Tommy Thompson

Tommy Thompson (D)

HONOURED MEMBER

Biography

One of his former players once said of the late Tommy Thompson that "he had four loves in his life, - his family, his church, his fellow man, and baseball". From the time he was old enough to count to "three and two" until his forced retirement due to ill health, he served as a player, coach, manager, executive officer and club owner in his home city of Fredericton. He was in every good sense of the word, a builder, - of local, provincial and national champions;but, most important of all, he was a builder of young men. One tribute to him stated that: "Tommy Thompson commanded centre stage, if only by the force of his dynamic personality". To this we add, "and by his devotion to the service of youth through sport". Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 4, 1988.

Quick Facts

Began playing senior baseball as a 14 year-old in Saint John
Was a star with the Saint John Water Department team which featured many of the city's best players
In 1925 he won 21 of 25 games he pitched, including a no-hitter to win the New Brunswick title and led the Water Department to the Maritime Championship
He won 30 games in 1927 with the Saint John Fusilliers, and was scouted by the Boston Red Sox
Attended the Red Sox training camp in 1928 and was assigned to the Eastern League
From 1928-37 he played with professional teams in the United States and Canada
With Winnipeg Maroons in 1935 he won 24 games against only 2 losses and had 13 wins in a row
Was player-manager with Sorel in the Quebec League in 1936 and 1937 and led the team to two league pennants; retired as a player in 1937
Managed Trois-Rivières in 1938-39 and recruited one-armed outfielder Pete Gray for a one-game trial