Gene Thompson

Born: 6/7/1917 in Latham, IL, USA

Died: 8/24/2006 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1939-04-26 | Final Game: 1947-07-04

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Eugene Earl Thompson

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Biography

Gene Thompson was a professional baseball pitcher who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1947. Born in 1917, Thompson's career spanned a pivotal era in baseball, marked by the transition from the pre-war days to the post-World War II landscape. Over his career, he achieved a record of 47 wins and 35 losses, showcasing his competitive spirit on the mound. He finished with an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 3.26, indicating his effectiveness in limiting opponents' scoring opportunities. Thompson struck out 315 batters during his time in the league, demonstrating his ability to dominate hitters with his pitching arsenal. Additionally, he recorded 7 saves, highlighting his versatility and capability to perform in high-pressure situations late in games. Though not a household name, Thompson's contributions to his teams were significant, as he navigated the challenges of his era, including the impacts of the World War and the evolving dynamics of baseball in the mid-20th century. His career remains a testament to the enduring spirit of the game during a transformative period in its history.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
5.0	5.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000

Pitching

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA
4.0	0	0	3.0	1.0	0	0	0.0	31.0	20.0	6.0	0	0	0	2.70

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1949	5.0	5.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Pitching

Season	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA
1949	4.0	0	0	3.0	1.0	0	0	0.0	31.0	20.0	6.0	0	0	0	2.70

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
47	35	185	68	27	6	7	686.7	602	249	35	328	315	3.26	0

Career ERA 3.26 vs. league average 3.93 across their career seasons — 16.9% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1939	CIN	NL	13	5	42	11	5	3	2	152.3	130	43	55	87	2.54	4.28 (+41%)	2767.7
1940	CIN	NL	16	9	33	31	17	3	0	225.3	197	83	96	103	3.32	4.21 (+21%)	1432.4
1941	CIN	NL	6	6	27	15	4	0	1	109.0	117	59	57	46	4.87	3.94 (-24%)	-1092.0
1942	CIN	NL	4	7	29	10	1	0	0	101.7	86	38	53	35	3.36	3.57 (+6%)	-1512.5
1946	NY1	NL	4	6	39	1	0	0	4	62.7	36	9	40	31	1.29	3.59 (+64%)	-1521.6
1947	NY1	NL	4	2	15	0	0	0	0	35.7	36	17	27	13	4.29	3.97 (-8%)	-1297.5

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
185	200	13	45	8	1	0	18	0	6	52	0.225	0.248	0.275	0.523	-343.0

Career AVG .225 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — 14.3% below league average.

Career OBP .248 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — 25.7% below league average.

Career SLG .275 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — 26.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.523 vs. league average 0.706 across their career seasons — 26.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1939	CIN	NL	42	48	3	11	1	0	1	0	11	0.229	—	—	—	—	0.0
1940	CIN	NL	33	79	5	18	4	1	11	2	26	0.228	.267 (-15%)	.335 (-26%)	.387 (-22%)	.722 (-24%)	-343.0
1941	CIN	NL	27	30	2	7	3	0	2	0	6	0.233	—	—	—	—	0.0
1942	CIN	NL	29	30	3	8	0	0	4	2	4	0.267	—	—	—	—	0.0
1946	NY1	NL	39	7	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	0.143	—	—	—	—	0.0
1947	NY1	NL	15	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0