Andre Thornton
Encyclopedia
André Thornton nicknamed "Thunder," is a former first baseman
and designated hitter
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Chicago Cubs
, Montreal Expos
and Cleveland Indians
during a 14-year career. André grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
, in a family of athletes, and graduated from Phoenixville Area High School
.
signed Thornton as an amateur free agent. In 1972, the Phillies traded André to the Atlanta Braves
, who traded him to the Chicago Cubs the following year.
. Thornton had one of his best seasons in 1975; although his 18 home runs were only the seventh-best season total of his career, he hit .293 with a .428 on base percentage
and a slugging percentage of .516. It was the first of six seasons in which Thornton walked more than he struck out.
. After a short stay in Montreal, the Expos traded Thornton to the Cleveland Indians
for pitcher Jackie Brown
. The trade would prove to be one of the most lopsided deals of the 1970s; Brown would only pitch one more year in the majors.
Thornton sustained high levels of production through much of his Cleveland career. After hitting 28 home runs in his debut season in Cleveland, Thornton hit a career-high 33 home runs in 1978 (a total he would match in 1984). In 1979, he was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award
, given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and team contribution. In 1982, Thornton hit 32 home runs and batted in 116 runs, a career high. He also had 109 walks. From 1981 to 1984, he played primarily as a designated hitter; he won a Silver Slugger
award as a designated hitter in 1984. Thornton played exclusively as a designated hitter from 1985 to 1987.
He missed all of with a severe knee injury that required two surgeries. In 1987, he started 12 of the first 20 games, but injuries and a decision to essentially bench him kept him out of all but 24 games for the rest of the season, including only seven starts. He retired after the season.
Thornton spent most of his career as one of the few marquee players on a dreadful team; he only played on a winning team twice (not counting the strike year of 1981) in his 11 years in Cleveland. He later said that while the Indians had some very good players, management simply couldn't keep them in Cleveland for any period of time.
All-Star
. He finished his career with 244 doubles, 253 home runs, a batting average
of .254, an on base percentage of .360, and a slugging percentage of .452. For three seasons, he was in the top 5 in home runs in his league, and he was in his league's top 5 in walks four times. Thornton finished his career with more bases on balls (876) than strikeouts (851).
faith.
In 1979, Thornton married Gail Jones, a gifted singer and former member of the Jones Sisters gospel group. In addition to André Jr., the couple have two other sons, Jonathan and Dean. Today, Thornton is a successful businessman. He is President and CEO of ASW Global, a supply chain management company.
Thornton continues to be involved in the Cleveland community. He sits on the Board of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, The Cleveland Zoological Society, and the Cuyahoga Community College
Fund. He is a member of Leadership Cleveland. He is also involved with The First Tee of Cleveland Program, a golf program which is geared to provide youth with educational programs and facilities that promote character development. Finally, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of Nyack College
.
In August 2007, he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians
Hall of Fame along with Jim Bagby, Sr.
, Mike Garcia, and Charles Nagy
. Thornton is also a member of the minor league Reading Phillies
Hall of Fame.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
during a 14-year career. André grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
, in a family of athletes, and graduated from Phoenixville Area High School
Phoenixville Area High School
Phoenixville Area High School is a senior high school located on 1200 Gay St, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Phoenixville Area School District and teaches students from grades nine through twelve. There are currently 964 members of the student body and the principal is Craig...
.
Amateur
In 1967, a week before his 18th birthday, the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
signed Thornton as an amateur free agent. In 1972, the Phillies traded André to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, who traded him to the Chicago Cubs the following year.
Chicago Cubs
Thornton, playing first base, made his major-league debut with the Cubs on July 28, 1973 and played for the Cubs until May 1976. He was named to the 1974 All-Rookie Team as a first baseman by Baseball DigestBaseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
. Thornton had one of his best seasons in 1975; although his 18 home runs were only the seventh-best season total of his career, he hit .293 with a .428 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and a slugging percentage of .516. It was the first of six seasons in which Thornton walked more than he struck out.
Montreal Expos/Cleveland Indians
After a relatively disappointing 1976 season, in which he battled injuries, Thorton split time between the Cubs and the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. After a short stay in Montreal, the Expos traded Thornton to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for pitcher Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown (baseball)
Jackie Gene Brown is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1970 through 1977 for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians and Montreal Expos . He batted and threw right-handed...
. The trade would prove to be one of the most lopsided deals of the 1970s; Brown would only pitch one more year in the majors.
Thornton sustained high levels of production through much of his Cleveland career. After hitting 28 home runs in his debut season in Cleveland, Thornton hit a career-high 33 home runs in 1978 (a total he would match in 1984). In 1979, he was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award
Roberto Clemente Award
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame...
, given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and team contribution. In 1982, Thornton hit 32 home runs and batted in 116 runs, a career high. He also had 109 walks. From 1981 to 1984, he played primarily as a designated hitter; he won a Silver Slugger
Silver Slugger
The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...
award as a designated hitter in 1984. Thornton played exclusively as a designated hitter from 1985 to 1987.
He missed all of with a severe knee injury that required two surgeries. In 1987, he started 12 of the first 20 games, but injuries and a decision to essentially bench him kept him out of all but 24 games for the rest of the season, including only seven starts. He retired after the season.
Thornton spent most of his career as one of the few marquee players on a dreadful team; he only played on a winning team twice (not counting the strike year of 1981) in his 11 years in Cleveland. He later said that while the Indians had some very good players, management simply couldn't keep them in Cleveland for any period of time.
Accomplishments
He is a two-time American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. He finished his career with 244 doubles, 253 home runs, a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .254, an on base percentage of .360, and a slugging percentage of .452. For three seasons, he was in the top 5 in home runs in his league, and he was in his league's top 5 in walks four times. Thornton finished his career with more bases on balls (876) than strikeouts (851).
Personal history
In 1977, Thornton and his son Andy (André Jr.) were injured in an automobile accident that took the life of his wife Gertrude and three-year old daughter Theresa Gertrude. In 1983 he wrote the book Triumph Born of Tragedy, which is an account of the accident and his ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith.
In 1979, Thornton married Gail Jones, a gifted singer and former member of the Jones Sisters gospel group. In addition to André Jr., the couple have two other sons, Jonathan and Dean. Today, Thornton is a successful businessman. He is President and CEO of ASW Global, a supply chain management company.
Thornton continues to be involved in the Cleveland community. He sits on the Board of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, The Cleveland Zoological Society, and the Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College is a two-year college in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Founded in 1962, Cuyahoga Community College is the oldest, and largest community college in Ohio with a Fall 2009 enrollment of 31,024. * http://www.tri-c.edu/news/Pages/20100823a.aspxIn August of 2010, the college reported...
Fund. He is a member of Leadership Cleveland. He is also involved with The First Tee of Cleveland Program, a golf program which is geared to provide youth with educational programs and facilities that promote character development. Finally, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of Nyack College
Nyack College
Nyack College is a private, evangelical, liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and home to the Alliance Theological Seminary, one of the denomination's seminaries. The main campus is located in Nyack, New York...
.
In August 2007, he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
Hall of Fame along with Jim Bagby, Sr.
Jim Bagby, Sr.
James Charles Jacob Bagby, Sr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Bagby was the first pitcher to hit a home run in a modern World Series, and one of the last three pitchers to win over 30 games in one season .-Biography:A native of Barnett, Georgia, Bagby began...
, Mike Garcia, and Charles Nagy
Charles Nagy
Charles Harrison Nagy is an American former Major League Baseball All-Star right-handed pitcher who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with the Cleveland Indians, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Early life and amateur career:Nagy...
. Thornton is also a member of the minor league Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
Hall of Fame.