Lee Thomas (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James Leroy "Lee" Thomas (born February 5, 1936 in Peoria, Illinois
) is a former player and front-office executive in American
Major League Baseball
. As general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
from 1988–97, Thomas built the Phillies from a below .500 club into the champions of the National League
, only to see the team revert to its losing ways immediately thereafter.
In his playing days, Thomas was a powerful outfielder
and first baseman
who batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Originally a member of the New York Yankees
organization (1954–61), Thomas could not break into the Bombers' strong lineup despite putting up good offensive statistics in minor league baseball
. He had two at bat
s for the Yanks (garnering one hit), then was traded to the expansion Los Angeles Angels during the Halos' first American League
season. As an everyday player with the Angels and Boston Red Sox
, from 1961–65, Thomas topped the 20 home run
mark three times, and drove in 104 RBI
for the Angels in . The remainder of his major league playing career (1966–68) was spent in the National League as a part-time player and pinch hitter
with the Atlanta Braves
, Chicago Cubs
and Houston Astros
. He compiled a career batting average
of .255 with 106 home runs. After his major league career, he played in Japan in 1969 for the Nankai Hawks
.
In the early 1970s, Thomas joined the St. Louis Cardinals
as a minor league manager, briefly served as a coach
(in ), then moved into their front office, eventually rising to the position of Director of Player Development. He was a key member of the Cardinals' front office during the club's run of success during the early to mid-1980s (when the Cards, led by manager
Whitey Herzog
, won NL pennants in , and and the 1982 World Series
).
In June , Thomas was lured to Philadelphia to take command of the Phillies. He acquired players such as Curt Schilling
, Lenny Dykstra
and Mitch Williams, who played critical roles in the Phils' 1993 pennant-winning team, which lost the 1993 World Series
to the Toronto Blue Jays
. That same year, The Sporting News named him Executive of the Year
for all of Major League Baseball.
When four straight losing seasons followed the '93 pennant, Thomas was replaced as GM by Ed Wade
, his assistant. He then returned to the Red Sox as a special assistant to the general manager from 1998–2003, where he played a key role in Boston's signing of free agent
outfielder Manny Ramírez
in December 2000. He served the Milwaukee Brewers
as a special assignment scout
based in Chesterfield, Missouri
, in 2004-05 and is currently a scout for the Astros.
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
) is a former player and front-office executive in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. As general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia 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...
from 1988–97, Thomas built the Phillies from a below .500 club into the champions of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, only to see the team revert to its losing ways immediately thereafter.
In his playing days, Thomas was a powerful outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and first baseman
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...
who batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Originally a member of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization (1954–61), Thomas could not break into the Bombers' strong lineup despite putting up good offensive statistics in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He had two at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for the Yanks (garnering one hit), then was traded to the expansion Los Angeles Angels during the Halos' first American League
American 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...
season. As an everyday player with the Angels and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, from 1961–65, Thomas topped the 20 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
mark three times, and drove in 104 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
for the Angels in . The remainder of his major league playing career (1966–68) was spent in the National League as a part-time player and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
with 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....
, 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...
and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He compiled a career 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 .255 with 106 home runs. After his major league career, he played in Japan in 1969 for the Nankai Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
.
In the early 1970s, Thomas joined the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as a minor league manager, briefly served as a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
(in ), then moved into their front office, eventually rising to the position of Director of Player Development. He was a key member of the Cardinals' front office during the club's run of success during the early to mid-1980s (when the Cards, led by manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Whitey Herzog
Whitey Herzog
Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
, won NL pennants in , and and the 1982 World Series
1982 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1982 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Brewers' left-hander Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits. The Brewers' offense was led by Paul Molitor, who had a World Series-record five hits and two RBIs...
).
In June , Thomas was lured to Philadelphia to take command of the Phillies. He acquired players such as Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
, Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....
and Mitch Williams, who played critical roles in the Phils' 1993 pennant-winning team, which lost the 1993 World Series
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. That same year, The Sporting News named him Executive of the Year
The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award
The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award was established in 1936 by The Sporting News and is given annually to one executive — including general managers — in Major League Baseball....
for all of Major League Baseball.
When four straight losing seasons followed the '93 pennant, Thomas was replaced as GM by Ed Wade
Ed Wade
Ed Wade is the former General Manager of the Houston Astros.-Early career in baseball:Wade started his baseball career in 1977 as an intern in the Phillies public relations department. In 1977, he was named public relations assistant for the Astros and was promoted to public relations director in...
, his assistant. He then returned to the Red Sox as a special assistant to the general manager from 1998–2003, where he played a key role in Boston's signing of free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
outfielder Manny Ramírez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
in December 2000. He served the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
as a special assignment scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
based in Chesterfield, Missouri
Chesterfield, Missouri
Chesterfield is a second-ring western suburb of St. Louis and is the largest city in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census the population is 47,484. Chesterfield also celebrated its 20th birthday in 2008.- Geography :...
, in 2004-05 and is currently a scout for the Astros.
See also
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference
- List of Philadelphia Phillies award winners and league leaders