Thompson was the Cubs’ first pick in the June 1974 draft and batted .417 in his 19-game 1978 Chicago debut. He proved a consistent but punchless lefthanded hitter, batting .289 with just 29 RBI as a rookie in 1979. On July 5, 1980 he was knocked unconscious when he collided with Pirate shortstop Tim Foli, and he finished the season at .212. The Cubs released him in 1983. He led the NL with 62 pinch at-bats for San Francisco and Montreal in 1985.
