Although
born on October 21, 1925 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Valmy Thomas was the first
Major League player from the Virgins Island.
His mother had gone to Puerto Rico only to receive better medical care
during Valmy’s birth. She returned home
to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands immediately after he was born.
Although
signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, Thomas played mostly on
semi-professional Caribbean teams while in his 20s. The 5’9”, 165 pound catcher also displayed
his talents against Major League and Negro League players in Caribbean winter
league games. When Thomas was 31 years
old he made his Major League debut in 1957 with the New York Giants.
When
the Giants moved to San Francisco the next season, Thomas was the starting
catcher in their home opener on April 15th at Seals Stadium. He walked three times and scored two runs in
the team’s 8 – 0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was also the Dodgers first league game in
California after moving from Brooklyn.
After
being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1959 season, Thomas spent
the last two years of his Major League career with American League teams; Baltimore Orioles (1960) and Cleveland
Indians (1961).
Who was Valmy Thomas’ Giant roommate
that became President of the National League?
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