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Roy Thomas (baseball outfielder)
Encyclopedia
Roy Allen Thomas was a center fielder
in Major League Baseball
. From 1899 through 1911, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
(1899-1908 [start], 1910–1911), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1908 [end]) and Boston Doves
(1909). Thomas batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania
, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
. Thomas was the brother of fellow Major Leaguer, Bill Thomas
.
According to baseball analyst Bill James
, Thomas is the only major league regular to have scored three times as many runs
as he drove in
. In 1470 games played
, Thomas compiled 1011 runs scored and 299 runs batted in, as he posted a .290 batting average
with a .412 on-base average and 244 stolen base
s.
During his 13-season career, Thomas was one of the most productive table-setters in the National League
. His relentless patience at the plate
infuriated opposing pitchers and prompted the NL to change its rule regarding foul ball
s in . The new rule also was adopted by the American League
two years later. He is, in fact, reported by James to hold the unofficial consecutive foul-ball record - 22, in one plate appearance.
Thomas batted .325 in his rookie year with a .457 OBP via 115 walks, immediately establishing himself as the Philadelphia Phillies' leadoff hitter
and center fielder. At the time foul balls were not counted as strikes
, and Thomas, who became adept at fouling off good pitches, worked an astonishing number of 230 walks in his first two seasons. Ironically the rule-change had little effect on Thomas. After the new rule went into effect, he led the NL in walks six out of the next seven seasons (1901–04, 1906–07).
Thomas was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1908 midseason. He also played for the Boston Doves in 1909, returning to the Phillies for the 1910-11 seasons. At his retirement, he held career fielding records for center fielders in putout
s (NL) and fielding average (MLB). Thomas left a playing record that has endured. He ranks 20th all-time in walk percentage (.164), 29th all-time in on base percentage
(.412) and 84th all-time in walks (1,042).
Thomas became a coach
with the University of Pennsylvania
baseball team in 1909, and actually continued playing in the majors while coaching for three seasons. From 1909 to 1919, he compiled a record of 106-43-3 for a .632 winning percentage
, comparable to the best college coaches of all time.
Thomas died in Norristown, Pennsylvania, at age 85, and was buried in the nearby Riverside Cemetery.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
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...
. From 1899 through 1911, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1899-1908 [start], 1910–1911), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1908 [end]) and Boston Doves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1909). Thomas batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Thomas was the brother of fellow Major Leaguer, Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas (baseball)
William Miskey "Bill" Thomas , was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played in with the Philadelphia Phillies.Thomas was the brother of fellow Major Leaguer, Roy Thomas....
.
According to baseball analyst Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
, Thomas is the only major league regular to have scored three times as many 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...
as he drove in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. In 1470 games played
Games 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,...
, Thomas compiled 1011 runs scored and 299 runs batted in, as he posted a .290 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 :...
with a .412 on-base average and 244 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
During his 13-season career, Thomas was one of the most productive table-setters 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...
. His relentless patience at the plate
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
infuriated opposing pitchers and prompted the NL to change its rule regarding foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
s in . The new rule also was adopted by the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
two years later. He is, in fact, reported by James to hold the unofficial consecutive foul-ball record - 22, in one plate appearance.
Thomas batted .325 in his rookie year with a .457 OBP via 115 walks, immediately establishing himself as the Philadelphia Phillies' leadoff hitter
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...
and center fielder. At the time foul balls were not counted as strikes
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
, and Thomas, who became adept at fouling off good pitches, worked an astonishing number of 230 walks in his first two seasons. Ironically the rule-change had little effect on Thomas. After the new rule went into effect, he led the NL in walks six out of the next seven seasons (1901–04, 1906–07).
Thomas was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1908 midseason. He also played for the Boston Doves in 1909, returning to the Phillies for the 1910-11 seasons. At his retirement, he held career fielding records for center fielders in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s (NL) and fielding average (MLB). Thomas left a playing record that has endured. He ranks 20th all-time in walk percentage (.164), 29th all-time in 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...
(.412) and 84th all-time in walks (1,042).
Thomas became a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
baseball team in 1909, and actually continued playing in the majors while coaching for three seasons. From 1909 to 1919, he compiled a record of 106-43-3 for a .632 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
, comparable to the best college coaches of all time.
Thomas died in Norristown, Pennsylvania, at age 85, and was buried in the nearby Riverside Cemetery.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions