Walter Thomas (baseball)

Walter Thomas
Pitcher
Born: (1911-10-22)October 22, 1911
Doyle, Alabama
Died: September 28, 1983(1983-09-28) (aged 71)
Big Rapids, Michigan
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1935, for the Chicago American Giants
Last appearance
1947, for the Birmingham Black Barons
Teams

Walter Lewis Thomas (October 22, 1911 โ€“ September 28, 1983), nicknamed "Bancy", was an American Negro league pitcher in the 1930s and 1940s.

A native of Doyle, Alabama, Thomas was the brother of fellow Negro leaguer Orrel Thomas. He made his Negro leagues debut in 1935 with the Chicago American Giants, and later played for the Detroit Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, and Birmingham Black Barons. Following his Negro league career, Thomas played for the Carman Cardinals of the Mandak League for several seasons in the early 1950s.[1][2] He died in Big Rapids, Michigan in 1983 at age 71.

Thomas's grandson, Richie Martin, is a shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Walter Thomas". seamheads.com. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Walter Thomas". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Slusser, Susan (June 30, 2015). "A's top pick Richie Martin arrives in Oakland". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2021.