Junior Thompson

Junior Thompson
Pitcher
Born:(1917-06-07)June 7, 1917 Latham, Illinois,U.S.
Died:August 24, 2006(2006-08-24)(aged 89) Scottsdale, Arizona,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 26, 1939, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
July 4, 1947, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	47–35
Earned run average	3.26
Strikeouts	315
Teams
Cincinnati Reds(1939–1942) New York Giants(1946–1947)
Career highlights and awards
World Serieschampion (1940)

Junior Eugene Thompson(June 7, 1917 – August 24, 2006), nicknamed "Junior",was an American right-handedpitcherinMajor League Baseballwho played for theCincinnati RedsandNew York Giants.

Born inLatham, Illinois,Thompson made his professional debut in the Reds' farm system in 1935. After a year off, he spent 1937 and 1938 with several minor league teams, primarily theSyracuse Chiefs.He was promoted to the Reds the following year and made his major league debut on April 26, 1939.

Thompson played for the Reds between 1939 and 1942, earning 39winsagainst 27 losses. He was 13–5 as a rookie, but lost Game 3 of theWorld Seriesagainst theNew York Yankeesas the Reds were swept. Thompson was a member of the Reds team that won the1940 World Seriesagainst theDetroit Tigers,achieving a 16–9 record in the regular season although he was ineffective in his only Series start in Game 5. He played for the Giants in 1947–48, posting an 8–8 record. He ended his career with a record of 47–35, a 3.26earned run averageand 315strikeoutsin 185 games and686+2⁄3innings pitched.

In between playing for the Reds and Giants, Thompson served in theUnited States Navyduring World War II.

After his career ended, Thompson became a scout for the Giants, by then in San Francisco, serving in that capacity for 40 years. He worked briefly for theCleveland IndiansandChicago Cubsbefore finishing his career with theSan Diego Padres,finally retiring in 2005.He died at age 89 inScottsdale, Arizona.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
• Junior Thompsonat The Deadball Era
• Junior ThompsonatFind a Grave

Further reading

• Van Blair, Rick (1994).Dugout to Foxhole: Interviews with Baseball Players Whose Careers Were Affected by World War II.Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Publishers.