished first in the National League East Division for the third and last time before moving to the NL Central in 1994....
in a seven-game series.
In 1988
1988 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* December 1, 1987: Brett Butler was signed as a free agent with the Giants.* December 1, 1987: Joel Youngblood was signed as a free agent by the Giants.* December 21, 1987: Phil Ouellette was released by the Giants....
, Thompson was hitting above .300 at mid-season to earn a spot as a reserve on the National League All-Star
1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 59th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 12, 1988 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, the home of...
team. Unfortunately, he was once again plagued by an injury and had to miss the game due to a pinched nerve in his leg. Brett Butler took over as the Giants leadoff hitter and Thompson, as the new number two hitter in the batting order
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
, struggled to make contact, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
111 times and ending the year with a .264 average.
In 1989 Thompson's batting average dropped to .241. However, he led the National League with 11 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and scored a career-high 91 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
while hitting ahead of Will Clark
Will Clark
William Nuschler Clark, Jr. is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from to .Will was known by the nickname of "Will the Thrill"...
and Kevin Mitchell in the batting order. The Giants once again won the Western Division crown and faced the Chicago Cubs
1989 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season marked the last time the Cubs would win their division prior to the realignment to six divisions in which moved the Cubs to the National League Central, in which they would not win until 2003. Winning the division put the Cubs in the playoffs, which they would not return...
in the 1989 National League Championship Series
1989 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 4, 1989 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Giants entered the series as slight favorites due to the MVP season of Kevin Mitchell, the solid play of Will Clark, and the best ERA in baseball by pitcher Scott Garrelts...
. Thompson hit 2 home runs in the series including a game-winning two-run home run in Game 3 as the Giants went on to win the series in five games. Thompson was held to only one hit in the 1989 World Series
1989 World Series
†: Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm.-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1989 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California...
against the Oakland Athletics
1989 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season saw the A's finish in first place in the American League West division, with a record of 99 wins and 63 losses, seven games in front of the Kansas City Royals. It was their second consecutive AL West title, as well as the second straight year in which they finished...
as the Giants were swept in four straight games.
Thompson's best year statistically was in 1993
1993 San Francisco Giants season
The 1993 Giants season was their 111th in Major League Baseball and their 36th in San Francisco. In the offseason, Barry Bonds left the Pirates to sign a lucrative free agent contract worth a then-record $43.75 million over 6 years with the Giants, with whom his father spent the first 7 years of...
when he was hitting for a .325 average at mid-season to earn his second All-Star
1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 64th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 1993 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland,...
selection; however, a leg injury would once again force him to miss the game. The Giants had a nine-game lead on August 11 but faltered in September and were caught by the Atlanta Braves
1993 Atlanta Braves season
The 1993 Atlanta Braves season saw the Braves finish in first place in the National League West with a record of 104 wins and 58 losses. In the waning weeks of the season, they engaged in a dramatic and exciting battle for the division title against the San Francisco Giants, who finished in second...
, though by no fault of Thompson, who increased his offensive output late in the season including a period in August where he hit home runs in five consecutive games. With 10 games left in the season on September 24, Thompson suffered a broken cheek bone when he was hit by a pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
thrown by Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
of the San Diego Padres. He missed 8 games due to the injury, but with the Giants and Braves tied for first place Thompson returned to play the final game of the season. Despite his determination, playing with a bloodshot eye and wearing a clear plastic mask in the field, the Giants lost the pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
on the last day of the season.
Thompson ended the season with career highs in batting average (.312), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(30), home runs (19) and runs batted in (65). Although Thompson was one of the best fielding second basemen in the National League, he was often overlooked in post-season awards because his playing career coincided with that of Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno" is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During a 16-year baseball career, he played from 1981–1994 and 1996–97, spending nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best...
. By , Sandberg was past his prime and Thompson finally received recognition when he won the Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for fielding excellence and the Silver Slugger Award, which is awarded annually to the best offensive
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
player at each position
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
. He was rewarded by the Giants in November when he signed a three-year contract for $12 million, making him the second-highest paid second baseman in baseball after Ryne Sandberg.
During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1994
1994 San Francisco Giants season
The 1994 San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 112th season and 37th season in San Francisco. After winning 103 games in 1993, the Giants record dropped to 55-60 in a strike-shortened season...
, Thompson received a scare when he was hit on the left ear flap of his batting helmet by pitcher Mike Harkey
Mike Harkey
Michael Anthony Harkey is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball and the current bullpen coach for the New York Yankees. During June 2010, Harkey served as the Yankee pitching coach while Dave Eiland was on leave for personal reasons.Harkey played at California State University,...
of the Colorado Rockies. Thompson later stated the two beanings
Beanball
"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head...
by Hoffman and Harkey were on his mind when he batted during games. In May, he went onto the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
and missed almost two months of the season. He returned in late June, but played in only seven games before undergoing surgery on his right shoulder and missed the rest of the season. Thompson's injuries continued to hamper his playing time in 1995
1995 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* November 8, 1994: Kent Bottenfield was released by the San Francisco Giants. * January 2, 1995: Sergio Valdez was signed as a free agent by the Giants.* February 8, 1995: Darryl Strawberry was released by the Giants....
and in September he had to undergo surgery again, this time on his left shoulder. He returned to play in 1996
1996 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* October 6, 1995: Mike Benjamin was traded by the Giants to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jeff Juden and Tommy Eason .* October 26, 1995: John Roper was claimed off waivers from the Giants by the Cincinnati Reds....
but injuries continued to take their toll as he appeared in only 63 games. Thompson played his last major league game on September 22, at the age of 34.
Thompson was known for the well-used baseball glove
Baseball glove
A baseball glove or mitt is a large leather glove that baseball players on the defending team are allowed to wear to assist them in catching and fielding balls hit by a batter, or thrown by a teammate.-History:...
with which he played for almost his entire career. Thompson was offended when the San Francisco Chronicle printed a story titled, Thompson's Ugly, Pathetic Glove is a Gem. His teammate, Rich Aurilia
Rich Aurilia
Richard Santo Aurilia is a former Major League Baseball player, mainly as a shortstop. He bats and throws right-handed.The 24th round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Aurilia worked in the Rangers minor league system before being traded with first baseman Desi...
, who played at shortstop next to Thompson near the end of his career said, "I think by the time Robby was done, the glove mainly consisted of pine tar and chew spit. I don't even know how much leather was left in it. I know for a fact Robby still has that glove."
Career statistics
In an eleven-year major league career Thompson played in 1,304 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,187 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....
in 4,612 at bats for a .257 career batting average along with 119 home runs, 458 runs batted in and a .329 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. He led the National League in triples in 1989 with 11 and he finished his career with a .983 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Thompson led National League second basemen in double plays for three consecutive seasons from to . He hit for the cycle in a game on April 22, 1991.
A two-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, Thompson was the recipient of one Gold Glove Award and one Silver Slugger Award. He won the Willie Mac Award
Willie Mac Award
The Willie Mac Award is named in honor of Willie McCovey. It has been presented annually since 1980. It is awarded to the player on the San Francisco Giants who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership consistently shown by McCovey throughout his long career, voted upon by the players and...
in 1991
1991 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* November 9, 1990: Bud Black signed as a Free Agent with the San Francisco Giants.* December 4, 1990: Dave Righetti signed as a Free Agent with the San Francisco Giants....
, honoring his spirit and leadership. At the time of his retirement, Thompson was the all-time leader among Giants second basemen in games (1,304), at bats (4,612), runs (671), hits (1,187), doubles (238), triples (39), home runs (119), runs batted in (458), stolen bases (103), fielding percentage (.983) and double plays (873).
Coaching career
Thompson served as the Giants first base coach in 20002000 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants, an American baseball team, won the National League West Championship. The team played their first season in newly opened Pacific Bell Park.-Offseason:...
and 2001
2001 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:*November 18, 2000: Bill Mueller was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Chicago Cubs for Tim Worrell. *January 11, 2001: Eric Davis was signed as a Free Agent with the San Francisco Giants. -Regular season:...
. He was hired by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
as a first base coach in December 2001. In he was promoted to special assistant to the Cleveland Indians General Manager before returning to the field in June 2005 as the Indians' bench coach. In November , Thompson was hired by the Seattle Mariners as their bench coach.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Florida Gators baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions