Frank Thomas, a three-time All-Star and one of the best Pirate players of the 50s, has died. He was 93 years old.
Thomas was born and spent most of his life in Pittsburgh and played 16 major-league seasons, the first eight of which were with the Pirates. In that stretch, he was named to three All-Star games in 1954, 1955 and 1958, and received MVP votes in five years, finishing as high as fourth in 1958. Thomas' first season as a starter came in 1953, the same year the Pirates traded Ralph Kiner, and he was able to fill some big shoes for the club.