Bobby Thigpen, baseball player, 1986-1994

Bobby Thigpen

Born: 7/17/1963 in Tallahassee, FL, USA

MLB Debut: 1986-08-06 | Final Game: 1994-04-27

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Robert Thomas Thigpen

Biography

Bobby Thigpen, born in 1963, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 1986 until his retirement in 1994. Known for his exceptional closing ability, Thigpen established himself as one of the top relief pitchers of his time, earning an All-Star selection during his noteworthy career. He played primarily for the Chicago White Sox, where he became a key figure in the bullpen and was instrumental in securing games with his powerful pitching style. Throughout his career, Thigpen amassed a record of 31-36 and demonstrated remarkable skill in high-pressure situations, finishing with an impressive 201 saves and a 3.43 ERA. His ability to strike out batters was evident, as he recorded 376 strikeouts over his career. Thigpen’s contributions to the game were particularly significant during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period marked by an increasing emphasis on specialized relief pitching. He left a lasting legacy in the White Sox organization and remains a notable figure in the evolution of the closer role in baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
31 36 448 0 0 0 201 568.7 537 217 56 238 376 3.43 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
448 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1993 NLCS PHI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1993 WS PHI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
0 0 4 0 0 4.3 2 1 2 3 2.08

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1993 NLCS PHI 0 0 2 0 0 1.7 1 1 1 3 5.40
1993 WS PHI 0 0 2 0 0 2.7 1 0 1 0 0.00

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 448 0 43 71 4 10

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 448

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1994 SEA AL $200,000
1993 CHA AL $3,416,667
1992 CHA AL $3,166,667
1991 CHA AL $2,418,667
1990 CHA AL $325,000
1989 CHA AL $467,500
1988 CHA AL $70,000
1987 CHA AL $625,000
1986 CHA AL $60,000
Total Career Earnings $10,749,501

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Mississippi State University Mississippi State MS 1984, 1985
Seminole Community College Sanford FL 1983

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1990 Cy Young Award AL 4th 20.0 140 2
1990 Most Valuable Player AL 5th 170.0 392 0