Pinch Thomas

Who was Pinch Thomas?

Chester David Thomas was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1912 through 1921 for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. Listed at 5 ft 9.5 in, 173 lb., Thomas batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Camp Point, Illinois.

A fine defensive replacement, Thomas was the primary catcher for the Red Sox during three years, helping them to the World Championship in 1915 and 1916. In 1917 he led American League catchers with a .986 fielding percentage, but at the end of the season he was dealt to the Philadelphia Athletics, with two other players, in the same transaction that brought Joe Bush, Wally Schang and Amos Strunk to Boston. He did not appear in a game for the Athletics and was sold to the Indians. While in Cleveland, he won a third World Series ring in 1920. A good pinch-hitter as well, he hit .417 from 1913 to 1918.

In a 10-season career, Thomas was a .237 hitter with two home runs and 102 RBI, including 88 runs, 27 doubles, eight triples, 12 stolen bases, and a .318 on-base percentage. In 423 catching appearances, he commiited 52 errors in 1,948 chances for a .973 fielding percentage. Thomas died in Modesto, California at age 65.