Derrel Thomas
Encyclopedia
Derrel Osborn Thomas is a former professional baseball
player who played in Major League Baseball
primarily as a second baseman
, center fielder
, and shortstop
from 1971-85. He held the distinction of being one of a few players to have played every position (except pitcher) at least once in his career.
Following his playing career, Thomas was the first manager of the Boise Hawks
in 1987, then an independent team in the Class A Short Season Northwest League
. As of 2009, he is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers
organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau.
Thomas is currently the head baseball coach at Adrenaline Athletic Training in Riverside
, CA.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who played 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...
primarily as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
from 1971-85. He held the distinction of being one of a few players to have played every position (except pitcher) at least once in his career.
Following his playing career, Thomas was the first manager of the Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
in 1987, then an independent team in the Class A Short Season Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. As of 2009, he is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau.
Thomas is currently the head baseball coach at Adrenaline Athletic Training in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, CA.