Sam Thompson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: March 5, 1860

Debut: July 2, 1885 (Detroit Wolverines)

1887: Wolverines win World Series

1887: Set MLB record 166 RBI (since broken)

1887: Won batting title (.372)

1889: Sold to the Philadelphia Phillies

1889: First 20/20 player in MLB history

1894: Hit for cycle

1894: Played in all .400 hitting outfield in history (Tuck Turner, Ed Delahanty)

1894: Hit .415

1894: .415, 32 doubles, 28 triples, 13 HR, 147 RBI, 27 SB, 1.161 OPS            

1895: 165 RBI (Only player with 150+ RBI in the 19^th century)

1895: .392, 18 HR, 165 RBI, 211 hits, 131 runs, 45 doubles, 21 triples, 1.085 OPS, 352 TB

1898: Injuries led to his retirement

1906: Returned for 8 games with the Tigers at age 46

1922: Died

1974: Elected to Hall of Fame (Vets Committee)

2001: His great-great grandson, Chris Thile, released an album with the song “Big Sam Thompson”

Accomplishments:

1887 Batting Champ

2x HR Champ

First 20/20 player in MLB history

Only man with 150+ RBI in the 19^th century

.331 Average

1262 runs

1988 hits

343 doubles

161 triples

126 HR

1305 RBI

451 walks-234 strikeouts

.384 OBP

.505 slugging

.890 OPS

3031 TB

100+ Runs: 10x

200+ hits: 2x

30+ doubles: 5x

40+ doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 7x

20+ triples: 3x

10+ HR: 6x

20 HR (1889)

20+ SB: 7x

Hit .300: 7x

Hit .350: 4x

.415 (1894)

.400 OBP: 4x

.500 slugging: 4x

.600 slugging: 2x

1.000+ OPS: 2x

300+ TB: 4x

Led league in AB: 2x

Led league in hits: 3x

Led league in doubles: 2x

Led league in triples (23): 1887

Led league in HR: 2x

Led league in RBI: 2x

Led league in slugging: 3x

Led league in TB: 2x