When he arrived for spring training in 1977, he informed the Brewers that he would not play on the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Thomas joined the Worldwide Church of God and began practicing strict Sabbath observance. Joining the Brewers in September 1976, Thomas played 54 games for the Brewers in 19 as an outfielder and designated hitter. He won the Eastern League's Triple Crown by also leading in home runs and runs batted in, an accomplishment that was not equalled in that minor league until Lou Montañez garnered the Eastern League Triple Crown 32 years later, in 2008. 325 batting average in the Eastern League, playing for the Berkshire Brewers, and was named the league's Player of the Year. In 1975, he was suspended for a half-season for striking an umpire, but in 1976 he had a league-leading. The next year, Thomas was picked sixth overall in the 1972 amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. In June 1971, he played in the College World Series the Southern Illinois Salukis advanced to the championship game, but lost to the USC Trojans 7–2 on June 17. Early years īorn in Birmingham, Alabama, Thomas grew up in East Carondelet, Illinois, graduated from Dupo Senior High School, and played college baseball at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. During his brief major league career, he became known as the "Sundown Kid" because of his well-publicized refusal to play on seventh-day Sabbath. September 2, 1976, for the Milwaukee Brewersĭanny Lee Thomas (May 9, 1951 – June 12, 1980) was a Major League Baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Brewers in late 1976 and early 1977.
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