Tim Thompson ✝

Thompson\'s pro career extended for 16 seasons (1947–62) and included almost 1,500 games in the minor leagues. During his finest big-league season, 1956, he was the Athletics\' most-used starting catcher, starting in 63 games; he set personal bests that year in games played (92), hits (73), runs batted in (27) and batting average (.272). The following year, playing behind regular backstop Hal Smith, he slugged seven home runs in 81 games, but his average declined to .204. He then was included in a 12-player trade with the Tigers that November. His 123 MLB hits included 24 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.\n', ' After his active career, Thompson was a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981 and scouted for the Cardinals, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.\n', ' \n', '