Reggie Thomas (minors01)

Reginald Albert Thomas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 178 lb.

• Born June 26, 1946
• Died July, 1980

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Reggie Thomas was the very last player taken in the main portion of the 1965 amateur draft. He was selected by the Houston Astros 824th overall, as the only player taken in the 72nd round. Nevertheless, he forged an 11-year minor league career.

The fleet-footed outfielder played in the Astros system until 1966, then the Atlanta Braves organization in 1967. In 1968, he was in the New York Mets chain. Despite hitting over .200 only once in that span, he stole 37 bases in 1966 and 55 bags in 1967; that year, he also had a .394 on-base percentage on the strength of 75 walks. After not playing in 1969, Thomas joined the Indians system for 1970 and 1971, hitting 14 triples (and only 12 doubles) with 13 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 1970. He slashed .294/.403/.480 in 58 games in 1971. He did not play in 1972, but stolen 71 bases in 66 games for the Portland Mavericks in 1972, while slashing .340/.480/.494 (he had 55 walks). He also played for the Union Laguna Algodoneros of the Mexican League that year. He reached affiliated Triple A ball for the first and only time in 1975, slashing .243/.350/.349 in 85 games for the Toledo Mud Hens with 27 steals in the Philadelphia Phillies system. Returning to Low-A ball in 1976, he hit .294/.394/.422 in 31 games. He did not play in 1977 and struggled in 1978, his final season.

He died in July 1980 at 34 years old, per Baseball Reference. However, other sources say he, supposedly acting as an FBI informant, "went missing" in 1980.[1]