William Thomas

Thomas, a righthander, became the all-time minor league leader in games pitched (1,015), wins (383), losses (346), runs allowed (3,092) and hits allowed (6,709). Pitching from 1926 through 1952, he appeared at every level from Class-D to Triple-A. A curveballer with excellent control, his inability to throw hard deprived him of any major league trials. His 35-7 mark at Houma (Evangeline League) was the best in organized baseball in 1946. He was suspended from 1947 through 1949 for alleged gambling connections, a charge he refuted.