Books and articles about Hank Thompson

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Thompson was the first black player for both the Browns and the Giants, and when he batted against the Dodgers' Don Newcombe in 1949, it was the first time in ML history a black batter faced a black pitcher. The lefthanded hitter enjoyed his best season in 1953, when he hit .302 with 24 HR. On June 3, 1954 he hit three homers in one game. In the WS that year against the Indians, he hit .364 and drew a four-game Series record of seven walks. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 17, 1947: Hank Thompson plays 2B for the Browns, the first black in the franchise's history. » July 20, 1947: Hank Thompson plays 2B and Willard Brown CF for the St. Louis Browns against the Red Sox. It marks the first time that two black players appear in the same major-league lineup. » July 8, 1949: Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson, brought up from Jersey City three days earlier, are the first blacks to play for the Giants. Thompson, who was also the first black to play for the St. Louis Browns in 1947, starts at 2B, and Irvin pinch-hits in the eighth for Hartung. » June 1, 1950: Marty Marion, Sid Gordon, and Hank Thompson hit grand slams for the Cards (5–2 over Brooklyn), the Braves (14–2 over the Pirates), and the Giants (8–7 in the first of two at Cincinnati) respectively. Gordon adds a second homer as he drives home seven runs for Boston, winners over the Pirates, 10–6. The Cards lose the services of C Joe Garagiola, who separates his shoulder after tripping over Jackie Robinson covering 1B, and Tommy Glaviano, who sprains his ankle. Hitting .347 at the time, Garagiola won't return until September 3 (as noted by Bill Deane) and will hit only 2-for-13 the rest of the season. But the grand slam, the first in Marion's 11-year-career, moves the Birds into a tie for first place with the Dodgers. » August 12, 1950: The Giants Eddie Stanky is banished by umpire Lon Warneke for refusing to stop waving his arms in an attempt to distract Phillies batter Andy Seminick. In the fourth, Stanky moves over behind 2B and goes into a windup the same time as the pitcher. Giants manager Leo Durocher had agreed to await a league ruling on the tactic, but after Seminick knocks Hank Thompson unconscious in a collision at 3B, Durocher turns Stanky loose. In the fourth, Seminick reaches base on an error, then on a force at 2B he puts a linebacker block on Bill Rigney, Stanky’s replacement, and both dugouts empty for a brawl. The Phils go on to win 5–4 in 11 innings, on Stan Lopata's triple and a sac fly by Waitkus. The Giants protest Stanky’s ouster to no avail. » August 16, 1950: At the Polo Grounds, Henry Thompson of the Giants hits two HRs, both inside-the-park, as the Giants pummel the Dodgers, 16–7. Thompson is the first to do this since Terry Moore hit two for the Cardinals at Forbes Field on this same date in 1939. Don Mueller adds a grand slam. The Giants jump on Erskine in the first inning as 13 of the first 14 batters reach first safely. Sal Maglie is the winner despite giving up two homers, good for six runs, to Gil Hodges. The win leaves the Dodgers in third place, seven games out and the Giants in fifth, 10 games in back of the Phils. » September 23, 1950: The Braves' Johnny Sain fails in his attempt to win his 20th game, but hits his first major-league HR, off Larry Jansen, in a 4–3 loss to the visiting Giants. With two outs in the 10th, Sam Jethroe loses Don Mueller's fly ball in the sun and Mueller legs out a triple. Hank Thompson's single wins it for Larry Jansen. A Saturday crowd of 5,535 watch the Tribe drop out of second place, while the Giants move to within three games of the Phils. » July 20, 1951: In a move that will aid their pennant drive, the Giants put OF Bobby Thomson at 3B to replace the slumping Hank Thompson, out with a spike injury. Thomson, who's been riding the bench since losing his starting job to the rookie Mays, will hit .357 for the rest of the season. » August 29, 1951: Pitching on 2-days rest, the Giants Jim Hearn tops 17-game winner Murry Dickson, 3–1. It is Hearn's 8th straight over Pittsburgh stretching back to 1949. The Giants gear up by recalling Hank Thompson from Minneapolis. » September 20, 1951: Following a day off in Cincinnati, Ken Raffensberger beats the Giants, 3–1, with reliever Blackwell striking out Westrum and Hank Thompson in the 9th with two runners on base. Jim Hearn is the loser. » October 4, 1951: In the opening game of the World Series, Monte Irvin steals home in the first inning and collects four hits. The Giants defeat Allie Reynolds and the Yankees 5–1 with Dave Koslo going all the way at Yankee Stadium. With the injured Mueller missing the World Series, Bobby Thomson switches to 1B and the Giants field the first black outfield of Hank Thompson, Monte Irvin and Willie Mays. » July 18, 1953: 1B Whitey Lockman, 3B Hank Thompson, and CF Bobby Thomson hit first inning HRs, as the Giants beat the Cubs 12-7 to move into fourth place. » June 3, 1954: Henry Thompson of the Giants hits three HRs and knocks in eight runs in a 13-8 win against the Cardinals. Willie Mays collects the other five RBI on two HRs. » June 15, 1954: The Giants take over undisputed possession of first place for the first and last time, when Hank Thompson hits a 3-run HR with two out in the ninth to beat the Redlegs. » May 17, 1955: Paced by Joe Adcock's four hits, including a home run, the Braves defeat the Giants, 9–4. Gene Conley is the winner, despite giving up home runs to Willie Mays and Hank Thompson, but he does stop Don Mueller's 24-game hit streak. » July 8, 1956: The Giants connect for a team-record seven HRs in a 11-1 home win over the Pirates. Willie Mays, Daryl Spencer, and Wes Westrum each connect for 2. Hank Thompson, Westrum, and Spencer hit consecutive HRs in the fourth inning. » March 23, 1957: At LA's Wrigley Field, Willie Mays belts two homers to lead the Giants to a 9–3 Cactus League win over the Indians. Bill Rigney fines Hank Thompson $150 for missing last night's exhibition win over the Indians in San Diego. » July 31, 1972: Dick Allen becomes the first player since 1950 (Hank Thompson) to hit two inside-the-park homers in a game. Minnesota's Bert Blyleven is on the mound in the first and the 5th when Allen connects past Danny Darwin in CF. Chicago wins, 8–1 behind Stan Bahnsen, with Allen driving in five with his homers.