Born and raised in South Carolina, Thomason first played professionally with the Pulaski Phillies in 1970. Over the next three seasons, he played for various Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams in the Phillies organization before making his MLB debut in 1974. After playing another season in the minors, Thomason worked for the South Carolina Tax Commission, before eventually returning to pitch for the 1979 Reading Phillies. After retiring as an active player, he served as a minor league pitching coach, until his retirement in 1987.\n', '

Melvin Erskine Thomason on August 13, 1948, in Laurens, South Carolina. His mother, Dorothy Cain Thomason, died in child birth, while his father, Furman Erskine Thomason, worked as a farmer. In 1966, Thomason graduated from Laurens High School, where he played football and basketball in addition to baseball. He attended college at Anderson College from 1968 until 1969, and attended Erskine College from 1969 until 1970 when he graduated with a bachelor\'s degree in physical education.\n', '

Thomason was drafted by the Phillies in the 22nd round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. After signing with the Phillies on June 10, 1970, Thomason began his career with the Pulaski Phillies (currently the Pulaski Mariners) of the Appalachian League in 1970. In his minor league career, Thomason played for the Spartanburg Phillies, the Peninsula Phillies, the Burlington Rangers, the Reading Phillies, and the Toledo Mud Hens. Over his minor league career, Thomason recorded 54 wins and 47 losses, for a win–loss percentage of .535. Thomason also posted an earned run average of 3.40, allowing 443 runs off of 883 hits.\n', '

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