The Los Angeles Angels family is remembering George Edward Thomas Jr., a versatile outfielder and utility player who helped establish the expansion franchise in its inaugural 1961 season. Thomas died on October 23, 2026, at the age of 88.
Acquired from the Detroit Tigers on June 26, 1961, the 23-year-old Minneapolis native quickly became a regular for Bill Rigney’s first-year Angels.
Playing at the compact Wrigley Field in Los Angeles—a park that produced a major-league-record 248 home runs that season—Thomas started frequently in the outfield and at third base.
In 79 games he batted .280 with 79 hits, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs, posting a .803 OPS.
He collected his first major-league hit (a double off Billy Pierce) and first home run (off Warren Hacker) shortly after joining the club, and later hit his first career grand slam.
His contributions arrived at a formative moment for the franchise.
As one of the original Angels, Thomas embodied the adaptability required of an expansion roster, appearing at multiple positions and providing steady production during the team’s only season at the old Los Angeles Wrigley Field before the move to Dodger Stadium.
Military service interrupted his 1962 campaign; after returning in late July he played 56 games and hit .238 while covering all three outfield spots.
In 1963, he appeared in 53 games for the Angels before being traded back to Detroit in June.
Across three seasons in an Angels uniform, Thomas established himself as a dependable, multi-positional presence on the early clubs that laid the foundation for the franchise.
After leaving Los Angeles, Thomas continued a 13-year major-league career that included stints with the Tigers, Red Sox (notably the 1967 “Impossible Dream” pennant winners) and Twins.
He finished with a .255 batting average, 46 home runs and 202 RBIs in 685 games, having played every position except pitcher. Following his playing days he coached at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, serving as head coach from 1979 to 1981.
For Angels fans and the organization, Thomas remains part of the club’s origin story—an original Halos player who seized his opportunity with the expansion team and delivered solid production in that memorable first season.
The Angels extend their condolences to his family and friends.
