Former Pirates, Mets outfielder and MLB All-Star Frank Thomas dies at 93

Former Major League Baseball outfielder Frank Thomas died Monday morning in his hometown of Pittsburgh at the age of 93. In Pittsburgh, he even starred as his three-time All-Star for his hometown Pirates. The cause of death has not been made public.

Although his prime was in Pittsburgh, Thomas is also remembered as a former member of the New York Mets. New York his Mets loved, but the 1962 expansion team lost the modern-day record of 120 games played. Thomas hit a team-high 34 home runs that season for Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel, leading the club with 69 home runs for the year.

Despite a fall in 2021 that limited his mobility, Thomas reunited with his teammates at Citi Field in Queens last summer for Old Timers Day.

As quoted by MLB.com, Thomas’ daughter, Marianne Pacconi, said, “My dad is so grateful to be able to go to Old Timer Day.” , meant the world to him.We were thrilled with how the fans greeted him.It was great to see him again in uniform.We will cherish those memories forever.

Former Major League Baseball outfielder Frank Thomas died Monday morning in his hometown of Pittsburgh at the age of 93. In Pittsburgh, he even starred as his three-time All-Star for his hometown Pirates.Cause of death not made public

Born to a Lithuanian immigrant father and a Pennsylvania woman, Thomas moved from Pittsburgh to the Toronto suburb of Mississauga for schooling. Eventually, he attended seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he studied for nearly five years to join the priesthood.

Instead, his baseball talent led him down a completely different path.

No relation to the legendary Chicago White Sox slugger of the same name, Thomas signed with the Pirates in 1947, was promoted to the majors in 1951, and spent the better part of a decade as one of the best hitters in the National League. rice field.

Pittsburgh Pirates “Big Guns” Roberto Clemente, Frank Thomas, Lee Walls and Bill Verdon (left to right) set their sights on the National League pennant in this 1956 pose.

Frank Thomas, Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer and Roger Craig practicing on the polo ground

But while his longtime teammate won the 1960 World Series by beating the New York Yankees, Thomas was shuffled from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati to the Chicago Cubs and finally to the Milwaukee Braves before joining the Mets. Sent. Player names will come later.

Thomas returned to Chicago in 1966 to finish his career and retired with a . 266 batting average, 286 home runs and 962 RBIs.

The “Big Donkey” as Thomas was known to his teammates is set to retire in the Pittsburgh area.

“Frank was proud to call the city of Pittsburgh home, not just as a member of the Pirates, but as someone who spent his entire life here,” said Pirates president Travis Williams. He was also a proud family man who was always involved in our reunion events.”

Mets manager Casey Stengel turned the outfield to get a photographer’s benefit when the photographer posed as all Mets teams reported.From left to right: Frank Thomas, Stengel, Gus Bell, Richie Ashburn