Frank Thomas: The Mets First True Slugger (1962 - 1964)

Frank Joseph Thomas was born on June 11, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Slovak & Lithuanian born, raising their son a strict Catholic. Frank had three other siblings as well.

Almost a Catholic Priest: At the age of twelve, Thomas began a six-year period where he began studying at a Seminary in Ontario to become a Catholic Priest. He eventually passed up on the vocation, which upset his parents. 

Instead, Thomas was meant to play the game he loved, baseball. By high school he was playing baseball on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. 

Even when he became a ball player Thomas, never drank, gambled or smoked. On the road he went to movies or usually chose to spend his free time with his family when possible. 

At six foot three, 200 lbs. Thomas was a big man for his generation of ball players. Thomas had tremendous power & could hit a baseball ball a long way. 

Frank's Challange: Big Frank was also a very strong guy. He was known to challenge people to throw a baseball to him the hardest they could throw & then he would attempt to catch it with his bare hand. He claimed to never have lost one of those bets.

Thomas was nicknamed “the Big Donkey” because of his awkwardness. He was still very versatile on the field, usually playing outfield but also played the infield when needed.

Thomas got signed by the hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947 and hit 14 HRs for three straight minor league seasons. In 1951 he got better belting 23 HRs at AAA New Orleans, followed by a Southern league leading 35 HR season there in 1952, as he hit .303. 

MLB Career: In 1951 & 1952, after two brief cups of coffee, Big Frank had arrived in the majors for good.

There were high expectations for the big Thomas when he arrived with the Pirates in 1953. In 1952 Pittsburgh had just suffered one of the worst seasons in baseball history, going 42-112.

 The expectations were so big that the team traded away the popular HR slugger & future Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. It was around this time Kiner told the famous story that when he asked management for a raise after leading the NL in HRs, he was told the team would have still finished last with or without him.

Thomas did not disappoint, winning over the fans as he hit 30 HRs (7th in the league) and drove in 102 runs, batting .255. He was the only Pirate to have hit double figures in HRs that season. In 1954 he led all NL outfielders in assists (14) & was second with a .989 fielding %.

Over the next six years in Pittsburgh, he made three All Star teams, hitting 23 or more HRs every season, including 30 plus HRs twice. Thomas batted over .280 four times, & hit .290 or better twice, including a career high .298 in 1954. 

Last Giants Game at the Polo Grounds: In September 1957, in the New York Giants last

home game at the Polo Grounds in 1957, it was Thomas who caught the last put out when Dusty Rhoads grounded to Dick Groat at short & he threw over to Thomas.

In 1958 he had his best season, hitting 35 HRs with 109 RBIs (both second best in the NL). He posted career highs in double (26) hits (158) & batting average (.281). He earned 43% of the MVP voting, getting some celebrity status, even making the cover of Sports Illustrated in July 1958

  

It was the only season while playing in Pittsburgh that his team didn’t finish near the bottom of
the standings. The Pirates finished in second place to the reigning World Champion Milwaukee Braves that year.

After the season ended, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds with Jim Pendelton & Johnny Powers, for catcher Smokey Burgess, Don Hoak, & Harvey Haddix, who all became key to the 1960 Pirates World Championship team.

In 1959 Thomas was limited to 108 games, but still hit 12 HRs with 18 doubles & 47 RBIs before being traded to the Cubs at the end of the season. 

He hit twenty plus HRs the next two seasons as well, splitting time in 1961 between Chicago & the Milwaukee Braves. That season he had hit 27 HRs (9th in the league) with 18 doubles 73 RBIs & a .281 average, his best batting average in three years. 

In November of 1961 he was Traded to the expansion New York Mets for a player to be named later which turned out to be Gus Bell, and cash.

Mets Career: Frank Thomas became an original Met, and it is safe to say, the team’s first true hitting star. Being a pull hitter, The Polo Grounds was a perfect fit for Thomas. He had the best year by far, of anyone on the team & was the team’s first cleanup hitter.

He was their main left fielder (126 games) also playing some first base (11 games) & third base (10 games). He led the team in most offensive categories and established various club records that were held for many years.

Mets Inaugural Season: Thomas debuted on Opening Day 1962 as the first Mets cleanup hitter batting fourth. He drove the second run in Mets history that day at St. Louis with a sacrifice fly scoring Felix Mantilla.

Trivia:  On April 13th, Thomas hit the first Mets HR in their home ballpark, coming off Pirates Pitcher Tom Sturdivant at the Polo Grounds in the second game of the season Gil Hodges & Charley Neal had homered in the opener on the road.

Multi HR Game: On April 19th Thomas had the first Mets multi-HR game, hitting a pair of HRs off the Cardinals Ray Washburn, in a 9-4 loss to St. Louis at the Polo Grounds. 

On April 27th & 28th, Thomas collected three hits in back-to-back games. He then homered in four of his next five games, collecting seven RBIs in that stretch. Thomas had eight HRs by May 4th, putting him atop the NL.

Record Books for Hit by Pitches: On April 29th, Thomas became the first major leaguer to get hit by two pitches in the same inning. In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Mets scored seven runs sending 13 men to the plate in an 8-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Thomas was the second batter of the inning & was plunked by pitcher Art Mahaffey Later he came up again as the 12th man in the inning & was hit by pitcher Frank Sullivan.  

In May he hit seven HRs with 22 RBIs while batting .327 that month. In the first two months of the new Mets season, he batted .325 with 13 HRs & a 1.020 OPS.

On May 18th, the Mets went to Milwaukee for a four-game series with the Braves. Thomas collected eight hits with seven RBIs & five extra base hits including HRs off Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette & Bob Headly. 

In Los Angeles Thomas had another set of back-to-back HR games coming in Mets losses to the Dodgers.

Thomas continued to hit well but did not hit another HR until June 27th in a loss at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field. That week he drove in seven runs over a five-game span.

On July 15th, Thomas drove in four runs, two in each game of a double header split with the San Francisco Giants.

In late July, Thomas hit four HRs at the start of a 12-game road trip two in Cincinnati & two more in Milwaukee.

MLB Record of Six HRs in Three Games: To begin the month of August, Thomas set a record (at that time) by hitting six HRs in the course of three consecutive games. In 2000 the record was broken.

Six RBI Game: On August 1st, Thomas hit a 4th inning grand slam HR off the Phillies Jack Hamilton in a wild 11-9 Mets loss at the Polo Grounds. In the 6th inning, he hit a solo HR off Dennis Bennett & earlier had drawn a bases loaded walk for a season high six RBI game.

The next day Thomas hit two HRs off Art Mahaffey in a loss to the Phillies. On August 3rd, in a 8-6 loss to the Reds at the Polo Grounds, Thomas homered in his first at bat, off pitcher Joey Jay. Later in the bottom of the 7th, he went back-to-back with Marv Throneberry with another solo shot off Joey Jay.

In that three game stretch he hit six HRs with eight hits & ten RBIs. On August 1st he hit two HRs at the Polo Grounds, including a grand slam while driving in a total of six runs against the Philadelphia Phillies, although the Mets still lost the game 11-9.

Walk Off HR: On August 4th, in the second game of a double header in the Polo Grounds, Thomas hit a 14th inning walk off HR off the Reds Moe Drabowsky for a 3-2 Mets win. Although he did not HR in the first game, the red-hot hitting Thomas had homered in four straight days.

30th HR: On September 2nd, Thomas hit his 30th HR of the season, a solo shot off the Cardinals Ernie Broglio. It was the third & final time he reached the 30 HR mark.

Multi- Four RBI Game: On September 14th, Thomas had a three-hit game while driving in four runs, in a 10-9 win over the Reds. Thomas had an RBI double & two run single off Joe Nuxhall. In the bottom of the 8th, Thomas put the Mets ahead with an RBI base hit off Jim Brosnan. Although the Reds tied it, Cho-Cho Coleman provided the Mets with a walk off HR in the 9th.

Multi HR Game: On September 20th in the second game of a double header loss to the Houston Colt 45's, Thomas had his fifth multi-HR game of the year, while driving in three runs.

Walk Off Hit: On September 23rd, with the Mets down 1-0 in the 6th inning, Thomas tied up the game with a solo HR off the Cubs George Gerberman. In the bottom of the 9th, with the score still tied, two outs & Choo-Choo Coleman on third, Thomas won the game with a walk off base hit off Bob Anderson. Mets pitcher Roger Craig earned the win, his third straight in what was a 23-loss season. 

Thomas finished off the '62 Mets inaugural season, scoring the only run of a 5-1 loss at Wrigley Field in the last game of the year. It was his 34th HR of the year, coming in the team's record 120th loss of the season.

Mets Single Season HR & RBI Records: Thomas' 34 HRs (were 6th most in the NL) & was a Mets single season best for 13 years, until Dave Kingman hit 36 HRs in 1975. Thomas also drove-in 94 runs, which was a Mets single season RBI best until 1970 when Don Clendenon drove in 97 runs.

Thomas also led the team in hits (152) runs (64) doubles (23) games played (156) & hit by pitches (8) while batting .266. He struck out 98 times with 48 walks posting a .329 on base % & team best .824 OPS. 

In left field he had 13 assists (second in the NL) & led the league with nine errors there as well.

Quotes- Frank Thomas: "We had a great ball club. We just didn't have any pitching. We scored a lot of runs but we lost a bunch of games in the seventh, eighth & ninth innings. If we could have had a closer like they have today, we might have been in the thick of a pennant race. It was great playing in New York. I really enjoyed playing for Casey Stengel. I've always said that he probably forgot more baseball than I'll ever know." 

Roommates: On the road he was a roommate of Jim Hickman & Hall of Famer, Ritchie Ashburn. Ashburn & Thomas had also been roomies during their playing time with the Cubs. 

Yo la tengo!: In classic tales of the 1962 Mets, centerfielder Richie Ashburn was known to collide with short stop Elio Chacon on more than one occasion. Chacon who didn't speak English, did not understand when Ashburn would call for a pop fly. He'd go back on the ball & run into Ashburn. 

Teammate Joe Christopher suggested Ashburn shout "yo la tengo" in Spanish in order to call off Chacon for the ball. Problem was no one told Thomas & when Ashburn yelled "yo la tengo" Chacon backed off but Thomas came in from left field & collided with Ashburn instead.

Hit Sign Win Boat: Thomas was a pull hitter; he drove his manager crazy, as he was known to often try to hit a sign in left field of the Polo Grounds for Howard Clothes which offered a boat to the Mets player who hit the sign most often.  

Quotes- Manager Casey Stengle: "If you want to be a sailor, join the Navy."

1963: Thomas started out the year slow, hitting under .200 most of the first two months. 

On April 25th he drove in all three runs of a 3-1 win at Wrigley Field. His two run HR off Dick Ellsworth was the Mets highlight.

On May 7th Thomas hit a two run HR off the Phillies Art Mahaffey leading the Mets to a 3-1 win at the Polo Grounds. It took six weeks until he hit his next HR.

Multi- Four RBI Game: On June 14th, he collected a season high four RBIs, with two RBI singles & a sac fly in a 10-3 win over the Reds at Crosley Field. On July 7th, he matched that total with a three run HR off the Pirates Vern Law & an RBI single.

On June 26th, Thomas hit a two run HR & tied up the game with an 8th inning RBI single off the Cubs Lindy McDaniel. The game went to 14 innings when Tim Harkness hit the first Mets Walk off grand-slam HR.

That June Thomas hit .352 with 25 hits. He had his most productive RBI month in July driving in 19 runs. In the last week of August, he drove in runs in four straight games & had RBIs in six of eight games.  He missed two weeks in September returning to action on September 14th.

For 1963, in 126 games, he led the team in RBIs (60) while hitting 15 HRs, with nine doubles 34
runs scored & batting .260. He struck out 48 times with 33 walks posting a .317 on base % & .709 OPS.

In the outfield he posted a .988 fielding % with eight assists.

1964 - First Season at Shea Stadium: In 1964 Thomas was approaching 35 years of age & began winding down his career. The Mets had acquired George Altman who was be their main left fielder that season. 

On April 17th, Thomas started in left field, batting 5th in the first game played at Shea Stadium. In the 4th inning, he got an infield single & scored a run (the third Mets run scored at Shea) in the Mets loss to Pittsburgh. 

On May 22nd with the Mets down 1-0 to the Colt 45's in Houston, Thomas hit an 8th inning two run double off Hal Brown leading the Mets to a 2-1 victory.

Walk Off HR: On July 9th, Thomas came to bat as a pinch hitter, in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the Mets down 3-2 to the Cardinals. With Joe Christopher on first & two outs, he hit a walk off HR off Curt Simmons giving the Mets a 4-3 win. 

At the start of August Thomas went 1-3 as a pinch hitter. On August 6th his Mets career came to an end, as he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Gary Kroll and Wayne Graham. After 60 games he had three HRs & 19 RBIs batting .254.

Mets Career Stats: In his three-year Mets career, Thomas played in 343 games. He batted .262 with 311 hits 52 HRs 38 doubles 5 triples 173 RBIs 122 runs scored a .319 on base % & a .752 OPS. Thomas played in the 253 games in the outfield, 45 at first base & 13 games at third base.

Post Mets Career: In his first ten games with the Phillies, Thomas collected 16 hits, batted .390
with 2 HRs & 14 RBIs. At the time of the trade the Phillies held a 1.5 game lead over the Giants in first place. These were the Phillies who held a 6.5 game lead with 13 games left to play. Then on September 21st, they went on a ten-game losing streak & finished second to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Fight With Richie Allen: In July of 1965 Thomas got into a fight with teammate Richie Allen. Different accounts of the story are remembered, in any event Thomas known as a guy who liked to taunt, eventually swung a bat at Allen hitting him in the shoulder. Thomas was placed on waivers & got picked up by the Houston Colt 45's. 

He played 23 games there & was sent to the Milwaukee Braves where he played in 15 games. 

In May of 1966 he signed with the Chicago Cubs, playing in five games before getting released a month later.

At the time Thomas retired he was 40th on the All-Time HR list with 286 career HRs. 

Career Stats: In a 16-year career he batted .266 with 1671 hits 262 doubles 31 triples 962 RBIs & 792 runs scored. Thomas struck out 894 times, was hit by 51 pitches, drew 484 walks posting a .320 on base % & 774 OPS.

He also had 70 sac flies (153rd all time).

Thomas played 1045 games in the outfield, 745 games in left. He played 394 games at third base, 268 at first base & four games at second base.

Retirement: Thomas has always loved the game of baseball & being a part of Mets history. Through the years he has made appearances at card shows, fund raisers and private speaking events. 

Honors: In 2008 Thomas returned to Shea Stadium for the closing ceremonies of the old ballpark.

In 2019 at age 80 he sat down with a One-on-One video interview with Howie Rose.

2022 Old Timers Day: In 2022 at the Old Timers Day event, Thomas was on hand although he was in a wheelchair after recently having fallen & broken a bone in his neck. Mets director of alumni relations reported that on the morning of the event, Thomas was outside his Manhattan hotel handing out autograph pictures of himself, loving being a part of Mets history.

Thomas is also a proud supporter of the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT).

Quotes- Frank Thomas: "It takes care of indigent ballplayers that have fallen upon hard times. There are some widows who can't even afford to bury their husbands when they die."

Family: Frank & his wife Delores (Wozniak) were married in 1951 & stayed together 61 years until her death in 2012.

The Thomas' had eight children, 12 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren.

Passing: On January 15th, 2023, Frank Thomas passed away at age 93. At the time of his death, he had been living in an assisted care facility in Pittsburgh.

Quotes- Frank's Daughter Mary Ann: " I'm so thankful that my dad was able to go to Old Timers Day. It meant the world to him to see his old teammates. I was thrilled with how the fans greeted him. I was so happy to see him in uniform again. We will treasure those memories forever".