Thomas was the NL walk king at the turn of the century. His ability to foul off pitches
endlessly in pursuit of a free pass led to the rule that fouls were strikes, but
that change didn't prevent him from leading the NL in walks in seven of his first
nine seasons. He was a fast singles hitter (his highest slugging average was .365)
who batted as high as .327 and hit .300 five times. His on-base average topped .400
each of his first seven seasons, and he led the NL in 1902 (.412) and 1903 (.450).
Before the Phillies' best players jumped to the AL, the leadoff hitter scored 100
runs his first three years, but after 1901 he topped 100 only once more (118 in 1905).
He scored 1,011 runs in his career, but drove in only 299; when he led the league
with 132 runs in 1900, he had 33 RBI.
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Thomas's speed enabled him to steal 244 bases
in his career, with a high of 42 his first season. He also ranged widely in centerfield
and led the NL three times in putouts, twice in total chances per game, and once
each in fielding and assists. His .986 fielding average in 1906 tied the NL record
of the time. At his retirement, he held career fielding records for centerfielders
in putouts (NL) and fielding average (ML).
(JK)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 12, 1900: Frank "Noodles" Hahn of Cincinnati twirls a 4–0 no-hitter over Philadelphia. The Reds lefty gives up five walks to the visiting Quakers who are playing without Nap Lajoie. Hahn strikes out 7, including the first two batters in the 9th. The last batter, Roy Thomas, is thrown out on his two-strike bunt. Philadelphia's Bill Bernhard allows seven hits, including a homer by Sam Crawford in the 7th.
»August 17, 1900: Reds pitcher Bill Phillips punches Phillies batter Roy Thomas after Thomas fouls off a dozen pitches in the 8th inning. Phillips is ejected but the Reds win in the 11th.
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