Tim Thompson

Thompson broke into professional baseball after World War II service in the United States Navy, signing with the Brooklyn organization. His pro career extended for 16 seasons (1947–62) and included almost 1,500 games in the minor leagues.

In 1956, Thompson was the Athletics' most-used starting catcher, starting in 63 games; he set personal bests that year in games played (92), hits (73), runs batted in (27) and batting average (.272). The following year, playing behind regular backstop Hal Smith, Thompson slugged seven home runs in 81 games, but his average declined to .204. He then was included in a 12-player trade with the Tigers that November. He appeared in only four games with the Tigers, with one hit in six at bats, before he was acquired by the independently-operated Toronto Maple Leafs of the Triple-A International League. He played almost five full years for the Leafs, until his retirement from the field at age 38 in 1962, and was the club's player-manager for the latter weeks of the 1961 season; the Leafs went 25–23 under Thompson but missed the playoffs. Thompson's 123 MLB hits included 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.

After his active career, Thompson was a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981 and scouted for the Cardinals, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics