Hank Thompson
Born: 12/8/1925 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Died: 9/30/1969 in Fresno, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-07-17 | Final Game: 1956-09-30
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 174 lbs
Full name: Henry Curtis Thompson
Biography
Hank Thompson was a notable Major League Baseball position player whose career spanned from 1947 to 1956. Born in 1925, Thompson made his mark during a transformative period in baseball history, as the sport began to integrate and evolve following World War II. He played a total of 933 games and showcased his versatility on the field, primarily serving as an outfielder and infielder. Over his career, he recorded 801 hits, 129 home runs, and 482 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .267. His ability to contribute both with his bat and on the bases was evident as he also accumulated 33 stolen bases, highlighting his speed and agility.
Thompson's impact extended beyond the diamond; he was one of the early African American players in the major leagues, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. His career, while perhaps not as heralded as some of his contemporaries, remains significant in the narrative of baseball's integration and the rich tapestry of talent that emerged during the post-war era. Thompson retired from the game on September 30, 1956, leaving behind a legacy of skill and determination that continues to inspire players today.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 823.0 | 725.0 | 179.0 | 262.0 | 44.0 | 23.0 | 32.0 | 119.0 | 88.0 | 8.0 | 30.0 | 0.361 | 0.434 | 0.618 | 1.052 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 154.0 | 137.0 | 20.0 | 42.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0.307 | 0.375 | 0.416 | 0.791 |
| 1945 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1946 | 210.0 | 192.0 | 38.0 | 62.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 0.323 | 0.378 | 0.542 | 0.920 |
| 1947 | 200.0 | 172.0 | 53.0 | 69.0 | 13.0 | 7.0 | 11.0 | 42.0 | 26.0 | 0 | 7.0 | 0.401 | 0.485 | 0.750 | 1.235 |
| 1948 | 259.0 | 224.0 | 68.0 | 88.0 | 16.0 | 6.0 | 13.0 | 48.0 | 33.0 | 1.0 | 15.0 | 0.393 | 0.471 | 0.692 | 1.163 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 933 | 3003 | 492 | 801 | 104 | 34 | 129 | 482 | 33 | 493 | 337 | 0.267 | 0.372 | 0.453 | 0.825 | 9069.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | SLA | AL | 27 | 78 | 10 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 0.256 | -117.7 |
| 1949 | NY1 | NL | 75 | 275 | 51 | 77 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 5 | 42 | 30 | 0.280 | 691.4 |
| 1950 | NY1 | NL | 148 | 512 | 82 | 148 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 91 | 8 | 83 | 60 | 0.289 | 1717.8 |
| 1951 | NY1 | NL | 87 | 264 | 37 | 62 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 33 | 1 | 43 | 23 | 0.235 | 84.9 |
| 1952 | NY1 | NL | 128 | 423 | 67 | 110 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 67 | 4 | 50 | 38 | 0.260 | 1134.3 |
| 1953 | NY1 | NL | 114 | 388 | 80 | 117 | 15 | 8 | 24 | 74 | 6 | 60 | 39 | 0.302 | 2503.8 |
| 1954 | NY1 | NL | 136 | 448 | 76 | 118 | 18 | 1 | 26 | 86 | 3 | 90 | 58 | 0.263 | 2136.0 |
| 1955 | NY1 | NL | 135 | 432 | 65 | 106 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 63 | 2 | 84 | 56 | 0.245 | 722.1 |
| 1956 | NY1 | NL | 83 | 183 | 24 | 43 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 29 | 2 | 31 | 26 | 0.235 | 196.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 0.240 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | WS | NY1 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0.364 |
| 1951 | WS | NY1 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0.143 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 102 | 4 | 270 | 250 | 21 | 63 |
| 3B | 655 | 283 | 592 | 1341 | 122 | 142 |
| OF | 102 | 8 | 219 | 10 | 6 | 2 |
| SS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | SLA | 2B | 19 | 0 | 55 | 55 | 5 | 15 |
| 1949 | NY1 | 2B | 69 | 0 | 197 | 175 | 15 | 44 |
| 1949 | NY1 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | NY1 | 3B | 138 | 0 | 136 | 303 | 26 | 43 |
| 1950 | NY1 | OF | 10 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951 | NY1 | 3B | 71 | 0 | 64 | 120 | 15 | 16 |
| 1952 | NY1 | 2B | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 1952 | NY1 | 3B | 46 | 0 | 47 | 96 | 11 | 8 |
| 1952 | NY1 | OF | 72 | 0 | 182 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1953 | NY1 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | NY1 | 3B | 101 | 0 | 90 | 194 | 13 | 18 |
| 1953 | NY1 | OF | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | NY1 | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | NY1 | 3B | 130 | 127 | 125 | 267 | 23 | 27 |
| 1954 | NY1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | NY1 | 2B | 7 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| 1955 | NY1 | 3B | 124 | 117 | 104 | 262 | 22 | 23 |
| 1955 | NY1 | SS | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | NY1 | 3B | 44 | 39 | 25 | 94 | 12 | 7 |
| 1956 | NY1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | NY1 | OF | 10 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 102 |
| Third Base | 655 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 30 |
| Center Field | 52 |
| Right Field | 22 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 33th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |