Thompson was born in Coalport, Pennsylvania, the son of Maurice Frederick "Tommy" Thompson, a coal miner. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, where he flew lighter-than-air K-class blimps built by Goodyear to patrol the Pacific coast for submarines and mines. Thompson was based out of Moffett Federal Airfield in the Silicon Valley.[1][2] In 1945, he took a job on the third-shift manufacturing line at the America Viscose Company factory so he could play baseball during the day.[3]
Professional baseball careeredit
Thompson batted left-handed and threw right-handed; he was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 190 pounds (86 kg). He broke into professional baseball after service in the navy, signing with the Brooklyn organization. Thompson's professional career extended for 16 seasons (1947–62) and included almost 1,500 games in the minor leagues. He made his MLB debut at age 30 on April 20, 1954, pinch-hitting for pitcher Clem Labine and fouling out to the catcher against Phillies pitcher Murry Dickson in a 6-3 Dodgers loss.[4] Thompson's first hit came in his second at-bat, on May 14. Pinch-hitting for pitcher Joe Black against the St. Louis Cardinals' Vic Raschi, Thompson singled in the 10–1 Dodgers loss.[5]
In 1956, Thompson was the Athletics' most-used starting catcher, starting in 63 games; he set personal bests that year in games played (92), hits (73), runs batted in (27) and batting average (.272). The following year, playing behind regular backstop Hal Smith, Thompson hit seven home runs in 81 games, but his average declined to .204. He then was included in a 12-player trade with the Tigers that November. Thompson appeared in four games with the Tigers, with one hit in six at bats, before he was acquired by the independently-operated Toronto Maple Leafs of the Triple-AInternational League. He played almost five full years for the Leafs, until his retirement from the field at age 38 in 1962, and was the club's player-manager for the latter weeks of the 1961 season; the Leafs went 25–23 under Thompson but missed the playoffs. Thompson's 123 MLB hits included 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.
Thompson was married to wife Lois right out of high school; as of 2020, they had been married 77 years.[1] Their son Timmy Jr., who was born in 1945, played college and professional baseball; he died of cancer at age 63.[3] Thompson died in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, on October 25, 2021, at the age of 97.[6][7] His wife Lois died two days later.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^ abKeene, Anne (April 2, 2020). "Tim Thompson, 96, The Catcher Who Flew Blimps". anne-keene.
thompson, charles, lemoine, thompson, march, 1924, october, 2021, american, professional, baseball, player, catcher, major, leagues, appeared, games, over, parts, four, seasons, 1954, 1956, brooklyn, dodgers, kansas, city, athletics, detroit, tigers, catcherbo. Charles Lemoine Thompson March 1 1924 October 25 2021 was an American professional baseball player and catcher in the Major Leagues He appeared in 187 games over all or parts of four seasons 1954 1956 58 for the Brooklyn Dodgers Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers Tim ThompsonCatcherBorn 1924 03 01 March 1 1924Coalport Pennsylvania U S Died October 25 2021 2021 10 25 aged 97 Lewistown Pennsylvania U S Batted LeftThrew RightMLB debutApril 20 1954 for the Brooklyn DodgersLast MLB appearanceApril 27 1958 for the Detroit TigersMLB statisticsBatting average 238Home runs8Runs batted in47TeamsBrooklyn Dodgers 1954 Kansas City Athletics 1956 1957 Detroit Tigers 1958 Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional baseball career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editThompson was born in Coalport Pennsylvania the son of Maurice Frederick Tommy Thompson a coal miner He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II where he flew lighter than air K class blimps built by Goodyear to patrol the Pacific coast for submarines and mines Thompson was based out of Moffett Federal Airfield in the Silicon Valley 1 2 In 1945 he took a job on the third shift manufacturing line at the America Viscose Company factory so he could play baseball during the day 3 Professional baseball career editThompson batted left handed and threw right handed he was listed as 5 feet 11 inches 1 80 m tall and 190 pounds 86 kg He broke into professional baseball after service in the navy signing with the Brooklyn organization Thompson s professional career extended for 16 seasons 1947 62 and included almost 1 500 games in the minor leagues He made his MLB debut at age 30 on April 20 1954 pinch hitting for pitcher Clem Labine and fouling out to the catcher against Phillies pitcher Murry Dickson in a 6 3 Dodgers loss 4 Thompson s first hit came in his second at bat on May 14 Pinch hitting for pitcher Joe Black against the St Louis Cardinals Vic Raschi Thompson singled in the 10 1 Dodgers loss 5 In 1956 Thompson was the Athletics most used starting catcher starting in 63 games he set personal bests that year in games played 92 hits 73 runs batted in 27 and batting average 272 The following year playing behind regular backstop Hal Smith Thompson hit seven home runs in 81 games but his average declined to 204 He then was included in a 12 player trade with the Tigers that November Thompson appeared in four games with the Tigers with one hit in six at bats before he was acquired by the independently operated Toronto Maple Leafs of the Triple A International League He played almost five full years for the Leafs until his retirement from the field at age 38 in 1962 and was the club s player manager for the latter weeks of the 1961 season the Leafs went 25 23 under Thompson but missed the playoffs Thompson s 123 MLB hits included 24 doubles two triples and eight home runs After his active career Thompson was a coach for the St Louis Cardinals in 1981 and scouted for the Cardinals Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles Personal life editThompson was married to wife Lois right out of high school as of 2020 they had been married 77 years 1 Their son Timmy Jr who was born in 1945 played college and professional baseball he died of cancer at age 63 3 Thompson died in Lewistown Pennsylvania on October 25 2021 at the age of 97 6 7 His wife Lois died two days later citation needed References edit a b Keene Anne April 2 2020 Tim Thompson 96 The Catcher Who Flew Blimps anne keene Nowlin Bill Tim Thompson sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved October 29 2021 a b Keene Anne R May 23 2020 From blimps to baseball Lewiston Sentinel Retrieved October 29 2021 Brooklyn Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score Baseball Reference com April 20 1954 Retrieved October 29 2021 St Louis Cardinals at Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score Baseball Reference com May 14 1954 Retrieved October 29 2021 Charles L Tim Thompson Sr obituary Lewistown Sentinel October 27 2021 Retrieved October 29 2021 Elliott Bob October 27 2021 R I P Tim Thompson ex Toronto Maple Leaf Canadian Baseball Network Retrieved October 29 2021 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics Preceded byJohnny Lipon Toronto Maple Leafs manager1961 Succeeded byChuck Dressen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tim Thompson amp oldid 1214907910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
