Erskine Thomason | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Laurens, South Carolina | August 13, 1948|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 18, 1974, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 18, 1974, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 0–0 |
Earned run average | 0.00 |
Strikeouts | 1 |
Teams | |
Melvin Erskine Thomason (born August 13,1948) is an American former professional baseball pitcher,whose baseball career spanned seven seasons,one September of which was spent with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Philadelphia Phillies. Thomason played in one MLB game,pitching an inning for the Phillies,on September 18,1974. He struck out one batter while also recording two groundouts. During his playing days,Thomason stood 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm),weighing 190 pounds (86 kg). [1]
Born and raised in South Carolina,Thomason first played professionally with the Pulaski Phillies in 1970. [2] Over the next three seasons,he played for various Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams in the Phillies organization before making his MLB debut in 1974. After playing another season in the minors,Thomason worked for the South Carolina Tax Commission,before eventually returning to pitch for the 1979 Reading Phillies. After retiring as an active player,he served as a minor league pitching coach,until his retirement in 1987.
Melvin Erskine Thomason was born on August 13,1948,in Laurens,South Carolina. [3] His mother,Dorothy Cain Thomason,died in child birth,while his father,Furman Erskine Thomason,worked as a farmer. [4] In 1966,Thomason graduated from Laurens High School,where he played football and basketball in addition to baseball. [4] He attended college at Anderson College from 1968 until 1969,and attended Erskine College from 1969 until 1970,graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education. [4]
Thomason was drafted by the Phillies in the 22nd round (516th overall) of the 1970 MLB draft. After signing with the Phillies on June 10,1970,he began his Minor League Baseball (MiLB) career with the Pulaski Phillies of the Appalachian League in 1970. Thomason also played for the Spartanburg Phillies,Peninsula Phillies,Burlington Rangers,Reading Phillies,and Toledo Mud Hens. His MiLB statistical totals included 54 wins and 47 losses (a win–loss percentage of .535). Thomason posted a 3.40 earned run average (ERA),allowing 443 runs scored,and 883 hits. [2]
Thomason made his Major League debut on September 18,1974,for the Philadelphia Phillies,in a game against the Chicago Cubs. [1] He pitched in relief of Gene Garber in the top of the ninth inning,recording one strikeout against three batters faced,in a 5–2 Phillies loss. [5]
Thomason was one of the players featured in the 1975 documentary Bush Leagues to Bright Lights. It chronicles his attempt to make the Phillies out of spring training,his demotion to the minor leagues,his subsequent struggles in Triple A,his tutoring by manager Jim Bunning,his marriage to his girlfriend,and ultimately his promotion to the major leagues. The film was narrated by John Facenda.
After retiring from playing baseball,Thomason served as the pitching coach for the Spartanburg Phillies (1980–1981). He currently lives in Laurens,South Carolina.
Arthur Mahaffey Jr. is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1960–1965) and St. Louis Cardinals (1966). He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season MLB career,Mahaffey posted a 59–64 record,with 639 strikeouts,and a 4.17 earned run average (ERA),in 999.0 innings pitched.
Jerry Lindsey Martin is an American former Professional baseball outfielder. He spent 11 years in Major League Baseball,from 1974 to 1984. On November 17,1983,Martin and Kansas City Royals teammates Willie Aikens and Willie Wilson each received three-month prison terms on misdemeanor attempted cocaine possession charges. They became the first active major leaguers to serve jail time.
Michael Allen Anderson is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He is the brother of former Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder Kent Anderson.
Donald Eugene Cardwell was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher who played for five National League (NL) teams from 1957 to 1970. He was the first pitcher in major league history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game after being traded. He pitched a no-hit,4–0 winning game for the Chicago Cubs on May 15,1960,just two days after being traded from the Philadelphia Phillies. After winning 15 games for the Cubs in 1961,he won 13 games twice for the Pittsburgh Pirates before helping the New York Mets win the 1969 World Series title.
Raymond Leonard Culp is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1963–1966),Chicago Cubs (1967),and Boston Red Sox (1968–1973).
Robert Milacki is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball between 1988 and 1996,mostly with the Baltimore Orioles.
Bobby Gene Tiefenauer was an American professional baseball player and coach. A knuckleball relief pitcher,he pitched for six Major League teams during a ten-year MLB career that stretched between 1952 and 1968:the St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,Houston Colt .45s (1962),Milwaukee Braves (1963–65),New York Yankees (1965) and Chicago Cubs (1968). Tiefenauer was born in Desloge,Missouri;he threw and batted right-handed and was listed as 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 190 pounds (86 kg).
Timothy P. Blackwell is an American former professional baseball player,coach,and minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1983 for the Boston Red Sox,Philadelphia Phillies,Chicago Cubs,and Montreal Expos. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. Blackwell was known as a light-hitting,defensive specialist with good pitch-calling skills and possessed a strong,accurate throwing arm.
Robert Dennis Doyle was an American professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,California Angels,and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg),he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was considered a good-fielding second baseman but a weak hitter.
John William Buzhardt was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Philadelphia Phillies,Chicago White Sox,Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros from 1958 through 1968.
Richard Jay Selma was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965 to 1974. He played for the New York Mets,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,Philadelphia Phillies,California Angels,and Milwaukee Brewers during his 10-year major league career.
Terry Wayne Hughes is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. Listed at 6'1",185 lb.,Hughes batted and threw right-handed.
Michael James Ryan was an American professional baseball catcher who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball,before becoming a longtime coach as well as a minor league manager. He played for the Boston Red Sox,Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1964 to 1974. He batted and threw right-handed,stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg). He was a native of Haverhill,Massachusetts,where he graduated from St. James High School.
David Hans Bennett is an American former professional baseball right-handed pitcher. During his playing days,Bennett stood 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall,weighing 195 pounds (88 kg). He had a 12-year pro career (1963–1974),but appeared in only one Major League Baseball (MLB) game,as a member of the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies.
Guerrant McCurdy "Mac" Scarce is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher,who played in parts of five Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons from 1972–1978. During his short career,the 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) left-hander pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies,New York Mets,and Minnesota Twins. He attended John Randolph Tucker High School in Henrico County,Virginia and finished his collegiate career at Florida State University (FSU).
William Taylor Phillips,nicknamed "T-Bone",is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Braves,Chicago Cubs,Philadelphia Phillies,and Chicago White Sox,from 1956–60 and 1963. During his playing days,Phillips stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall,weighing 185 pounds (84 kg).
David Ralph Downs is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for several Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams between 1970 and 1976,arriving in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1972 for four games with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was officially listed as standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 220 pounds (100 kg),during his playing days. He is the brother of pitcher Kelly Downs.
Robert Leroy Bowman was an American professional baseball right fielder and pinch hitter,who played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1955–1959). Late in his career,Bowman saw action as a relief pitcher,as well. He batted and threw right-handed,standing 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 195 lb (88 kg),during his playing days.
Donald Lee Leshnock,was an American professional baseball left-handed pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers,in 1972.
Erich Uelmen is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.