Born March 5, 1860, in Danville, Indiana, was Baseball Hall of Fame Rightfielder Sam Thompson. This early baseball legend was a 1887 World Series Champion and NL batting champion 1887 for the Detroit Wolverines, NL Home Run leader in 1889, 1895 for the Philadelphia Quakers. After a lengthy retirement, Thompson later played with the Philadelphia Phillies and even did a short stint in the brand-new American League with the Detroit Tigers.
Sports History
Sam Thompson Baseball Hall of FameSam Thompson A Run-Producing Machine and Baseball Hall of Famer
Early Career and Breakout Season:
Born in 1860, Thompson entered the major leagues with the Detroit Wolverines in 1885. However, it wasn't until 1887 that he truly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. In that season, he hit a staggering .406, drove in a record-breaking 166 runs, and helped lead the Wolverines to a National League pennant and victory in a postseason series against the American Association.
Sustained Excellence and Record-Setting Achievements:
Throughout his career, Thompson continued to display remarkable consistency. He led the National League in RBIs twice, hit over .300 in 11 seasons, and finished with a career batting average of .331. He also holds the record for the most RBIs driven in a single month, with 61 in August 1895 while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Beyond Statistics: A Complete Player:
While his offensive prowess is undeniable, Thompson was more than just a slugger. He possessed a keen eye at the plate, with a career on-base percentage of .384. Additionally, he stole over 200 bases throughout his career, showcasing his well-rounded skillset.
This Day in Baseball May 16
The crew at This Day in Baseball.com gives us the scoop on May 16 events that concern Sam Thompson, Christy Matthewson, Red Ames, Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Tommy Bridges, Roberto Clemente, Wally Moon, Ted Williams, and more.
May 19 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 8 - 6 - 30 May 19, 1942 - Boston Braves outfielder Paul Waner, Number 8 became the third player in NL history at the tim...
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May 18 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 7 - 16 May 18, 1897 - Early MLB star of the New York Giants, Bill Joyce established a record of 4 triples in 1 ...
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May 17 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 44 - 36 May 17, 1925 - Cleveland Indians centerfielder Tris Speaker reached his 3,000th hit in his MLB career. In 1...
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May 16 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 5 - 9 - 22 May 16, 1927 - New York Yankee outfielder, Bob Meusel, wearing Number 5 stole 2nd base, 3rd base and&nbs...
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May 15 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. May 15, 1912 - Detroit Tigers star slugger Ty Cobb, let's an obnoxious fan get to him and the player leaped the rail...
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May 14 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 3 - 37 - 7 May 14, 1913 - Washington Senator pitcher Walter Johnson, had his amazing MLB record of scoreless innings str...
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