Thompson, Hank, 1925-1969

Hank Thompson, a New York Giants mainstay from 1949 to 1956, is the answer to a host of trivia questions about black players. He was the first acknowledged black player to play for the Giants. He was also the first acknowledged black player to take the field for the St. Louis Browns, having received a brief trial with the American League club in 1947. Thus he is the only black player to break the racial barrier for two different major-league franchises.

Henry Curtis Thompson (December 8, 1925 – September 30, 1969) was an American player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a third baseman. A left-handed batter, he played with the Dallas Green Monarchs (1941), Kansas City Monarchs (1943, 1946–47, 1948), St. Louis Browns (1947) and New York Giants (1949–56).

<p>Henry Curtis Thompson</p>
<p>Nickname: Hank, Ametralladora</p>

<p>Career: 1943-1948</p>
<p>Positions: 2b, rf, lf, ss</p>
<p>Teams: Kansas City Monarchs (1943, 1945-1948), military service (1944-1945), Mexican league (1945), major leagues (1947-1949, 1956), minor leagues (1949, 1951, 1957)</p>
<p>Bats: Left</p>
<p>Throws: Right</p>
<p>Height: 5' 9''</p> <p>Weight: 171</p>
<p>Born: December 8, 1925, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</p>
<p>Died: September 30, 1969, Fresno, California</p>