2052-2 Steve Thomas Day

[indiansfan]

Steve Thomas Day

The Pioneers are honoring, long time Calgary player and coach, Steve Thomas on Monday July 1st by declaring it “Steve Thomas Day” at The Stockyard. Fans will get a robotic figure of Thomas that throws the same 3 pitches that he did as a player, a fastball, changeup and cutter. Thomas, Calgary’s bench coach, retired before the season started after spending 44 years with the organization, 18 as a player and 26 as a coach

Thomas was drafted in 2004 when the team was still called the Marauders. He was one of 6 picks the team had in the 1st round that year, counting supplemental picks. Calgary legends Terry Cochran (the team’s long time manager) and Pat Curry were among the others taken. Thomas finally made his way up to the BBA in time for the 2010 season. He went 10-6 and cemented himself a spot in the rotation.

For 7 seasons, Thomas was a part of the Calgary rotation before being moved to the bullpen in 2017. While he was an average starter, he turned into an outstanding middle reliever helping the team win both of their championships in 2018 ands 2021. After the second trophy, Thomas retired after 12 seasons in Calgary and finished with a 114-82, 3.99 ERA record.

The team brought him back as a pitching coach in 2027 with the team’s Rookie league squad in Chestermere. After 4 seasons there he moved up to Short A and after 4 seasons at that level advanced to A ball with Quebec where he spend 5 years. In his first 13 years as a coach, his teams made the playoffs 11 times and won championships both in Havana and Quebec.

Before the 2039 season, Thomas was named as the new manager for AA Duluth and the next year came up to Calgary as the team’s pitching coach. He spent 12 seasons with the Pioneers, as both the pitching coach and the bench coach, depending on the year. His team’s earned 7 more trips to the playoffs. During his 26 years as a coach, his teams made the playoffs 19 times.

“I am really honored that the organization is doing this for me,” Thomas said. “It was an honor to spend my entire career with this team and I am really looking to catch up with some of the guys.”

Many of Thomas’ former teammates are coming to Calgary to celebrate with him, including several members of the Pioneers championship teams.

[Jwalk100]

There will one day be a player that learned to hit off of a Steve Thomas robotic figure.

[bschr682]

Excellent story