Thomas was the Phillies' first pick in the June 1971 draft. With Reading (Eastern League) on August 20, 1974, he threw a seven-inning no-hitter. A 6'5" sinker-slider pitcher with an awkward, wild delivery, he moved through seven organizations. In 1983 he appeared in a career-high 43 games for the Mariners and put together 20 straight scoreless innings in relief. Hit with tendinitis in 1984, he was healthy enough to go 7-0 in 1985, but spent 1986 on the disabled list. He was released by Seattle, for a second time, in 1987. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 10, 1975: Bill Veeck and assistant Roland Hemonds set up shop in the hotel lobby at the winter meetings with a sign saying "open for business" and start dealing, making seven trades in two days. First to go is pitcher Jim Kaat and SS Mike Buskey to the Phillies. The Sox receive pitchers Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas along with OF/INF Alan Bannister.