Brian Thurston

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Biographical Information

Brian Thurston was a long-time star pitcher for the Hull Mets in Britain and for the British national team. His brother Phillip Thurston also played for the national team.

Brian debuted for Britain in the 1988 European Championship B-Pool, winning MVP honors. He tossed shutout ball, blanking Czechoslovakia in the finale. In the 1989 European Championship, he was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out 25 but walking 16 in 24 innings. At the plate, he was 3 for 14 with a double, triple and four runs. He had a 0-3, 3.18 record in the 1991 European Championship for a winless British squad, striking out 20 in 17 innings. He went 0 for 12 offensively. In the 1992 European Championship B-Pool, he went 2-0 with two saves and a 1.17 ERA, beating Switzerland and Lithuania. He struck out 28 and walked 3 in 23 innings. He went 3 for 20 with a homer, going deep off San Marino. In the 1994 European Championship B Pool, he was 0 for 3. In the 1996 European Championship B Pool, he started in right field for Britain, going 5 for 22 with a double and six runs, driving in the winner against Lithuania in the semifinals to win a spot in the 1997 European Championship. In that event, he allowed five runs in five innings; at the plate, he was 2 for 16 with a double. Overall, he had a 5-4, 2.82 record for the British national team. In 2011, he was inducted into the British Baseball Hall of Fame, one of the first five players enshrined.

Source

• British Baseball Hall of Fame
• National team bio