Fresco Thompson
Encyclopedia
Lafayette Fresco Thompson (June 6, 1902 — November 20, 1968) was a Major League Baseball
second baseman
and executive. He was born in Centreville, Alabama
, but attended George Washington High School
and Columbia University
in New York City. A right-handed batter and thrower, Thompson stood 5 inch tall and weighed 150 lb (68 kg).
After brief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates
and New York Giants
, Thompson was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
in when the Giants obtained Rogers Hornsby
. A right-handed hitter and thrower, he had his most productive years with the Phils, playing in Baker Bowl
, twice hitting over .300. Overall, he batted
.298 in 669 games played and 2,560 at bats over nine National League
seasons (1925–32; 1934).
After his playing days, Thompson managed in the minor leagues
and in , he became an assistant farm director for the Brooklyn Dodgers
. Thompson moved up the executive ladder, and survived the front-office purge that followed Branch Rickey
's departure in October . During the shakeup, Thompson became a vice president and the team's second-ranking baseball executive, responsible for all minor league operations, while another VP, Buzzie Bavasi
, assumed control of the big-league Dodgers' operations.
Thompson continued in that role after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles
in . When Bavasi left to become president of the expansion San Diego Padres
in June , Thompson became the Dodgers' executive vice president and general manager
; however, weeks after his promotion, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer
, and he died in November in Fullerton, California
, at the age of 66.
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...
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...
and executive. He was born in Centreville, Alabama
Centreville, Alabama
Centreville is a city in Bibb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,466. The city is the county seat of Bibb County.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, but attended George Washington High School
George Washington High School (New York City)
George Washington High School is a public high school located in the Fort George neighborhood of the Washington Heights section of Manhattan in New York City, New York....
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City. A right-handed batter and thrower, Thompson stood 5 inch tall and weighed 150 lb (68 kg).
After brief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Thompson 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...
in when the Giants obtained Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
. A right-handed hitter and thrower, he had his most productive years with the Phils, playing in Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
, twice hitting over .300. Overall, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.298 in 669 games played and 2,560 at bats over nine National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
seasons (1925–32; 1934).
After his playing days, Thompson managed in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and in , he became an assistant farm director for the Brooklyn 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...
. Thompson moved up the executive ladder, and survived the front-office purge that followed Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
's departure in October . During the shakeup, Thompson became a vice president and the team's second-ranking baseball executive, responsible for all minor league operations, while another VP, Buzzie Bavasi
Buzzie Bavasi
Emil Joseph "Buzzie" Bavasi was an American executive in Major League Baseball who played a major role in the operation of three franchises from the late 1940s through the mid-1980s....
, assumed control of the big-league Dodgers' operations.
Thompson continued in that role after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in . When Bavasi left to become president of the expansion San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in June , Thompson became the Dodgers' executive vice president and general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
; however, weeks after his promotion, Thompson was diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and he died in November in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
, at the age of 66.