Bobby Thigpen
Encyclopedia
Robert Thomas "Bobby" Thigpen (born July 17, 1963 in Tallahassee, Florida
) is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He is noted for setting the major league record of 57 save
s during the season, which has since been broken by Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
pitcher Francisco Rodríguez. He is the former pitching coach of the Winston-Salem Dash.
, Thigpen moved on to pitch and play the outfield for Mississippi State University
and coach Ron Polk
. Among his teammates were future major-leaguers Will Clark
, Rafael Palmeiro
and Jeff Brantley. Thigpen was part of MSU's 1985 College World Series
team, recording a .305 batting average and saving seven games during the season.
Thigpen was selected by the Chicago White Sox
in the fourth round of the 1985 amateur draft
. He made the major leagues the next August and moved into the White Sox's closer role. After two straight 30-save seasons, Thigpen had the best season of his career in 1990, setting the then-major league record of 57 saves. He also maintained a 1.83 ERA and was named to the AL All-Star team. He also blew eight saves that season, including two three-run leads.
He later began to battle injuries, starting with a back problem developed after the 1990 season, when some players went on an exhibition tour of Japan
. Thigpen's effectiveness waned and he was supplanted in the closer role by Roberto Hernández.
During the season, Thigpen was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for José DeLeón
, and pitched in the NLCS and World Series
for Philadelphia. The following season, he signed with the Seattle Mariners
, who released him on April 29. He joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
and attempted to return to the majors in 1996, only to be derailed by back problems.
Thigpen's 201 career saves rank him 41st on the all-time saves list.
playoff game at the St. Pete Times Forum
when he tripped on the stairs, triggering massive internal bleeding. "He had about a gallon of blood in his abdomen," said Dr. Kevin Hirsch, a trauma surgeon at Bayfront Medical Center
who operated on Thigpen. "He had significant bleeding in and around his pancreas and kidney that we had to go in and stop."http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/12/Lightning/Thigpen_critically_hu.shtml Thigpen spent a week in the hospital and recovered.
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
) is a former relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is noted for setting the major league record of 57 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
s during the season, which has since been broken by Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
pitcher Francisco Rodríguez. He is the former pitching coach of the Winston-Salem Dash.
Baseball career
After two years at Seminole Community CollegeSeminole Community College
Seminole State College of Florida is a public state college located in Sanford, Florida, United States...
, Thigpen moved on to pitch and play the outfield for Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and coach Ron Polk
Ron Polk
Ronald Polk was a long-time head baseball coach at Mississippi State and is considered the "Father of SEC Baseball". He is by far the winningest coach in school and SEC history in all sports. In 28 seasons as the coach, he has to date compiled a 1139-590-2 record. His career record stands at...
. Among his teammates were future major-leaguers Will Clark
Will Clark
William Nuschler Clark, Jr. is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from to .Will was known by the nickname of "Will the Thrill"...
, Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985...
and Jeff Brantley. Thigpen was part of MSU's 1985 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
team, recording a .305 batting average and saving seven games during the season.
Thigpen was selected by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the fourth round of the 1985 amateur draft
1985 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full year of major league experience prior to the start of the 1987 season. Included in that list were...
. He made the major leagues the next August and moved into the White Sox's closer role. After two straight 30-save seasons, Thigpen had the best season of his career in 1990, setting the then-major league record of 57 saves. He also maintained a 1.83 ERA and was named to the AL All-Star team. He also blew eight saves that season, including two three-run leads.
He later began to battle injuries, starting with a back problem developed after the 1990 season, when some players went on an exhibition tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Thigpen's effectiveness waned and he was supplanted in the closer role by Roberto Hernández.
During the season, Thigpen was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for José DeLeón
Jose DeLeon
José DeLeón Chestaro is a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of thirteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Montreal Expos. He was the National League strikeout champion in 1989 with...
, and pitched in the NLCS and World Series
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
for Philadelphia. The following season, he signed with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, who released him on April 29. He joined the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
and attempted to return to the majors in 1996, only to be derailed by back problems.
Thigpen's 201 career saves rank him 41st on the all-time saves list.
Post-baseball injury
In 2003, Thigpen was leaving a Stanley CupStanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoff game at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....
when he tripped on the stairs, triggering massive internal bleeding. "He had about a gallon of blood in his abdomen," said Dr. Kevin Hirsch, a trauma surgeon at Bayfront Medical Center
Bayfront Medical Center
Bayfront Medical Center is a hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bayfront Medical Center is Pinellas County's only trauma center and St. Petersburg's longest-standing hospital....
who operated on Thigpen. "He had significant bleeding in and around his pancreas and kidney that we had to go in and stop."http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/12/Lightning/Thigpen_critically_hu.shtml Thigpen spent a week in the hospital and recovered.