Win–loss record 0–0 Role Baseball player Name Erskine Thomason | Strikeouts 1 Earned run average 0.00 Education Anderson University | |
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Melvin Erskine Thomason (born August 13, 1948) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned seven seasons, one of which was spent with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Philadelphia Phillies. Thomason played in one MLB game, pitching an inning for the Phillies on September 18, 1974. He struck out one batter while also recording two groundouts. Thomason was officially listed as standing 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) and weighing 190 pounds (86 kg).
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Born and raised in South Carolina, Thomason first played professionally with the Pulaski Phillies in 1970. Over the next three seasons, he played for various minor league teams in the Phillies organization before making his MLB debut in 1974. After playing another season of minor league baseball, Thomason worked for the South Carolina Tax Commission before pitching for the Reading Phillies in 1979. Thomason served as a minor league pitching coach until his retirement in 1987.
Early life
Melvin Erskine Thomason on August 13, 1948, in Laurens, South Carolina. His mother, Dorothy Cain Thomason, died in child birth, while his father, Furman Erskine Thomason, worked as a farmer. In 1966, Thomason graduated from Laurens High School, where he played football and basketball in addition to baseball. He attended college at Anderson College from 1968 until 1969, and attended Erskine College from 1969 until 1970 when he graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
Professional career
Thomason was drafted by the Phillies in the 22nd round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. After signing with the Phillies on June 10, 1970, Thomason began his career with the Pulaski Phillies (currently the Pulaski Mariners) of the Appalachian League in 1970. In his minor league career, Thomason played for the Spartanburg Phillies, the Peninsula Phillies, the Burlington Rangers, the Reading Phillies, and the Toledo Mud Hens. Over his minor league career, Thomason recorded 54 wins and 47 losses, for a win–loss percentage of .535. Thomason also posted an earned run average of 3.40, allowing 443 runs off of 883 hits.
Thomason made his Major League debut on September 18, 1974, for the Philadelphia Phillies, in a game against the Chicago Cubs. Thomason pitched in relief of Gene Garber in the top of the ninth inning, recording one strikeout against three batters faced, in a 5–2 Phillies loss.
After retiring from playing baseball, Thomason served as the pitching coach for the Spartanburg Phillies from 1980 until 1981. Thomason currently lives in Laurens, South Carolina.