Don Thompson
Born: 12/28/1923 in Swepsonville, NC, USA
Died: 9/28/2009 in Asheville, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1949-04-24 | Final Game: 1954-06-22
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Donald Newlin Thompson
Biography
Don Thompson was a professional baseball player born in 1923, who played in Major League Baseball from 1949 until 1954. He was primarily a position player, appearing in a total of 217 games during his career. Thompson's time in the majors came in the post-World War II era, a period marked by the re-establishment of baseball as America’s pastime and the gradual integration of the sport.
Throughout his career, Thompson recorded 67 hits and registered a batting average of .218. He contributed to his teams with 19 RBIs and hit one home run, showcasing his role as a supporting player rather than a primary offensive force. Additionally, he demonstrated some speed on the bases, stealing four bases during his time in the league. Although he may not have achieved superstar status, Thompson's contributions to the game during the early 1950s reflect the dedication and grit of players from that era. He retired on June 22, 1954, leaving behind a legacy as a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 217 | 307 | 52 | 67 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 31 | 32 | 0.218 | 0.296 | 0.254 | 0.550 | -952.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | BSN | NL | 7 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | BRO | NL | 80 | 118 | 25 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0.229 | -460.5 |
| 1953 | BRO | NL | 96 | 153 | 25 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 0.242 | -492.0 |
| 1954 | BRO | NL | 34 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.040 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | WS | BRO | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 173 | 1 | 177 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | BSN | OF | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | BRO | OF | 61 | 0 | 75 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | BRO | OF | 81 | 0 | 84 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1954 | BRO | OF | 29 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 137 |
| Center Field | 17 |
| Right Field | 27 |