Dickie Thon
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1979-1993)
Dickie Thon was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1993 for 6 teams, including the California Angels, a span of 15 seasons. In 1,387 career games, he hit .264 with 1,176 hits, 71 home runs, and 435 RBI. Dickie Thon was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 160 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1979-05-22
- Last Game
- 1993-10-03
- Awards
- All-Star · Silver Slugger
Full name: Richard William Thon
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,387 | 4,449 | 496 | 1,176 | 193 | 42 | 71 | 435 | 167 | 348 | 658 | .264 | .317 | .374 | .691 | -1,852 |
Career AVG .264 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .317 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .374 vs. league average .389 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .691 vs. league average .713 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | CAL | AL | 35 | 56 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 10 | .339 | .265 (+28%) | .329 (+19%) | .397 (-1%) | .727 (+8%) | 97.5 |
| 1980 | CAL | AL | 80 | 267 | 32 | 68 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 28 | .255 | .264 (-4%) | .326 (-14%) | .387 (-19%) | .714 (-16%) | -724.9 |
| 1981 | HOU | NL | 49 | 95 | 13 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 13 | .274 | .255 (+7%) | .320 (+5%) | .368 (-9%) | .688 (-2%) | -14.8 |
| 1982 | HOU | NL | 136 | 496 | 73 | 137 | 31 | 10 | 3 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 48 | .276 | .261 (+6%) | .324 (+1%) | .388 (+2%) | .712 (+2%) | 76.9 |
| 1983 | HOU | NL | 154 | 619 | 81 | 177 | 28 | 9 | 20 | 79 | 34 | 54 | 73 | .286 | .260 (+10%) | .324 (+5%) | .389 (+17%) | .714 (+12%) | 1339.7 |
| 1984 | HOU | NL | 5 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .353 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1985 | HOU | NL | 84 | 251 | 26 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 8 | 18 | 50 | .251 | .257 (-2%) | .323 (-8%) | .390 (-9%) | .714 (-9%) | -347.6 |
| 1986 | HOU | NL | 106 | 278 | 24 | 69 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 6 | 29 | 49 | .248 | .257 (-4%) | .325 (-2%) | .395 (-15%) | .720 (-9%) | -383.0 |
| 1987 | HOU | NL | 32 | 66 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | .212 | .262 (-19%) | .331 (+10%) | .415 (-34%) | .746 (-14%) | -90.2 |
| 1988 | SDN | NL | 95 | 258 | 36 | 68 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 33 | 49 | .264 | .254 (+4%) | .317 (+9%) | .377 (-11%) | .695 (-2%) | 21.7 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 136 | 435 | 45 | 118 | 18 | 4 | 15 | 60 | 6 | 33 | 81 | .271 | .254 (+7%) | .319 (avg) | .375 (+16%) | .694 (+9%) | 617.0 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | 149 | 552 | 54 | 141 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 12 | 37 | 77 | .255 | .257 (-1%) | .324 (-6%) | .385 (-9%) | .710 (-8%) | -695.8 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | 146 | 539 | 44 | 136 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 44 | 11 | 25 | 84 | .252 | .255 (-1%) | .323 (-12%) | .384 (-9%) | .708 (-10%) | -985.3 |
| 1992 | TEX | AL | 95 | 275 | 30 | 68 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 12 | 20 | 40 | .247 | .255 (-3%) | .322 (-9%) | .377 (-3%) | .699 (-6%) | -322.4 |
| 1993 | ML4 | AL | 85 | 245 | 23 | 66 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 6 | 22 | 39 | .269 | .265 (+2%) | .332 (-3%) | .403 (-18%) | .735 (-11%) | -440.9 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 1,387 | 4,449 | 496 | 1,176 | 193 | 42 | 71 | 435 | 167 | 348 | 658 | .264 | — | — | — | — | -1,852 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1387 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 700 | 2188 | 237 | 586 | 25 | 202 | .268 |
| Away | 687 | 2261 | 259 | 590 | 46 | 233 | .261 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-10-03 | MIL | BOS | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993-09-14 | MIL | NYY | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-12 | MIL | SEA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-11 | MIL | SEA | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-10 | MIL | SEA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993-09-05 | MIL | SEA | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993-09-03 | MIL | SEA | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993-08-29 | MIL | LAA | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993-08-28 | MIL | LAA | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993-08-27 | MIL | LAA | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 98 | 61 | 152 | 157 | 14 | 47 |
| 3B | 50 | 31 | 27 | 67 | 5 | 6 |
| SS | 1143 | 1022 | 1608 | 3198 | 173 | 594 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | CAL | 2B | 24 | 10 | 34 | 38 | 6 | 12 |
| 1979 | CAL | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | CAL | SS | 8 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 1980 | CAL | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | CAL | 2B | 21 | 18 | 39 | 46 | 1 | 15 |
| 1980 | CAL | 3B | 10 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 1980 | CAL | SS | 22 | 22 | 24 | 66 | 7 | 12 |
| 1981 | HOU | 2B | 28 | 18 | 37 | 39 | 4 | 10 |
| 1981 | HOU | 3B | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | HOU | SS | 13 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
| 1982 | HOU | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | HOU | 3B | 8 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1982 | HOU | SS | 119 | 114 | 177 | 399 | 15 | 80 |
| 1983 | HOU | SS | 154 | 154 | 258 | 533 | 28 | 114 |
| 1984 | HOU | SS | 5 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 | HOU | SS | 79 | 68 | 106 | 218 | 11 | 48 |
| 1986 | HOU | SS | 104 | 76 | 142 | 210 | 10 | 39 |
| 1987 | HOU | SS | 31 | 18 | 21 | 53 | 6 | 7 |
| 1988 | SDN | 2B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | SDN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | SDN | SS | 70 | 62 | 82 | 168 | 12 | 28 |
| 1989 | PHI | SS | 129 | 118 | 174 | 380 | 16 | 65 |
| 1990 | PHI | SS | 148 | 141 | 222 | 439 | 25 | 86 |
| 1991 | PHI | SS | 146 | 143 | 234 | 412 | 21 | 65 |
| 1992 | TEX | SS | 87 | 75 | 117 | 225 | 15 | 38 |
| 1993 | ML4 | 2B | 22 | 14 | 40 | 32 | 3 | 9 |
| 1993 | ML4 | 3B | 25 | 16 | 12 | 30 | 1 | 2 |
| 1993 | ML4 | SS | 28 | 19 | 28 | 57 | 3 | 8 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 99 |
| Third Base | 50 |
| Shortstop | 1143 |
| Designated Hitter | 31 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Silver Slugger | SS |
| 1983 | TSN All-Star | SS |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | ML4 | AL | $250,000 |
| 1992 | TEX | AL | $600,000 |
| 1991 | PHI | NL | $1,250,000 |
| 1990 | PHI | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | $600,000 |
| 1988 | SDN | NL | $200,000 |
| 1987 | HOU | NL | $675,000 |
| 1986 | HOU | NL | $600,000 |
| 1985 | HOU | NL | $675,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $5,950,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 67.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Dickie Thon (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Dickie Thon: the record in brief
May 22, 1979 and October 3, 1993 bracket Dickie Thon's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Club by club, the record runs the California Angels (1979 through 1980), the Houston Astros (1981 through 1987), the San Diego Padres (1988), the Philadelphia Phillies (1989 through 1991), the Texas Rangers (1992), and the Milwaukee Brewers (1993). Thon is listed as a shortstop at 160 pounds on a 5-foot-11 frame. The bio says Thon both batted and threw right-handed. The recorded birth is June 20, 1958, in South Bend, IN, USA. Dickie Thon was the playing name; the full given name is Richard William.
The batting record for Thon: 1,387 games, 1,176 hits in 4,449 at bats, and a .264 average, plus 71 home runs, 435 runs batted in, and 167 stolen bases. Thon's career OPS of .691 combines a .317 on-base mark with .374 slugging. Against a .259 league average for those years, Thon's .264 average was near the norm. 1983 was Thon's biggest home run year, with 20. The hits column peaks at 177, in 1983.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dickie Thon
- What years did Dickie Thon play?
- Dickie Thon played in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1993.
- Was Dickie Thon a pitcher?
- No. Dickie Thon was a position player (Shortstop).
- How many home runs did Dickie Thon hit?
- Dickie Thon hit 71 career home runs with 1176 hits.
- What was Dickie Thon's career batting average?
- Dickie Thon batted .264 over his career, with 1,176 hits in 4,449 at bats.
- How many RBI did Dickie Thon have?
- Dickie Thon drove in 435 runs in his career.
- Is Dickie Thon in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Dickie Thon has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.