George Edward Thomas Jr., the Minneapolis-born utility outfielder who finished his 13-year major league career with the Minnesota Twins in 1971 and later coached the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, died October 23, 2026, at age 88.

A Bloomington High School standout who lettered at Minnesota, Thomas signed a $25,000 bonus with the Detroit Tigers in 1957.

He played for the Tigers, expansion Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox before returning home.

Released by Boston on June 28, 1971, he signed with the Twins the same day and appeared in 23 games, mostly as a pinch-hitter and left-field reserve.

In 30 at-bats, he hit .267 (8-for-30) with four runs, one double, two RBIs and four walks.

His final major league appearance came September 6, 1971, against the Chicago White Sox.

Across 685 career games, he batted .255 with 46 home runs and 202 RBIs, and he is remembered for playing every position except pitcher.

He contributed to Boston’s 1967 “Impossible Dream” American League pennant winners and appeared in the World Series that fall.

After the Twins released him following the 1971 season, Thomas returned to his alma mater.

He served as an assistant coach before becoming head coach of the Golden Gophers from 1979 to 1981, compiling a 95-43 record.

His final team won a Big Ten division title and reached the NCAA tournament. Minnesota still honors him with the George Thomas Most Improved Player Award.

For Twins fans, Thomas represented a local product who closed his big-league chapter in Minnesota after years elsewhere.

His path from Bloomington and the Gophers through a long major-league career and back to coaching at the university kept him connected to baseball in the state he called home.

Minnesota will remember the hometown kid.