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Danny Thompson (baseball)

April 09, 2023

For other people named Danny Thompson, see Daniel Thompson.

Danny Leon Thompson (February 1, 1947 – December 10, 1976) was a college and professional baseball player, a major league shortstop from 1970 to 1976. Diagnosed with leukemia in early 1973 at age 26, he played four more seasons in the majors and died ten weeks after his final game.

Danny Thompson
Shortstop
Born: February 1, 1947
Wichita, Kansas
Died: December 10, 1976(1976-12-10) (aged 29)
Rochester, Minnesota
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 25, 1970, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1976, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average.248
Home Runs15
Runs batted in194
Teams

Baseball career

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Thompson grew up in tiny Capron, Oklahoma, and played college baseball at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he was an All-American.[1] He was the first pick of the Minnesota Twins in the secondary phase of the 1968 amateur draft.[2]

Thompson broke into the majors with the Twins in 1970 and had his first full season in 1972;[3] he played for them until June 1976, when he and pitcher Bert Blyleven were traded to the Texas Rangers for four others in a six-player deal.[4][5]

Leukemia

Following a routine pre-season physical the day before his 26th birthday, Thompson was called in for additional tests and diagnosed with granulocytic leukemia in early February 1973,[6][7] but he continued his major league career for the next four seasons. He was awarded baseball's annual Hutch Award in Seattle following the 1974 season,[8][9] and batted .270 in 1975, leading all American League shortstops.

Thompson appeared in 98 games in 1976, and went 1-for-3 in his final start for the Rangers on September 29, appropriately at shortstop in Minnesota's Metropolitan Stadium. In his final game on October 2, less than ten weeks before his death, he was used as a pinch hitter.[10]

Death

Admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on November 16, 1976, Thompson underwent spleen surgery on December 3, and died a week later on December 10, 1976, from complications in Rochester's St. Mary's Hospital.[7][9][11] Thompson was 29, leaving behind a wife, Jo, and two young daughters, Tracy and Dana.[2][12] His funeral was attended by hundreds at the high school gymnasium in Burlington, Oklahoma, and he was buried nearby at the cemetery in his hometown of Capron.[2][13]

Legacy

During the 1977 season, members of the Texas Rangers wore a black armband with the No. 4 on their left uniform sleeve. Examples of this tribute can be seen in the 1978 Topps baseball card set.[14]

An annual golf tournament honoring Thompson is held in August in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting leukemia and cancer research, was launched in 1977 by the Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew (1936–2011), a former teammate with the Twins;[15] and Ralph Harding (1929–2006), a former Idaho congressman.[16][17][18] The first edition included former President Gerald Ford, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, and Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle.[19][20][21] It has donated over $15.6 million since its inception, and is now the "Killebrew-Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament" (KTM).[22] Killebrew disclosed his esophageal cancer in late 2010 and died five months later at age 74.[23][24][25][26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Leukemia threatens Thompson's baseball career". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. UPI. June 19, 1973. p. 16.
  2. ^ a b c "Large funeral for Thompson". Kiowa News. Kansas. UPI. December 16, 1976. p. 1.
  3. ^ "Tough to accept at first, but Danny battles hurlers, leukemia". Rome News-Tribune. Georgia. UPI. June 24, 1973. p. 4C.
  4. ^ "Blyleven, Thompson happy about trade to Rangers". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. Associated Press. June 3, 1976. p. 5E.
  5. ^ Kallestad, Brent (June 2, 1976). "Blyleven traded to Texas in six-player transaction". Lewiston Daily Sun. Maine. Associated Press. p. 20.
  6. ^ "Despite his leukemia, shortstop looks ahead". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. February 22, 1973. p. 4C.
  7. ^ a b "Baseballer dies at 29". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 11, 1976. p. 18.
  8. ^ "Thompson gets 'Hutch' award". Boca Raton News. Florida. UPI. November 27, 1974. p. 1B.
  9. ^ a b "Thompson dies of leukemia". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. UPI. Dec 11, 1976. p. 14.
  10. ^ "Danny Thompson". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  11. ^ Richman, Milton (December 14, 1976). "Danny Thompson: A manager's player". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. UPI. p. 5B.
  12. ^ "Danny Thompson and Larry Hisle found peace this Christmas". Boca Raton News. Florida. December 29, 1976. p. 11A.
  13. ^ "Dan Thompson: 'never too busy'". The Morning Record. Meriden, Connecticut. Associated Press. December 14, 1976. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Kurt Bevacqua". Rangers Cards. (Topps). 1978. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "Killebrew not upset over star deletion". Schenectady Gazette. New York. Associated Press. July 25, 1972. p. 16.
  16. ^ "Killebrew plans 2nd charity golf". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. July 13, 1978. p. B13.
  17. ^ "Harmon Killebrew sponsors tourney". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 2, 1979. p. 26.
  18. ^ Benson, Lee (August 22, 1980). "Still hitting 'em straight - sometimes". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. p. 4B.
  19. ^ "Ford plays best golf round ever". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. August 21, 1977. p. 3C.
  20. ^ Miller, Hack (August 20, 1977). "Ford takes a payoff". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 6A.
  21. ^ Killebrew, Harmon; Harding, Ralph (September 1, 1977). "Charity golfers drawing thanks". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. (letter). p. 4.
  22. ^ "About". Killebrew-Thompson Memorial. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  23. ^ "Harmon Killebrew in final days of cancer battle". CBS News. May 13, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  24. ^ "Harmon Killebrew ends cancer fight". ESPN. May 13, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  25. ^ "Twins legend, Hall of Famer Killebrew dies". Major League Baseball. May 17, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  26. ^ Thursby, Keith (May 18, 2011). "Harmon Killebrew dies at 74; Hall of Famer was one of baseball's premier home-run hitters". Los Angeles Times. (obituary). Retrieved June 30, 2016.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Project Baseball 1976: Danny Thompson
  • Killebrew-Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament - official site
  • - Danny Thompson Golf Tournament - 17-Aug-2007
  • Sun Valley Guide - Danny Thompson Golf Tournament - Summer 2003
  • Danny Thompson at Find a Grave

April 09, 2023
danny, thompson, baseball, other, people, named, danny, thompson, daniel, thompson, danny, leon, thompson, february, 1947, december, 1976, college, professional, baseball, player, major, league, shortstop, from, 1970, 1976, diagnosed, with, leukemia, early, 19. For other people named Danny Thompson see Daniel Thompson Danny Leon Thompson February 1 1947 December 10 1976 was a college and professional baseball player a major league shortstop from 1970 to 1976 Diagnosed with leukemia in early 1973 at age 26 he played four more seasons in the majors and died ten weeks after his final game Danny ThompsonShortstopBorn February 1 1947Wichita KansasDied December 10 1976 1976 12 10 aged 29 Rochester MinnesotaBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutJune 25 1970 for the Minnesota TwinsLast MLB appearanceOctober 2 1976 for the Texas RangersMLB statisticsBatting average 248Home Runs15Runs batted in194TeamsMinnesota Twins 1970 1976 Texas Rangers 1976 Contents 1 Baseball career 2 Leukemia 3 Death 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBaseball career EditBorn in Wichita Kansas Thompson grew up in tiny Capron Oklahoma and played college baseball at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater where he was an All American 1 He was the first pick of the Minnesota Twins in the secondary phase of the 1968 amateur draft 2 Thompson broke into the majors with the Twins in 1970 and had his first full season in 1972 3 he played for them until June 1976 when he and pitcher Bert Blyleven were traded to the Texas Rangers for four others in a six player deal 4 5 Leukemia EditFollowing a routine pre season physical the day before his 26th birthday Thompson was called in for additional tests and diagnosed with granulocytic leukemia in early February 1973 6 7 but he continued his major league career for the next four seasons He was awarded baseball s annual Hutch Award in Seattle following the 1974 season 8 9 and batted 270 in 1975 leading all American League shortstops Thompson appeared in 98 games in 1976 and went 1 for 3 in his final start for the Rangers on September 29 appropriately at shortstop in Minnesota s Metropolitan Stadium In his final game on October 2 less than ten weeks before his death he was used as a pinch hitter 10 Death EditAdmitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota on November 16 1976 Thompson underwent spleen surgery on December 3 and died a week later on December 10 1976 from complications in Rochester s St Mary s Hospital 7 9 11 Thompson was 29 leaving behind a wife Jo and two young daughters Tracy and Dana 2 12 His funeral was attended by hundreds at the high school gymnasium in Burlington Oklahoma and he was buried nearby at the cemetery in his hometown of Capron 2 13 Legacy EditDuring the 1977 season members of the Texas Rangers wore a black armband with the No 4 on their left uniform sleeve Examples of this tribute can be seen in the 1978 Topps baseball card set 14 An annual golf tournament honoring Thompson is held in August in Sun Valley Idaho The Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting leukemia and cancer research was launched in 1977 by the Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew 1936 2011 a former teammate with the Twins 15 and Ralph Harding 1929 2006 a former Idaho congressman 16 17 18 The first edition included former President Gerald Ford Speaker of the House Tip O Neill and Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle 19 20 21 It has donated over 15 6 million since its inception and is now the Killebrew Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament KTM 22 Killebrew disclosed his esophageal cancer in late 2010 and died five months later at age 74 23 24 25 26 See also Edit Biography portal Baseball portalList of baseball players who died during their careersReferences Edit Leukemia threatens Thompson s baseball career Wilmington Morning Star North Carolina UPI June 19 1973 p 16 a b c Large funeral for Thompson Kiowa News Kansas UPI December 16 1976 p 1 Tough to accept at first but Danny battles hurlers leukemia Rome News Tribune Georgia UPI June 24 1973 p 4C Blyleven Thompson happy about trade to Rangers Sarasota Herald Tribune Florida Associated Press June 3 1976 p 5E Kallestad Brent June 2 1976 Blyleven traded to Texas in six player transaction Lewiston Daily Sun Maine Associated Press p 20 Despite his leukemia shortstop looks ahead Eugene Register Guard Oregon Associated Press February 22 1973 p 4C a b Baseballer dies at 29 Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press December 11 1976 p 18 Thompson gets Hutch award Boca Raton News Florida UPI November 27 1974 p 1B a b Thompson dies of leukemia Wilmington Morning Star North Carolina UPI Dec 11 1976 p 14 Danny Thompson Baseball Reference Retrieved September 8 2014 Richman Milton December 14 1976 Danny Thompson A manager s player Eugene Register Guard Oregon UPI p 5B Danny Thompson and Larry Hisle found peace this Christmas Boca Raton News Florida December 29 1976 p 11A Dan Thompson never too busy The Morning Record Meriden Connecticut Associated Press December 14 1976 p 8 Kurt Bevacqua Rangers Cards Topps 1978 Retrieved June 30 2016 Killebrew not upset over star deletion Schenectady Gazette New York Associated Press July 25 1972 p 16 Killebrew plans 2nd charity golf Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah Associated Press July 13 1978 p B13 Harmon Killebrew sponsors tourney Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press August 2 1979 p 26 Benson Lee August 22 1980 Still hitting em straight sometimes Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah Associated Press p 4B Ford plays best golf round ever Victoria Advocate Texas Associated Press August 21 1977 p 3C Miller Hack August 20 1977 Ford takes a payoff Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah p 6A Killebrew Harmon Harding Ralph September 1 1977 Charity golfers drawing thanks Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington letter p 4 About Killebrew Thompson Memorial Retrieved June 30 2016 Harmon Killebrew in final days of cancer battle CBS News May 13 2011 Retrieved June 30 2016 Harmon Killebrew ends cancer fight ESPN May 13 2011 Retrieved June 30 2016 Twins legend Hall of Famer Killebrew dies Major League Baseball May 17 2011 Retrieved June 30 2016 Thursby Keith May 18 2011 Harmon Killebrew dies at 74 Hall of Famer was one of baseball s premier home run hitters Los Angeles Times obituary Retrieved June 30 2016 External links EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Project Baseball 1976 Danny Thompson Killebrew Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament official site Idaho Mountain Express Danny Thompson Golf Tournament 17 Aug 2007 Sun Valley Guide Danny Thompson Golf Tournament Summer 2003 Danny Thompson at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Danny Thompson baseball amp oldid 1120386202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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