Major League Baseball Player. For five seasons (1957 to 1961), he played at the catcher position with the New York/San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1951, Thomas (who was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico to parents from the Virgin Islands) made history for being credited as the first player in the Major Leagues to hail from the Virgin Islands, when he marked his debut with the Giants on April 16th, 1957. He enjoyed his most successful season with them that year, recording 60 hits, while appearing in 88 games, as he shared catching duties with Wes Westrum. In 252 career games, he compiled 144 hits, with a .230 lifetime batting average. Following his playing career, Thomas became proprietor of a sporting goods company.
Major League Baseball Player. For five seasons (1957 to 1961), he played at the catcher position with the New York/San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1951, Thomas (who was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico to parents from the Virgin Islands) made history for being credited as the first player in the Major Leagues to hail from the Virgin Islands, when he marked his debut with the Giants on April 16th, 1957. He enjoyed his most successful season with them that year, recording 60 hits, while appearing in 88 games, as he shared catching duties with Wes Westrum. In 252 career games, he compiled 144 hits, with a .230 lifetime batting average. Following his playing career, Thomas became proprietor of a sporting goods company.
Bio by: C.S.
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