Carl Thomas

“Has a pitcher ever made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter?” asked Cleveland sportswriter Harry Jones in his column after the Indians’ 1960 Opening Day 4-2 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers.1 Detroit scored two runs in the top of the 15th inning to take the lead. After a one-out double in the bottom of the inning, Cleveland manager Joe Gordon, who had used all his position players, called on rookie Carl Thomas to pinch-hit for the Indians reliever. Thomas, a decent hitter during his college career as a three-time All-America hurler for the University of Arizona, struck out.

Although his accomplishments at the collegiate level were not duplicated in his professional baseball career, during his short time at the major-league level with Cleveland, Thomas did play in two games of significance to Indians fans of the late 1950s. His pinch-hitting opportunity occurred during Rocky Colavito’s first appearance in a game at Cleveland Stadium after being traded to the Tigers. Less than a month later against the visiting Chicago White Sox, Thomas received credit for his one big-league victory. It was the only time Herb Score, who had been traded by Cleveland to Chicago and took the loss, pitched against the Indians in Cleveland.

Carl Leslie Thomas was born on May 28, 1932, in Minneapolis, the only child of Carl F. and Alberta Thomas.2 Carl F. pitched for minor-league teams in St. Paul and Louisville during the 1920s.3 By 1940, the Thomas household included not only the 8-year-old Carl and his two parents, but also his aunt and uncle, their two daughters, ages 6 and 15, and his grandmother Lena Thomas. His father worked at a tractor factory.4

Thomas attended Central High School in Minneapolis. At 6-feet-5 and 225 pounds by his senior year, he competed in football, basketball, and baseball, and was a teammate of future major leaguer Johnny Blanchard, a year behind Thomas in school. In 1949 they starred on Central’s basketball team, which qualified for the state tournament. Thomas scored a season-high 16 points, including his team’s last five points, in the 37-34 win that put Central into the semifinal game, which they lost to the eventual state champion.5

In 1950 the pair led Central to its first-ever Twin Cities baseball championship. The right-handed Thomas pitched a no-hitter in the 1-0 win that clinched the Minneapolis high-school title.6 Two days later, with Blanchard pitching and Thomas playing third base, he hit two home runs in Central’s 7-1 win over the St. Paul champion.7

After graduating in June of 1950, Thomas attended the College World Series in Omaha as a guest of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was reported that several other scouts had shown an interest in him and that he had received a scholarship offer from the University of Colorado.8 After attending Colorado in the fall, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota.9 Coach Dick Siebert, assessing his baseball team in November of 1950, mentioned Thomas as one of his promising group of freshmen pitchers.10

Thomas never played for the Gophers. According to his father, he quit after about three weeks when he saw one of his friends sign a “big money” pro-baseball contract. Thomas didn’t have a scholarship at Minnesota, but when another friend told him he could get a basketball scholarship at Santa Ana Junior College in California, he decided to enroll there for the 1951-52 school year.11

Thomas played football, basketball, and baseball for Santa Ana, although an injury cut short his football season. He was 10-2 as a starting pitcher for the baseball team, including a 3-0 no-hit win and another game in which he struck out 18.12 Santa Ana won the Southern California junior college championship. Thomas was selected as a member of the 15-player Pacific Coast all-star team that, after a stop in Honolulu, toured Japan during the summer of 1952.13

The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers both offered to sign Thomas at the end of Santa Ana’s season, but he decided to continue his college baseball career, choosing the University of Arizona over the University of Southern California.14 In a 2013 interview, his wife, Eunice, said, “Carl came to Tucson on a baseball scholarship, but he had played basketball at Santa Ana, and he was a high school football star in Minneapolis. The UA gave him a job hashing for the football team at the stadium dormitory. Well, he got tired of doing it and said, ‘If I play football, I won’t have to do it anymore, they’ll feed me.’ So, he did. After the football season, [basketball coach] Fred Enke told Carl he wanted him to play basketball. Carl planned to, but at the last minute he said, ‘I want to go home for Christmas.’ Coach Enke wouldn’t let him, so he stuck to baseball.”15

Before the start of Arizona’s 1953 baseball season, Thomas was involved in an incident that cost him the chance to pitch for the Wildcats that spring. He was a passenger in a car driven by a freshman on the football team who had taken two tires from a car parked at Hi Corbett Field. Thomas and the driver were arrested after an eyewitness to a similar incident the day before had given police the car’s license number, and the two tires were found in the back seat.16 The driver admitted full responsibility and the charges against Thomas were eventually dropped.17 The university placed Thomas on probation and he was not permitted to participate in any extracurricular activities for the semester.18

In 1954 Arizona made its first-ever trip to the College World Series. Thomas headed a strong pitching staff that included future major-league hurler Don Lee. The Wildcats beat Oregon, 12-1, in the first round of the double-elimination tournament played in Omaha. Thomas pitched a complete game, striking out 11 and allowing only four singles. He also drove in an NCAA World Series record seven runs, hitting two home runs and a double.19

Arizona lost to Michigan State, 2-1, the next day, setting up a must-win game against Oklahoma A&M. When the Wildcats’ starter ran into trouble in the fourth inning, Thomas relieved. He stayed on the mound as the game entered extra innings with the score tied, 4-4. In the 14th inning Thomas, pitching with only two days’ rest, gave up a run on two walks and a single.20 The 5-4 defeat eliminated Arizona and was Thomas’s only loss of the season after 12 wins. Thomas was named a third-team All-American for 1954.21

In March of 1955, Thomas participated in the second Pan American Games in Mexico City. He was the winning pitcher in the game that clinched a silver medal for the United States, allowing one hit and striking out six over seven innings in a 13-2 win over Venezuela. The Dominican Republic, with future big-league players Felipe Alou and Julián Javier on their roster, won the gold medal.22

Arizona returned to the College World Series in 1955. After losing, 4-1, to Western Michigan in the first round, the Wildcats beat Springfield, 6-0, as Thomas yielded only two hits and struck out 15 batters, tying an NCAA World Series record.23 Arizona won its next game, emerging from the losers’ bracket to face the team that had eliminated them the prior year, Oklahoma A&M. The Wildcats again lost to the Aggies, 5-4, this time in 12 innings. Thomas relieved Arizona starter Lee in the 12th with two on and one out. The bases were loaded after a throw to second on a grounder failed to get a force out. An infield roller toward second scored the winning run.24

Selected as a first team All-American for 1955,25 Thomas returned to Arizona for his final year of eligibility. He pitched back-to-back no-hitters against Arizona State and UCLA.26 The Wildcats returned to the College World Series for the third straight year. After Arizona’s first-round win, Thomas started against Minnesota. He allowed only five hits and struck out 10 Gophers, but took the loss as five Wildcat errors led to two unearned runs in Minnesota’s 3-1 win.27

Wins against New Hampshire and Mississippi gave Arizona and Thomas a second chance against previously unbeaten Minnesota. He equaled his 15-strikeout record set in 1955 as the Wildcats won, 10-4. (Thomas contributed a single, double, and triple in four trips to the plate.28) Both Thomas and Don Lee, whose win against Mississippi was his second tournament complete game, were unavailable to pitch for Arizona in the next day’s deciding contest. Minnesota won the 1956 NCAA baseball championship, beating the Wildcats, 12-1.29

Thomas (13-3) became a three-time All-American when he was named to 1956’s second team. Lee (15-0) was selected as a first team All-American.30 In 2020 NCAA.com picked Arizona’s all-time starting nine, based on their college statistics. Thomas and Lee were both chosen for the pitcher’s spot, as their numbers were so similar. They held the top two places in Arizona history for wins (Lee had 36 and Thomas 35). Thomas held the Wildcats’ record for strikeouts (422, with Lee third at 398) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.59, with Lee third at 6.01).31

Thomas worked out with the Cleveland Indians after the College World Series ended, but initially failed to reach agreement on a contract with Cleveland general manager Hank Greenberg. Reportedly some in the organization were concerned that Thomas lacked the blazing fastball needed at the major-league level.32 The Kansas City Athletics also expressed an interest in Thomas, but front-office officials questioned his age (he turned 24 that May); the A’s rebuilding plans emphasized youth.33 Thomas and Greenberg ultimately agreed on a contract, which was reportedly under the major-league bonus limit of $4,000.34

Thomas was assigned to Cleveland’s Double-A farm team, Mobile, in the Southern Association, for the balance of the 1956 season. In 13 starts he compiled a 5-4 record, with a 2.61 ERA.

In 1957 he was scheduled to report to San Diego (Triple A) of the Pacific Coast League, and was invited to attend Cleveland’s rookie camp in Tucson for the start of spring training.35 “We always get the cream of the crop from our minor league farms here for the rookie training camp,” said pitching coach Mel Harder. “I think Carl has got a lot of ability. He’s the type of fella who picks up things fast and is eager to learn. He had a wonderful earned run average at Mobile last year and he’s taking a big step up going to San Diego.”36

In two spring training appearances for San Diego against PCL competition, Thomas gave up six runs, including four homers, in three innings against the Los Angeles Angels,37 and five runs in five innings against the Hollywood Stars.38 He was sent back to Mobile for the 1957 season, where he posted a 13-13 record, with a 3.25 ERA.

Carl Thomas and Eunice Stark were married on October 19, 1957, in Douglas, Arizona. Her father, Harold Stark, was a well-known and respected Arizona rancher.39 Eunice attended the University of Arizona and graduated from Arizona State College. Prior to their wedding date Thomas had enlisted in the Arizona Air National Guard. The couple spent the next 10 weeks in Rantoul, Illinois, where he was sent for training at Chanute Air Force Base, before returning to Tucson to live.40

Thomas began 1958’s spring training with the Indians in Tucson, one of 12 farm system prospects invited to train with the parent club.41 He pitched well enough to be included on the major-league team’s roster when the Indians began their trip back east for the start of the season. Assessing the chances of Thomas being with Cleveland on Opening Day, pitching coach Harder said, “He’s been working hard this spring and has shown quite a bit of improvement, but whether or not he will stick, I can’t say. If he doesn’t make it with the Indians, he’ll be pitching Triple A ball. … A year in Triple A would do him a world of good.”42

Thomas pitched in two exhibition games against the Giants in Texas during the Indians’ trip to Cleveland, and was hit hard. He was sent to San Diego when the team was cut to 30 players a week before the start of the regular season.43 After appearing in four games for San Diego (1-2 record), Thomas was optioned to Indianapolis (Triple A in the American Association).44 There he was 9-9, with a 2.82 ERA.

Thomas was one of seven farm-club pitchers invited to Tucson for spring training in 1959.45 Before heading east with the Indians on a five-game exhibition tour, he pitched 12⅓ innings, striking out 10, and giving up two runs on seven hits.46 Manager Gordon considered Thomas “the best-looking pitcher in camp.”47

For a second year Thomas was sent to San Diego, this time two days before the regular season began. “We feel that Carl is a good prospect and should be pitching regularly,” said Cleveland general manager Frank Lane. “If we kept him with us, he wouldn’t get the work he needs. … I talked to [general manager] Ralph Kiner in San Diego and told him to give Thomas a lot of work, especially in relief.”48

Thomas was 2-2 after pitching only 11 innings for San Diego when he was optioned to Indianapolis in mid-May.49 Just prior to learning of his reassignment, Thomas made a quick trip back to Arizona to be with his wife for the birth of their twin daughters, Susan and Cynthia.50

Pitching in 13 games (12 as a starter) for Indianapolis, Thomas was 7-2 with a 2.75 ERA. He was selected for the American Association’s July 13 All-Star Game but was reassigned to San Diego before it was held.51 In his two separate stints with the Padres, he compiled a 4-5 record.

“I decided last winter that if I didn’t make the ball club this year, I’d either ask to be traded or quit baseball altogether,” said Thomas as spring training came to a close in 1960.52 He was the Indians’ most impressive pitcher in Tucson, allowing only five runs on 14 hits in 22 innings of work.53

“My confidence is much better this spring,” said Thomas. “I’ve convinced myself that I’m no fast ball pitcher and I can’t blow the ball by the hitters. … Mel Harder [Cleveland pitching coach] and Ted Wilks [Indianapolis manager] have always told me play within yourself … don’t force it. That’s what I’ve been trying to do this spring. I’ve had good springs before, but near the end I’ve always tried a little harder to make the team. When I started to put something extra on the ball, I always got myself in trouble and ended up back in the minors.”54

Thomas was on the Indians’ roster when they began their 1960 season at home against the Detroit Tigers on April 19. Two days before the opener, the teams traded All-Star outfielders, with Rocky Colavito going to Detroit in exchange for Harvey Kuenn. On Opening Day, 52,756 spectators saw Cleveland fan favorite Colivito take the field in a Tigers uniform. In what turned out to be a pitchers’ duel, neither team scored in regulation. Detroit’s two runs in the top of the 11th inning were matched by the Indians in the bottom half of the frame.

In the top of the 15th, Al Kaline drove in two runs to put the Tigers ahead 4-2. Colavito hit into a double play to end Detroit’s at-bat, capping a 0-for-6 day that included four strikeouts. With the Indians out of position players, Thomas made his big-league debut as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the inning, striking out.

The next day Thomas made his debut as a pitcher. Kaline’s ninth-inning leadoff homer broke a 4-4 tie. After starter Jim Perry walked the next batter, Thomas relieved him. The first hitter he faced, Steve Bilko, tripled to score another run. Thomas escaped further damage after a lineout to third, a walk, and a line-drive double play, second to first. Perry was charged with the loss in the Indians’ 6-4 defeat.

Thomas did not see any action after the Detroit series for almost two weeks. On May 3 in Washington, he entered the game at the beginning of the home half of the sixth with the score tied, 4-4. Thomas retired the side in order, striking out the first two batters he faced. Cleveland scored a run in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead. Thomas walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the inning, but retired the next three on a foul out, a strikeout, and a fly ball.

Thomas was relieved with one out in the eighth after a single and a triple tied the score at 5-5. He was charged with a second run when the runner at third scored after a two-out single, putting the Senators ahead, 6-5. He was not charged with the loss as Cleveland tied the score in the ninth. Washington scored with one out in its half of the ninth to win, 7-6.

In Baltimore on May 6, Thomas started the bottom of the fifth with the Indians trailing 7-0. Working two innings in a game Cleveland lost 9-2, he was responsible for one run in the sixth when the leadoff batter reached on a hit-by-pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single.

The Indians were carrying 12 pitchers on their 28-player squad, but were likely to keep only 10 after the May 18 deadline to cut the roster to 25 players. “We’ve got to evaluate our pitching,” said manager Gordon on May 8. “We have to cut down in about 10 days and we have to decide who to keep and who to let go.”55

Thomas made his next appearance against the White Sox in Cleveland on Saturday, May 14. Barry Latman started for the Indians. Chicago countered with Herb Score, who had been traded by Cleveland for Latman the day before the season began. The matchup didn’t last long; both pitchers were removed before two innings were completed.

Thomas relieved Latman in the second with one out and the score tied, 3-3. He entered the game with the bases loaded, but ended the threat by retiring the next two batters on fly balls to center and left field. Score was removed with two outs in the bottom of the inning after Jim Piersall hit a two-run homer to give the Indians the lead, 5-3.

Thomas held the White Sox scoreless over the next three innings, allowing only one hit, an infield single, while walking five. By the end of the fifth inning, Cleveland had increased its advantage to 10-3. Thomas contributed at the plate with a single and a walk, scoring one of the Indians’ runs.

Thomas walked Nellie Fox to start the top of the sixth inning. One out later he issued another walk, his seventh of the game. A single, a groundout, and another single scored three runs. The next batter, Dick Brown, hit a two-run homer, cutting Cleveland’s margin to 10-8. Thomas was relieved by Johnny Klippstein, who finished the game as the Indians outlasted the White Sox by a final score of 10-9.

Thomas was awarded the win, but his manager was not happy with the rookie’s wildness.56 In 4⅓ innings he had given up five runs on four hits and seven walks while striking out only one batter. The next day he was sent back to Indianapolis.57 During his one month with Cleveland, he had worked 9⅔ innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs (7.45 ERA), with five strikeouts and 10 walks.

At Indianapolis Thomas posted a 5-8 record (5.09 ERA) in 16 starts. At the end of July, Cleveland general manager Lane announced that the Indians had obtained Don Newcombe from Cincinnati for Thomas and a “considerable amount of cash.”58 Assigned to the Reds’ Double-A affiliate in Nashville, Thomas was 6-5 (4.42 ERA), with eight starts in 11 games.

In March of 1961, Thomas announced his retirement from professional baseball. He said he couldn’t reach agreement with Cincinnati on a contract and had received an attractive job offer as a commercial representative with a Tucson home-decorating firm.59

Thomas worked out with the Arizona Wildcats’ baseball team in 1962. In June he returned to pro baseball with San Diego.60 In six games he was 1-1 (8.36 ERA). That November the Thomases’ third daughter, Lisa, was born.61

By 1963, Thomas, definitely finished with professional baseball, was working for a building supply company.62 In August he was appointed the Tucson sales representative for Phoenix Cement Company, covering southern Arizona.63 In 1965 the family moved to Phoenix when Thomas was transferred to the company’s home office.64

In 1966 Thomas began pitching batting practice for the Phoenix Giants when they were in town. “I enjoy the pitching,” said Thomas, who provided the service for free. “Sometimes I have to scramble to make it to the park (after work), but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it.” Phoenix manager Clyde King commented, “We consider Carl as our 22nd man. A batting practice pitcher with his ability can make a big difference.”65

After 15 years as a sales executive with Phoenix Cement, Thomas opened his own business in 1981, SCL Equipment. The company performed subcontracting and aggregate work in Phoenix and central Arizona.66

Thomas was inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 1977.67  In 1994 he was named, along with Wildcats teammate Don Lee, to Baseball America magazine’s All-Time College Baseball team for the 1947-64 era.68

Thomas became close friends with Arizona State University Hall of Fame coaches Bobby Winkles (baseball), Frank Kusch (football), and Baldy Castillo (track and field). All three were his regular handball partners and fishing buddies. “Carl had a lot of respect for the Sun Devils, but he loved the Wildcats,” said his wife. “That’s where his heart was.”69

The Thomases’ youngest daughter, Lisa Thomas, died on February 6, 2006, after enduring a mitochondrial disease for 15 years. She was 43 and living with her parents at the time of her death. She was buried in the Riggs Family Cemetery, near Dos Cabezas, Arizona. Her maternal grandparents, her great grandparents, and her great-great-grandparents were all buried there.70

Carl Leslie Thomas died at the age of 80 on March 7, 2013, due to advanced Parkinson’s disease. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, Eunice; their twin daughters, Susan and Cynthia; and four grandchildren. He was buried in the Riggs Family Cemetery.71

Sources 

The author accessed Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet.org. for box scores/play-by-play information, player, team, and season pages, pitching game logs, and other data:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomaca01.shtml

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/Pthomc102.htm

The author used Ancestry.com to access the 1940 United States Federal Census.

Photo credit: Carl Thomas, courtesy of the Cleveland Guardians.

Notes

1 Harry Jones, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 20, 1960: 33.

2 Carl L. Thomas obituary, Arizona Republic (Phoenix), March 24, 2013: B8.

3 “‘Boy Has Heart,’ Says Dad of Central’s No-Hit Ace,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 8, 1950: 19.

4 1940 United States Federal Census:  S.D. No. 5, E.D. No. 89-241, Sheet No.1A.

5 “Central Rallies to 37-34 Win,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 25, 1949: 25.

6 Tom Briere, “Thomas, Central Win No-Hitter,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 8, 1950: 19.

7 Tom Briere, “Thomas Raps Two Homers; Central Wins T-C Title,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 10, 1950: 13.

8 “Prep Notes,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 21, 1950: 20.

9 “Thomas Moves to Minnesota,” Minneapolis Star, October 25, 1950: 75.

10 “The Roundup,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 4, 1950: 24.

11 Abe Chanin, “The Greatest Thrill a Dad Could Ever Have,” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), June 14, 1955: 12.

12 “Pint-Sized Jap Batters ‘Menace,’” Arizona Daily Star, September 18, 1952: 26.

13 Jim Byrne, “Carl Thomas Off on Pacific Tour,” Minneapolis Star, July 30, 1952: 38.

14 Byrne, “Carl Thomas Off on Pacific Tour.”   

15 Greg Hansen, “Couldn’t Get a Hit Off Wildcat Thomas in Late April ’56,” Arizona Daily Star, July 8, 2016: B1- B4.

16 “UA Football Hero Held for Theft,” Tucson Daily Citizen, March 14, 1953: 4.

17 “Public Records,” Arizona Daily Star, May 12, 1953: 18.

18 “University Cracks Down on Six Students Afoul of Law,” Tucson Citizen, March 18, 1953: 28.

19 Abe Chanin, “Wildcats’ Thomas Mauls Oregon Nine, 12-1,” Arizona Daily Star, June 11, 1954: 20.

20 Abe Chanin, “Aggies Outlast UA in 14 Frames,” Arizona Daily Star, June 13, 1954: 15.

21 “Thomas, Gragg Named All-Americans,” Arizona Daily Star, June 24, 1954: 26.

22 “Thomas Hurls Pan-Am Win,” Arizona Daily Star, March 23, 1955: 18.

23 “Thomas’ 6-0 Win Keeps UA Hopes Alive,” Arizona Daily Star, June 13, 1955: 9.

24 Abe Chanin, “Aggies Nip Arizona, 5-4, in 12 Innings,” Arizona Daily Star, June 15, 1955: 29.

25 “Arizona Hits All-American ‘Jackpot,’” Arizona Daily Star, June 19, 1955: 35.

26 Greg Hansen, “Couldn’t Get a Hit Off Wildcat Thomas in Late April ’56.”

27 Abe Chanin, “Minnesota, Errors Whip UA ’Cats 3-1,” Arizona Daily Star, June 11, 1956: 9.

28 Abe Chanin, “Arizona Wallops Minnesota, 10-4,” Arizona Daily Star, June 14, 1956: 1.

29 George McLeod, “Minnesota Smashes Wildcat Title Dream,” Tucson Citizen, June 15, 1956: 17.

30 “Lee Named All-American,” Arizona Daily Star, June 24, 1956: 23. Jerry Kindall, Minnesota’s shortstop, was also selected as a first team All-American. After a nine-year major-league career with the Cubs, Indians, and Twins, Kindall became the head baseball coach at Arizona, winning NCAA championships in 1976, 1980, and 1986.

31 Wayne Cavadi, “We Picked Arizona Baseball’s All-Time Starting Nine,” NCAA.com, August 19, 2020:  https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2018-04-23/we-picked-arizona-baseballs-all-time-starting-nine.

32 “Thomas Still Seeks Pact,” Arizona Daily Star, July 2, 1956: 13.

33 George McLeod, “Injury, Age Cause A’s to Drop Lee, Thomas,” Tucson Citizen, Jul 12, 1956: 35.

34 “Thomas Signs Tribe Pact,” Arizona Daily Star, July 4, 1956: 13.

35 Abe Chanin, “Carl Thomas Moving Up,” Arizona Daily Star, February 13, 1957: 25.

36 Ed Gallardo, “Yankees Getting No Concessions,” Arizona Daily Star, February 24, 1957: 40.

37 “Thomas Shelled for Six Runs, but Pads Win,” Arizona Daily Star, March 20, 1957: 16.

38 “Thomas Pitches as San Diego Loses, 9-5,” Arizona Daily Star, March 28, 1957: 31.

39 “Phoenix Cement Co. Appoints Former Baseball Star,” Williams (Arizona) News, August 22, 1963: 7.

40 “Thomas-Stark Rites Read,” Tucson Daily Citizen, October 21, 1957: 11.

41 “Thomas Invited to Tribe Camp,” Tucson Daily Citizen, January 14, 1958: 13.

42 Tom Foust, “Tribe Gives Carl Another Look,” Arizona Daily Star, April 3, 1958: 36.

43 Harry Jones, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 9, 1958: 25.

44 Max Greenwald, “Tribe Drops Behind Early, Loses 5-3 Tilt,” Indianapolis Star, May 9, 1958: 28.

45 “Lemon Bids for Indians’ Relief Job,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 24, 1959: 27.

46 Tom Foust, “Leek, Thomas Head East with Tribe,” Arizona Daily Star, April 3, 1959: 35.

47 Abe Chanin, “Gordon Pleased with Fine Spring Training,” Arizona Daily Star, March 26, 1959: 31.

48 Harry Jones, “Batting Around,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 10, 1959: 32.

49 “Carl Thomas to Rejoin Tribe,” Indianapolis Star, May 17, 1959: 28.

50 “Twin Daughters Born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thomas,” Arizona Daily Star, May 16, 1959: 16.

51 Lester Koelling, “A.A. Directors May Slice ’60 Schedule,” Indianapolis Star, July 13, 1959: 13.

52 Harry Jones, “No Detour This Trip for Tribe’s Thomas,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 10, 1960: 50.

53 “Mammoth Thomas to Stick,” Arizona Daily Star, April 8, 1960: 47.

54Tom Foust, “Thomas Working on New Theory,” Arizona Daily Star, April 3, 1960: 48.

55 Harry Jones, “2 Indian Pitchers Face Ax,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 9, 1960: 35, 39.

56 Chuck Heaton, “Gordon Finds a Stopper,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 15, 1960: 44.

57 “Carl Thomas Sent to Indianapolis by Indians,” Arizona Daily Star, May 18, 1960: 27.

58 Harry Jones, “Indians Obtain Newcombe to Bolster Mound Staff,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 30, 1960: 17.

59 “Carl Thomas Retires,” Arizona Daily Star, March 7, 1961: 27.

60 “Thomas Bids for Return to Baseball,” Tucson Daily Citizen, June 11, 1962: 41.

61 “Births, St. Joseph’s Hospital,” Arizona Daily Star, November 29, 1962: 27.

62 Abe Chanin, “Lee Ticketed by Big Year with Angles,” Arizona Daily Star, March 12, 1963: 16.

63 “Phoenix Cement Co. Appoints Former Baseball Star,” Williams (Arizona) News, August 22, 1963.

64 “Thomas, Carl L. Obituary,” Arizona Republic, March 24, 2013: B8.

65 Bob Eder, “Thomas in New but Vital Role,” Arizona Republic, April 29 1968: 29.

66 “Where Are They Now,” Tucson Citizen, August 7, 1981: 66.

67 “Arizona Sports Hall will add former Cats,” Tucson Citizen, October 25, 1977: 35.

68 Greg Hansen, “Playing Watchdog Is No Easy Task for Livengood,” Arizona Daily Star, May 24, 1994: 42.

69 “Couldn’t Get a Hit Off Wildcat Thomas in Late April ’56.”

70 “Thomas, Lisa Mary Obituary,” Arizona Republic, February 9, 2006: 11.

71 “Thomas, Carl L. Obituary.”