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Derrel Thomas

Derrel Thomas Marquee

b. January 14, 1951 · Houston Astros 1971, San Diego Padres 1972–1974, 1978, San Francisco Giants 1975–1977, Los Angeles Dodgers 1979–1983, Montreal Expos 1984, California Angels 1984, Philadelphia Phillies 1985

He played second base, shortstop, third base, all three outfield spots and caught in the major leagues, a combination almost nobody else has managed across a career, and he did it for seven clubs over fifteen seasons. The Dodgers used him at whatever position had an injury in any given week during his five years there.

Fifteen seasons gave him 1,163 hits, 154 doubles, 585 runs batted in, 140 stolen bases and a .249 average, with 608 games at second base, 542 in the outfield, 339 at shortstop and 116 at third. He was on the Dodgers' pennant winners of 1981.

He finished with Philadelphia in 1985 at thirty-four. He is not on a Hall of Fame ballot.

Batting, season by season

YearTeam GABR H2B3B HRRBIBB SOSBAVG
1971 HOU 5500 000 0020 .000
1972 SDP 13050048115 1555 3641739 .230
1973 SDP 1134044196 710 22345215 .238
1974 SDP 14152348129 2463 4151587 .247
1975 SFG 14454099149 2196 48575628 .276
1976 SFG 812723863 542 19292610 .232
1977 SFG 14850675135 13108 44467015 .267
1978 SDP 1283523680 1023 26353711 .227
1979 LAD 14140647104 1545 44414918 .256
1980 LAD 1172973279 1831 2226487 .266
1981 LAD 802182554 404 2425237 .248
1982 LAD 66981326 210 210122 .265
1983 LAD 1181923848 662 827369 .250
1984 CAL/MON 1222722966 1230 2223370 .243
1985 PHI 63921619 204 1211142 .207
Career 159746775851163 1545443 370456593140 .249

On this day & linked events

1951

Born January 14, 1951

Los Angeles, CA, USA

1971

Major-league debut: Derrel Thomas

Derrel Thomas made a major-league debut on September 14, 1971.

1985

Final major-league game: Derrel Thomas

Derrel Thomas played a final major-league game on October 5, 1985.

Image: Unknown author Unknown, public domain