View source for Roy Thomas (pitcher)

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{more refs|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Roy Thomas
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=Roy Thomas Cardinals.jpg
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1953|6|22|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Quantico, Virginia]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 21
|debutyear=1977
|debutteam=Houston Astros
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=August 4
|finalyear=1987
|finalteam=Seattle Mariners
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=20–11
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.82
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=289
|teams=
*[[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1977}})
*[[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1978}}–{{mlby|1980}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|1983}}–{{mlby|1985}}, {{mlby|1987}})
}}
'''Roy Justin Thomas''' (born June 22, 1953) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) who played for the [[Houston Astros]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[Seattle Mariners]] in all or parts of eight seasons spanning 1977–1987. Listed at 6' 5" and 215 pounds, Thomas batted and threw right-handed. He was born in [[Quantico, Virginia]].

==Career==
===Philadelphia Phillies===
Thomas grew up in [[Lompoc, California]], and was the star pitcher of the Lompoc Nationals [[Little League]] team that went to the SoCal finals at El Monte in {{baseball year|1965}}.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hunt |first=Alan |date=July 28, 2002 |title=Going Back to the Long, Hot Summer of 65 |url=https://lompocrecord.com/article_e9a4f726-4513-5106-9957-90b334c4e606.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[Lompoc Record]]}}</ref> At [[Lompoc High School]], he was teammates with [[Roy Howell]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Joe |date=October 26, 2021 |title='The town lost a great friend:' Dan Bodary, Lompoc baseball icon, has died at 81 |url=https://santamariatimes.com/sports/local/the-town-lost-a-great-friend-dan-bodary-lompoc-baseball-icon-has-died-at-81/article_d23115a3-b94d-5a13-94fa-cd45d5c4ed76.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=[[Santa Maria Times]]}}</ref> He was selected sixth overall in the [[1971 Major League Baseball draft|1971 MLB draft]] by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] out of Lompoc High at eighteen years old.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 9, 1971 |title=Goodwin Top Selection in Baseball Draft |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6MQsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vwkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7206,1398830&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Star-News]] |pages=14 |via=Google News Archive |agency=United Press International}}</ref>

After a brief stint with the [[Northwest League]]'s [[Northwest League#Former Northwest League Teams (1955–)|Walla Walla Phillies]] in {{baseball year|1971}}, in which he gave up fourteen [[earned run]]s in twelve [[innings pitched]], Thomas went 11-7 with a 3.43 [[earned run average]] in 24 starts in his first full minor league season in {{baseball year|1972}} with the [[Western Carolinas League]]'s [[Spartanburg Phillies]]. He went 17-8 with a stellar 2.14 ERA and 207 [[strikeout]]s with the [[Rocky Mount Phillies]] and [[Reading Phillies]] in {{baseball year|1973}} to earn an invitation to [[Spring training]] the following season, but failed to earn a spot in the Phillies' rotation.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bernstein |first=Ralph |date=February 26, 1974 |title=Future Not Bright for Lowly Phillies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uRsfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OZwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5190,4587559&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]] |pages=17 |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===Chicago White Sox===
After two more seasons in the Phillies' [[farm system]], the once deemed "untouchable"<ref>{{cite news |date=March 11, 1975 |title=Anderson Not Trade Bait |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EEFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fHkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5066,2916398&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |page=7-C |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> Thomas was dealt to the [[Chicago White Sox]] along with [[Dick Ruthven]] and [[Alan Bannister]] in exchange for [[Jim Kaat]] and [[Mike Buskey]] on December 10, {{baseball year|1975}}.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 11, 1975 |title=Phillies Acquire Jim Kaat |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6hJZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WUYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3214,1920347&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]] |page=2B |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In his only season in the Sox organization, Thomas went 6-11 with a 3.75 ERA with their Triple-A affiliate, the [[Iowa Cubs|Iowa Oaks]]. Afterwards, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 31st pick in the [[1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft|1976 MLB expansion draft]]. The Mariners then placed him on waivers toward the end of spring training, then worked out a trade to the [[Houston Astros]] for [[infielder]] [[Larry Milbourne]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 9, 1977 |title=Mariners Defeat Angels for First Win Ever |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PL0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5266,5294723&dq |newspaper=[[The Bulletin (Bend)]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

===Houston Astros===
Thomas was converted to a [[relief pitcher]] in {{baseball year|1977}}, and went 11-6 with a 3.16 ERA and six [[save (baseball)|saves]] for the triple A [[Charleston Charlies]] to earn a call up to Houston that September. The only two MLB teams Thomas faced in {{mlby|1977}} were the last place [[Atlanta Braves]], and the eventual [[National League (baseball)|National League]] champion [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. In his two games against the Braves, Thomas blew a save opportunity while surrendering four [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and two earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. In his two games against the Dodgers, he pitched four [[inning]]s and gave up just one hit while striking out two.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

===St. Louis Cardinals===
Thomas returned to Charleston in {{baseball year|1978}} to go 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA mostly in relief. On June 23, he was selected off waivers by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], and brought directly to the majors.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

In his first appearance with the Cardinals, Thomas earned a win by pitching two scoreless innings in an [[extra innings]] affair with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 28, 1978 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 5 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT197806280.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> He earned saves in his next two appearances against the [[Montreal Expos]],<ref>{{cite web |date=June 30, 1978 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 2, Montreal Expos 1 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197806300.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 2, 1978 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 4, Montreal Expos 2 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197807022.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> but was roughed up by the [[Chicago Cubs]] in his next two outings.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 3, 1978 |title=Chicago Cubs 6, St. Louis Cardinals 2 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197807030.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 5, 1978 |title=Chicago Cubs 5, St. Louis Cardinals 1 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197807050.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> After one more relief appearance, he made an emergency start against the [[San Diego Padres]], and gave up five [[run (baseball)|runs]] in four innings for his first career loss.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com">{{cite web |date=July 19, 1978 |title=San Diego Padres 5, St. Louis Cardinals 3 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197807190.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He returned to the [[bullpen]] after that and earned one save with a 1.54 ERA the rest of the way.

Thomas began the {{baseball year|1979}} season assigned to the triple-A Springfield Redbirds, where he was converted back to a [[starting pitcher|starter]]. He was called up on July 1, and immediately made his first start in the second game of a [[doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] with the Phillies. He gave up one earned run in seven innings but did not figure in the decision.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 3, 1979 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197907012.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He earned his first win as a starter on August 7 against the [[New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 7, 1979 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 2, New York Mets 1 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197908072.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Overall, Thomas went 3-4 with a 2.92 ERA and one save mostly in middle relief.

He earned a spot in the Cardinals' bullpen in Spring {{mlby|1980}} but made a bad start to the regular season (11.57 ERA & 1 [[blown save]] in April). He then entered the starting rotation and made the finest start of his major league career on May 14 against the Padres. In seven innings, he surrendered five [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and one earned run to earn the win.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 14, 1980 |title=St. Louis Cardinals 2, San Diego Padres 1 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198005140.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> On May 30, after returning to the bullpen, he struck Montreal Expos [[outfielder]] [[Ellis Valentine]] in the face with a pitch, shattering his cheekbone.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 2, 1980 |title=Long Healing Period For Ellie |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HIkxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=caQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1913,253720&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[The Gazette (Montreal)]] |pages=50 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> He remained in the Cards' bullpen another month until he was optioned down to Springfield to make room for [[Silvio Martinez]]'s return from the [[disabled list]].<ref>{{cite news |date=July 5, 1980 |title=Cardinals' Martinez Leaves Disabled List |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HJcyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5711,666270&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]] |pages=10 |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After the season, he was drafted by the [[Oakland Athletics]] in the 1980 [[rule 5 draft]].

===Seattle Mariners===
In {{baseball year|1981}}, Thomas went 12-8 with a 3.05 ERA and 111 strikeouts for Oakland's triple-A affiliate, the [[Tacoma Tigers]], but did not see any major league experience. After the season, he was dealt to the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguers Tim Hallgren and [[Rusty McNealy]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 10, 1981 |title=M's Trade |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nkFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7239,3563090&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Spokane Daily Chronicle]] |pages=42 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref>

He spent his first Spring with his new club in the majors but was shipped to the triple-A [[Salt Lake City Gulls]] just as the {{baseball year|1982}} season was set to begin.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 2, 1982 |title=Mariners Ship Rawley to Yankees for Nelson, Caudill |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oHZUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-I4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5237,153022&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Ellensburg Daily Record]] |pages=11 |via=Google News Archive |agency=United Press International}}</ref> He successfully made the club the following Spring and spent his first full season in the majors in {{mlby|1983}}, when he went 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 43 appearances. His 88.2 innings pitched was tops for a right-hander on the club.

A sore elbow in his pitching arm derailed his {{mlby|1984}} season.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 13, 1984 |title=Mariners Recall Chambers and Nunez |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qhAqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tWcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3858,2142808&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)]] |pages=22 |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Though he was only with the M's for a little over half the season, he appeared in 21 games and pitched 49.2 innings. He returned healthy in {{baseball year|1985}}, but failed to make the club. He actually retired briefly, but reconsidered, and began the season in the [[Pacific Coast League]] with the [[Calgary Cannons]].<ref name="Sox">{{Cite news |date=1985-07-28 |title=Thomas, Mariners Tatter Red Sox, 10-3 |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/khkiicnwwzwksjexoyjhisgcqzmbrhxx_ip-10-166-46-85_1739856807629 |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=[[The News and Courier]] |page=3-C |publication-place=Charleston, South Carolina |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Thomas was brought up to Seattle in late May and immediately became [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Chuck Cottier]]'s favorite arm out of the bullpen. The Mariners set a franchise record with an eight-game winning streak in late June.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 29, 1985 |title=Thomases Lead Seattle to a Record 7th Straight |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R_5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7038,3235362&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |pages=12 |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Thomas appeared in three games during that stretch and earned two wins while holding opposing batters to a .190 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]]. When fortunes reversed, and the M's were on a six-game losing streak in late July, Thomas pitched 6.1 brilliant innings of relief against the [[American League]] champion [[Boston Red Sox]] to break the streak.<ref name="Sox"/> Despite having missed almost two months of the season, he pitched a team high 93.2 innings in relief, compiling a 7-0 record with a 3.36 ERA and seventy strikeouts. As a result, Thomas earned the distinction of having compiled the most wins without a loss ever on a team with a losing record when he went 7-0 for the [[1985 Seattle Mariners season|1985 Seattle Mariners]] (74-88).<ref name="RECORD">{{Cite web |date=2001-05-27 |title=Sele (7-0), Mariners Keep Up Torrid Pace |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-27-sp-3346-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250218053541/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-27-sp-3346-story.html |archive-date=2025-02-18 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>  This record would be matched by [[Aaron Sele]] in the [[2001 Seattle Mariners season|2001 Mariners season]].<ref name=RECORD/>

His sore elbow returned just as the {{mlby|1986}} season was set to start.<ref>{{cite news |date=Apr 10, 1986 |title=Angels Go Long Way to Sink M's |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AftLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7154,2289173&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |page=C2 |via=Google News Archive |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> As it turned out, he had elbow [[tendinitis]] which rendered him unable to pitch the entire season at any level.<ref>{{cite news |author=Cafardo |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Cafardo |date=July 10, 1987 |title=Sox Pitching Fails |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6Y5GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2708,1036266&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston)]] |page=3B |via=Google News Archive}}</ref>

Thomas was released by the M's in December,<ref>{{cite news |date=December 20, 1986 |title=Yankees Trade Wynegar to Angels for Romanick |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3t8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2945%2C4001757 |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |pages=15 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> but returned the following Spring as a non-roster invitee. He earned a spot with the triple A [[Calgary Cannons]],<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 1987 |title=Mariners Release Castillo, Send Swift Down |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WNJHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FQANAAAAIBAJ&pg=3417,6391065&dq |access-date=2025-02-18 |newspaper=[[Record-Journal]] |pages=17 |via=[[Google News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> and was brought to the majors in late June. On July 9, {{mlby|1987}} Thomas pitched 4.2 scoreless innings against the Red Sox to earn his first win of the season.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 9, 1987 |title=Seattle Mariners 11, Boston Red Sox 5 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198707090.shtml |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Coupled with his 7-0 record in 1985, Thomas ended his major league career with an eight-game winning streak.

Having spent most of his career in the [[American League]], Thomas only logged 34 career [[at-bat]]s with 4 hits. His only career [[run batted in]] came off [[Randy Jones (baseball)|Randy Jones]] on July 19, 1978.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com"/>

Defensively, Thomas was a perfect fielder in the majors. In 419.1 [[innings pitched]] in 182 appearances, he recorded a 1.000 [[fielding percentage]], handling 90 [[total chances]] with 36 [[putout]]s and 54 [[assist (baseball)|assist]]s.<ref name="Roy Thomas player page">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomaro02.shtml|title=Roy Thomas statistics and history|work=Baseball Reference.com| access-date = January 25, 2021}}</ref>

===Senior Professional Baseball Association===
Thomas also pitched for the [[St. Lucie Legends]] and the [[Sun City Rays]] of the [[Senior Professional Baseball Association]] from 1989–1990, until the league folded in the 1990 midseason.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

===After baseball===
Following his playing retirement, Thomas worked as a math teacher at Totem Middle School and Illahee Middle School in the [[Federal Way, Washington]] School District.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 21, 2012 |title=Former Mariners pitcher Roy Thomas throws out first pitch tomorrow |url=http://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/2012/05/21/former-mariners-pitcher-roy-thomas-throws-out-1st-pitch-tomorrow/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629215046/http://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/2012/05/21/former-mariners-pitcher-roy-thomas-throws-out-1st-pitch-tomorrow/ |archive-date=2013-06-29 |website=MLBlogs Network}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{baseballstats |mlb=123263 |espn=659 |br=t/thomaro02 |fangraphs=1012993 |brm=thomas003roy}}

{{1971 MLB Draft}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies 1st round}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Roy}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Prince William County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players]]
[[Category:Calgary Cannons players]]
[[Category:Charleston Charlies players]]
[[Category:Denver Zephyrs players]]
[[Category:Houston Astros players]]
[[Category:Iowa Oaks players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Federal Way, Washington]]
[[Category:Baseball players from King County, Washington]]
[[Category:People from Quantico, Virginia]]
[[Category:Reading Phillies players]]
[[Category:Rocky Mount Phillies players]]
[[Category:Salinas Spurs players]]
[[Category:Salt Lake City Gulls players]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners players]]
[[Category:Spartanburg Phillies players]]
[[Category:Springfield Redbirds players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:St. Lucie Legends players]]
[[Category:Sun City Rays players]]
[[Category:Tacoma Tigers players]]
[[Category:Toledo Mud Hens players]]
[[Category:Walla Walla Phillies players]]
[[Category:Lompoc High School alumni]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Santa Barbara County, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]