Lee Thomas
Born: 2/5/1936 in Peoria, IL, USA
Died: 8/31/2022 in St. Louis, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1961-04-22 | Final Game: 1968-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: James Leroy Thomas
Biography
Lee Thomas, born in 1936, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1961 to 1968. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,027 games, where he showcased a blend of power and consistency at the plate. Thomas amassed a total of 847 hits, including 106 home runs, and drove in 428 runs, achieving a career batting average of .255. Additionally, he demonstrated speed on the bases, accumulating 25 stolen bases throughout his time in the league.
Thomas was recognized for his contributions to the game, earning All-Star selections twice during his career. He played during a competitive era marked by significant changes in the game, including the increasing integration of players and the evolution of offensive strategies. His ability to impact games with both his bat and his speed made him a valuable player for the teams he represented, and his legacy remains a part of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1027 | 3324 | 405 | 847 | 111 | 22 | 106 | 428 | 25 | 332 | 397 | 0.255 | 0.327 | 0.397 | 0.724 | 3360.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | LAA | AL | 130 | 450 | 77 | 128 | 11 | 5 | 24 | 70 | 0 | 47 | 74 | 0.284 | 1402.6 |
| 1961 | NYY | AL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 1402.6 |
| 1962 | LAA | AL | 160 | 583 | 88 | 169 | 21 | 2 | 26 | 104 | 6 | 55 | 74 | 0.290 | 1719.6 |
| 1963 | LAA | AL | 149 | 528 | 52 | 116 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 6 | 53 | 82 | 0.220 | -822.0 |
| 1964 | BOS | AL | 107 | 401 | 44 | 103 | 19 | 2 | 13 | 42 | 2 | 34 | 29 | 0.257 | 402.9 |
| 1964 | LAA | AL | 47 | 172 | 14 | 47 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 18 | 22 | 0.273 | 402.9 |
| 1965 | BOS | AL | 151 | 521 | 74 | 141 | 27 | 4 | 22 | 75 | 6 | 72 | 42 | 0.271 | 2245.0 |
| 1966 | ATL | NL | 39 | 126 | 11 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 0.198 | -198.2 |
| 1966 | CHC | NL | 75 | 149 | 15 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0.242 | -198.2 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 77 | 191 | 16 | 42 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 15 | 22 | 0.220 | -447.4 |
| 1968 | HOU | NL | 90 | 201 | 14 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 22 | 0.194 | -820.7 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 425 | 383 | 3489 | 275 | 46 | 313 |
| OF | 485 | 448 | 789 | 34 | 21 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | LAA | 1B | 34 | 30 | 267 | 10 | 5 | 26 |
| 1961 | LAA | OF | 86 | 79 | 159 | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| 1962 | LAA | 1B | 90 | 79 | 735 | 42 | 14 | 66 |
| 1962 | LAA | OF | 74 | 67 | 133 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1963 | LAA | 1B | 104 | 98 | 961 | 84 | 4 | 88 |
| 1963 | LAA | OF | 43 | 41 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | BOS | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | BOS | OF | 107 | 107 | 176 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | LAA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | LAA | OF | 47 | 44 | 71 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 1965 | BOS | 1B | 127 | 123 | 1035 | 97 | 18 | 86 |
| 1965 | BOS | OF | 20 | 18 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | ATL | 1B | 36 | 33 | 281 | 26 | 4 | 22 |
| 1966 | CHN | 1B | 20 | 12 | 121 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
| 1966 | CHN | OF | 17 | 15 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CHN | 1B | 10 | 6 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| 1967 | CHN | OF | 43 | 36 | 60 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | HOU | 1B | 2 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1968 | HOU | OF | 48 | 41 | 67 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 424 |
| Left Field | 89 |
| Center Field | 22 |
| Right Field | 385 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 32.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 1.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1961 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 2.0 | 20 | 2 |