Sam Thompson dies at the age of 62
On November 7, 1922, future Hall of Fame outfielder, Sam Thompson died at the age of 62. Thompson batted .331 over a 15-year major league career.
When Babe Ruth hit his 128th career homer, in 1921, it was Sam Thompson’s career record that he broke. Unfortunately, Thompson has been forgotten ever since. But in the 1890s he was an extremely popular ballplayer, teaming with Ed Delahanty and Billy Hamilton to form one of the greatest outfields in baseball history during his stretch in Philadelphia. An imposing figure with a very strong throwing arm, Thompson was one of the first outfielders to perfect the one-bounce throw to home plate and other bases. He led the league in eight different batting categories during his amazing career, and belted his last homer at the age of 46. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974, 55 years after his death.
Baseball is the only game you can watch on the radio. Join the community today and listen to hundreds of broadcasts from baseball’s golden age
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@