Major League Baseball Player. The left-handed batter became the first big leaguer to hit a homer on his 40th birthday (the Phillies' Joe Morgan would later belt two homers on his 40th birthday). The outfielder was 37 years when he made his debut with the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1955. He had played for the Homestead Grays from 1946-48 and the Kansas City Monarchs in 1949 before signing with the New York Yankees' organization. He played three years in Triple-A, was on the suspended the whole year while with Charleston of the American Association in 1953 and didn't play at all in 1954. The Reds took a chance, and Thurman became a valuable spare outfielder and pinch hitter. He clubbed three homers against the Milwaukee Braves on August 18, 1956 when the Reds tied a record by belting eight homers (Ted Kluszewski and Frank Robinson had two apiece and Wally Post one) in a 13-4 rout. The next season he set a major-league record for the most homers in a season for a player with fewer than 200 at-bats. He had 16 in just 190 at-bats. He had the nickname El Murcaro, which meant The Owl. He finished his five-year career, all with Cincinnati, with a .246 average, 35 homers and 106 runs batted in. He was 39 for 178 as a pinch hitter.
Major League Baseball Player. The left-handed batter became the first big leaguer to hit a homer on his 40th birthday (the Phillies' Joe Morgan would later belt two homers on his 40th birthday). The outfielder was 37 years when he made his debut with the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1955. He had played for the Homestead Grays from 1946-48 and the Kansas City Monarchs in 1949 before signing with the New York Yankees' organization. He played three years in Triple-A, was on the suspended the whole year while with Charleston of the American Association in 1953 and didn't play at all in 1954. The Reds took a chance, and Thurman became a valuable spare outfielder and pinch hitter. He clubbed three homers against the Milwaukee Braves on August 18, 1956 when the Reds tied a record by belting eight homers (Ted Kluszewski and Frank Robinson had two apiece and Wally Post one) in a 13-4 rout. The next season he set a major-league record for the most homers in a season for a player with fewer than 200 at-bats. He had 16 in just 190 at-bats. He had the nickname El Murcaro, which meant The Owl. He finished his five-year career, all with Cincinnati, with a .246 average, 35 homers and 106 runs batted in. He was 39 for 178 as a pinch hitter.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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