Bobby Thomson
Born: 10/25/1923 in Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Died: 8/16/2010 in Savannah, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1946-09-09 | Final Game: 1960-07-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Robert Brown Thomson
Biography
Bobby Thomson was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1946 to 1960. Born in 1923, Thomson emerged as a key figure in the National League, known for his powerful bat and clutch performances. Over the course of 1,779 games, he accumulated 1,705 hits, including 264 home runs, and drove in 1,026 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .270. His ability to deliver in high-pressure situations made him a fan favorite and an essential part of the lineups he played in.
Thomson was selected as an All-Star three times during his career, recognition of his contributions to the game during an era that included fierce competition and evolving playing styles. His most storied moment came in 1951 when he hit the “Shot Heard 'Round the World,” a dramatic home run that secured the New York Giants' victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers and clinched the National League pennant. This defining moment not only solidified his legacy in baseball history but also exemplified the fierce rivalries of the time. With 38 stolen bases to his name, Thomson showcased a well-rounded skill set that helped him thrive as a position player in the dynamic landscape of mid-20th century baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1779 | 6305 | 903 | 1705 | 267 | 74 | 264 | 1026 | 38 | 559 | 804 | 0.270 | 0.332 | 0.462 | 0.794 | 11132.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | NY1 | NL | 18 | 54 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0.315 | 234.0 |
| 1947 | NY1 | NL | 138 | 545 | 105 | 154 | 26 | 5 | 29 | 85 | 1 | 40 | 78 | 0.283 | 1754.4 |
| 1948 | NY1 | NL | 138 | 471 | 75 | 117 | 20 | 2 | 16 | 63 | 2 | 30 | 77 | 0.248 | -517.9 |
| 1949 | NY1 | NL | 156 | 641 | 99 | 198 | 35 | 9 | 27 | 109 | 10 | 44 | 45 | 0.309 | 2319.7 |
| 1950 | NY1 | NL | 149 | 563 | 79 | 142 | 22 | 7 | 25 | 85 | 3 | 55 | 45 | 0.252 | 241.5 |
| 1951 | NY1 | NL | 148 | 518 | 89 | 152 | 27 | 8 | 32 | 101 | 5 | 73 | 57 | 0.293 | 3264.4 |
| 1952 | NY1 | NL | 153 | 608 | 89 | 164 | 29 | 14 | 24 | 108 | 5 | 52 | 74 | 0.270 | 1746.0 |
| 1953 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 608 | 80 | 175 | 22 | 6 | 26 | 106 | 4 | 43 | 57 | 0.288 | 1164.9 |
| 1954 | ATL | NL | 43 | 99 | 7 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 29 | 0.232 | -177.2 |
| 1955 | ATL | NL | 101 | 343 | 40 | 88 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 56 | 2 | 34 | 52 | 0.257 | -12.4 |
| 1956 | ATL | NL | 142 | 451 | 59 | 106 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 74 | 2 | 43 | 75 | 0.235 | -332.2 |
| 1957 | ATL | NL | 41 | 148 | 15 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 0.236 | -170.3 |
| 1957 | NY1 | NL | 81 | 215 | 24 | 52 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 38 | 1 | 19 | 39 | 0.242 | -170.3 |
| 1958 | CHC | NL | 152 | 547 | 67 | 155 | 27 | 5 | 21 | 82 | 0 | 56 | 76 | 0.283 | 1490.4 |
| 1959 | CHC | NL | 122 | 374 | 55 | 97 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 52 | 1 | 35 | 50 | 0.259 | 14.8 |
| 1960 | BAL | AL | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | BOS | AL | 40 | 114 | 12 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 11 | 15 | 0.263 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0.238 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | WS | NY1 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0.238 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2B | 9 | 0 | 27 | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| 3B | 184 | 6 | 200 | 361 | 38 | 27 |
| OF | 1506 | 580 | 3563 | 111 | 74 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | NY1 | 3B | 16 | 0 | 18 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| 1947 | NY1 | 2B | 9 | 0 | 27 | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| 1947 | NY1 | OF | 127 | 0 | 330 | 12 | 7 | 2 |
| 1948 | NY1 | OF | 125 | 0 | 313 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 1949 | NY1 | OF | 156 | 0 | 488 | 10 | 9 | 4 |
| 1950 | NY1 | OF | 149 | 0 | 394 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
| 1951 | NY1 | 3B | 69 | 0 | 90 | 136 | 14 | 13 |
| 1951 | NY1 | OF | 77 | 0 | 168 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 1952 | NY1 | 3B | 91 | 0 | 82 | 184 | 17 | 13 |
| 1952 | NY1 | OF | 63 | 0 | 152 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | NY1 | OF | 154 | 0 | 391 | 16 | 7 | 0 |
| 1954 | ML1 | OF | 26 | 23 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1955 | ML1 | OF | 91 | 86 | 182 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | 3B | 3 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | OF | 136 | 115 | 257 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1957 | ML1 | OF | 38 | 37 | 78 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | NY1 | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | NY1 | OF | 71 | 51 | 124 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | CHN | 3B | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | CHN | OF | 148 | 146 | 353 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| 1959 | CHN | OF | 116 | 96 | 223 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| 1960 | BAL | OF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | BOS | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1960 | BOS | OF | 27 | 25 | 65 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 9 |
| Third Base | 184 |
| Left Field | 509 |
| Center Field | 984 |
| Right Field | 63 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 17.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 62.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |