Known in Cuba as Ametrilladora, “Machine Gun,” Thompson was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. He played three season with Habana between 1946-49, batting .320, .318 and .321.
In 1947-48, Thompson led the Cuban League with 51 RBI, helping to lead Habana to the league championship by one game over arch-rival Almendares.
Thompson (shown in this photo that was up for auction at Hakes in November) joined Monte Irvin and Willie Mays in forming the first all-black major-league outfield with the New York Giants in 1951. Ironically, all three were on Cuban League rosters as well, Thompson with Habana and Irvin and Mays with Almendares.
According to his Negro League Baseball Players Association bio, Thompson, on June 9, 1949, married Havana beauty Maria Quesada, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
No comments:
Post a Comment