Kite Thomas

Keith Marshall "Kite" Thomas (April 27, 1923 – January 7, 1995) was an American professional baseball outfielder during the 1940s and 1950s. He appeared in 137 games in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics (1952–53) and Washington Senators (1953).[1] The native of Kansas City, Kansas, threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88 kg).

Kite Thomas
Outfielder
Born: (1923-04-27)April 27, 1923
Kansas City, Kansas
Died: January 7, 1995(1995-01-07) (aged 71)
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1952, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1953, for the Washington Senators
MLB statistics
Batting average.233
Home runs7
Runs batted in32
Teams

Thomas attended Kansas State University, where he played one season as a starter on the varsity baseball team[2] before signing with the New York Yankees. He then spent five seasons in the Yankee farm system, peaking at the Triple-A level with his hometown Kansas City Blues in 1951. His selection by the Athletics in the 1951 Rule 5 draft paved the way for his two full seasons in the American League. In 1952, he got into 75 games (19 as a starting outfielder); in 138 plate appearances, he collected 29 hits, with six doubles, one triple, six home runs and 20 bases on balls. On July 15, he had three hits in four at bats, including a home run that helped lead Philadelphia to a six-run, ninth inning rally to beat the St. Louis Browns, 7–6.[3]

Thomas collected only six singles in 49 at bats with the Athletics, then was released on waivers to the Senators on June 30 1953. He batted .293 with six extra-base hits in 38 games during the last three months of the season. On September 26, the career outfielder started at catcher for the Senators against his old Athletics teammates, but made two errors in the field and Washington lost, 11–2.[4] Thomas was traded to the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1954, but spent the year in the minors. It was his last season in professional baseball.

Altogether, Thomas had 52 hits, with nine doubles, three triples, seven homers, and 32 runs batted in during his two-year MLB career.

References
  1. "Kite Thomas Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  2. "Kansas State University sports official web site". Archived from the original on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  3. Information at Retrosheet
  4. Information at Retrosheet


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