Andre Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andre Thornton |
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| First baseman / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: August 13, 1949 Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 28, 1973, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 31, 1987, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .254 | ||
| Home runs | 253 | ||
| Runs batted in | 895 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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André Thornton, often called "Thunder," is a former professional baseball player and a successful businessman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1987. He was best known for his time with the Cleveland Indians, where he was a two-time All-Star player and won a Silver Slugger Award. He also played for the Chicago Cubs and the Montreal Expos.
In 1979, Thornton received the Roberto Clemente Award. This award is given to baseball players who show great sportsmanship and help their local communities. After his baseball career, Thornton owned restaurants and a sports marketing company. He also led a company that manages how products move from factories to stores. In 2001, experts voted him one of the top 100 players in Cleveland Indians history. Thornton was added to the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Thornton grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. His family was very athletic. He graduated from Phoenixville Area High School. In 1967, just before his 18th birthday, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him to play baseball. He played in Minor League Baseball for the Phillies from 1967 to 1972.
In 1972, the Phillies traded Thornton to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves then traded him to the Chicago Cubs in May 1973.
Major League Baseball Career
Playing for the Chicago Cubs
Thornton played his first major league game with the Cubs on July 28, 1973. He got his first hit on August 3, helping the Cubs win against the Montreal Expos. In 1974, he was named to the All-Rookie Team as a first baseman.
One of his best seasons was in 1975. He hit 18 home runs and had a batting average of .293. This means he got a hit almost 30% of the times he tried. He also had a high on-base percentage of .428, meaning he got on base often. Thornton played for the Cubs until May 1976. During his time there, he played in 271 games, hitting .267 with 30 home runs.
Time with the Montreal Expos
Thornton was traded to the Montreal Expos on May 17, 1976. He played in 69 games for them that season. In 1976, he faced some injuries. Overall, he hit .194 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs (runs batted in).
Years with the Cleveland Indians
On December 10, 1976, Thornton was traded from the Expos to the Cleveland Indians. This trade turned out to be very good for the Indians. Thornton played at a high level for most of his time in Cleveland.
In 1977, his first season with the Indians, he hit 28 home runs. In 1978, he hit a career-high 33 home runs, a number he would match in 1984. In 1979, he received the Roberto Clemente Award for his excellent sportsmanship and community work. Thornton missed all of the 1980 season due to a serious knee injury that needed two surgeries. He also missed many games in 1981 because of other injuries.
From 1981 to 1984, Thornton mainly played as a designated hitter. In 1982, he hit 32 home runs and had a career-best 116 RBIs. He also had 109 walks, which means he was good at getting on base without hitting. From 1982 to 1986, Thornton was healthy and played in about 140 games each season. During this time, he hit 121 home runs and had 446 RBIs. He also had a batting average of .261.
In 1984, he won a Silver Slugger Award as a designated hitter. He played only as a designated hitter from 1985 to 1987. He retired after the 1987 season.
Overall, in his ten seasons with the Indians, Thornton played in 1,225 games. He had a batting average of .254 with 214 home runs and 749 RBIs. He was often one of the best players on a team that usually struggled to win. He later said that while the Indians had good players, the team management could not keep them in Cleveland for long.
Career Highlights and Stats
Thornton was chosen as an American League All-Star in 1982 and 1984. He ended his career with 244 doubles and 253 home runs. His overall batting average was .254. He also had an on-base percentage of .360 and a slugging percentage of .452.
For three seasons, he was among the top five players in his league for home runs. He was also in the top five for walks four times. Thornton finished his career with more walks (876) than strikeouts (851). This shows he was very patient at the plate.
Life After Baseball
In 1977, Thornton and his son Andy were in a car accident. Sadly, his wife Gertrude and three-year-old daughter Theresa Gertrude passed away. In 1983, he wrote a book called Triumph Born of Tragedy. This book shares his experience with the accident and his Christian faith. In 1979, Thornton married Gail Jones, a singer. They have two sons, Jonathan and Dean, in addition to André Jr.
In 1982, he also won the Hutch Award, which recognizes a player who shows courage and dedication.
Today, Thornton is the CEO of ASW Global. This company helps manage supply chains and is based in Mogadore, Ohio. After his playing career, he continued to be very involved in the Cleveland community. He served on the boards of several organizations, including the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and the Cleveland Zoological Society. He also supported The First Tee of Cleveland, a golf program that helps young people develop good character.
In August 2007, Thornton was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the minor league Reading Phillies Hall of Fame. The Indians also named Thornton as one of their "Top 100 Greatest Indians." Andre Thornton Park, a park in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, opened in August 2010.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
