Regarded as one of the top fielding shortstops during the mid-1920s, Tommy Thevenow, 5'10" 155-pounds, debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1924. He became the team's everyday shortstop in '26, and led the league in putouts, assists, chances and hit .256 in 156 games, 563 at bats, lined 15 doubles, 5 Ts, 2 Hrs, scored 64 Runs, 63 RBIs. Called "a fielding genius" he was one of the batting heroes of the 1926 World Series. In the Series, he hit an outstanding, team-leading .417, whacked a homer and drove in four runs. He held out for more money and missed the entire next year. From then-on, his career was plagued by injuries. In '28, he sustained a severe broken ankle which left him limp and limited his baseball career. The next two-years his hitting tailed off to .194 and .205 as a part-time player. Thevenow was traded to the Phillies in 1930, and bounced back to hit a career high .286 in 156 games, 21 Ds and 78 RBIs and again led the NL in putouts, assists, total chances and DPs. And then he broke his jaw, finger and leg in an auto accident and for the next five years was a utility infielder. |