Gorman Thomas
Born: 12/12/1950 in Charleston, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1973-04-06 | Final Game: 1986-10-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: James Gorman Thomas
Biography
Gorman Thomas was a prominent American professional baseball player, born in 1950, who made his mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 until his retirement in 1986. A powerful hitter known for his home run prowess, Thomas played in a total of 1,435 games throughout his career, amassing 1,051 hits, 268 home runs, and 782 RBIs. His career batting average stood at .225, reflecting the high strikeout rates common among sluggers of his era. Thomas was also known for his speed on the bases, recording 50 stolen bases during his time in the league.
Thomas's most notable season came in 1982 when he was selected as an All-Star, highlighting his contribution to the game during the early 1980s, a period characterized by an offensive explosion in baseball. He played for several teams, most notably the Milwaukee Brewers, where he became a fan favorite and a key contributor to the teamโs success. His ability to hit for power made him a significant player in an era that increasingly valued home runs, and he remains a memorable figure in Brewers history for his impactful performances and charismatic presence on the field.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1435 | 4677 | 681 | 1051 | 212 | 13 | 268 | 782 | 50 | 697 | 1339 | 0.225 | 0.324 | 0.448 | 0.772 | 8384.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | ATL | AL | 59 | 155 | 16 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 61 | 0.187 | -644.6 |
| 1974 | ATL | AL | 17 | 46 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 0.261 | 143.3 |
| 1975 | ATL | AL | 121 | 240 | 34 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 28 | 4 | 31 | 84 | 0.179 | -519.1 |
| 1976 | ATL | AL | 99 | 227 | 27 | 45 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 36 | 2 | 31 | 67 | 0.198 | -169.7 |
| 1978 | ATL | AL | 137 | 452 | 70 | 111 | 24 | 1 | 32 | 86 | 3 | 73 | 133 | 0.246 | 2108.3 |
| 1979 | ATL | AL | 156 | 557 | 97 | 136 | 29 | 0 | 45 | 123 | 1 | 98 | 175 | 0.244 | 2714.8 |
| 1980 | ATL | AL | 162 | 628 | 78 | 150 | 26 | 3 | 38 | 105 | 8 | 58 | 170 | 0.239 | 860.7 |
| 1981 | ATL | AL | 103 | 363 | 54 | 94 | 22 | 0 | 21 | 65 | 4 | 50 | 85 | 0.259 | 1451.7 |
| 1982 | ATL | AL | 158 | 567 | 96 | 139 | 29 | 1 | 39 | 112 | 3 | 84 | 143 | 0.245 | 2234.6 |
| 1983 | CLE | AL | 106 | 371 | 51 | 82 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 51 | 8 | 57 | 98 | 0.221 | 152.8 |
| 1983 | ATL | AL | 46 | 164 | 21 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 23 | 50 | 0.183 | 152.8 |
| 1984 | SEA | AL | 35 | 108 | 6 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 28 | 27 | 0.157 | -378.3 |
| 1985 | SEA | AL | 135 | 484 | 76 | 104 | 16 | 1 | 32 | 87 | 3 | 84 | 126 | 0.215 | 996.6 |
| 1986 | ATL | AL | 44 | 145 | 21 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 50 | 0.179 | -110.2 |
| 1986 | SEA | AL | 57 | 170 | 24 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 1 | 27 | 55 | 0.194 | -110.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 59 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 23 | 0.102 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | WS | ML4 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0.115 |
| 1982 | ALCS | ML4 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0.067 |
| 1981 | AEDIV | ML4 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 6 | 6 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 1159 | 1061 | 2905 | 53 | 49 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | ML4 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | ML4 | OF | 50 | 39 | 87 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 1974 | ML4 | OF | 13 | 11 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | ML4 | OF | 113 | 68 | 215 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| 1976 | ML4 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | ML4 | OF | 94 | 62 | 210 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | ML4 | OF | 137 | 130 | 345 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 1979 | ML4 | OF | 152 | 151 | 435 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | ML4 | OF | 160 | 160 | 455 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| 1981 | ML4 | OF | 97 | 97 | 221 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| 1982 | ML4 | OF | 157 | 157 | 427 | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| 1983 | CLE | OF | 106 | 106 | 313 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| 1983 | ML4 | OF | 46 | 46 | 126 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | SEA | OF | 34 | 34 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | ML4 | 1B | 6 | 6 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 6 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 63 |
| Center Field | 969 |
| Right Field | 136 |
| Designated Hitter | 247 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year | |
| 1982 | Player of the Week | Week of 1982-08-13 |
| 1982 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-04-27 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ML4 | AL | $60,000 |
| 1986 | SEA | AL | $600,000 |
| 1985 | SEA | AL | $690,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,350,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 44.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 87.0 | 392 | 0 |