Lee Thomas (baseball)
| Lee Thomas | |||
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| Outfielder / First baseman | |||
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Born: February 5, 1936 Peoria, Illinois |
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| MLB debut | |||
| April 22, 1961, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 27, 1968, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .255 | ||
| Home runs | 106 | ||
| Runs batted in | 428 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
James Leroy "Lee" Thomas (born February 5, 1936) is a former player and current front-office executive in American Major League Baseball. As general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1988 to 1997, Thomas built the Phillies from a below .500 club into the 1993 champions of the National League.
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), he was signed by Yankees scout Lou Maguolo. But Thomas could not break into the Bombers' strong lineup despite putting up good offensive statistics in minor league baseball. He had two at bats for the 1961 Yanks (garnering one hit), then was traded to the expansion Los Angeles Angels on May 8, 1961, during the Halos' first American League season.
As an everyday player with the Angels and Boston Red Sox, from 1961 to 1965, Thomas topped the 20 home run mark three times, and drove in 104 RBI for the Angels in 1962. He was selected to the American League's All-Star team that season, and popped out as a pinch hitter in that year's first All-Star game, played at DC Stadium on July 10. In the year's second All-Star game, played July 30 at Wrigley Field, he appeared as a defensive replacement in left field for the game's final two innings and did not bat.
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