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Eastman-Kodak Brownie Camera No. 2C model A, with No. 130 film. Additional information: Thomas "Tommy" Thevenow is Madison's only native son to have played in Major League Baseball. He was born in Madison on September 6, 1903, the son of Thomas Thevenow and Lula Cheatham. Tommy started playing baseball as most youngster did on sand lots and pick up. He later played baseball in Madison with Brophy Belt Factory Team, Madison Town, and Elks Team. In 1922 he went to Centralia, Illinois and played semi-pro ball. In 1923 he was playing in Joplin, Missouri in Class D Ball. In 1924 he was transferred to St. Louis where he played shortstop for the next 9 years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Tommy's greatest games were played during the 1926 World Series. He was the star player during this series when the Cardinals "Gashouse Gang" defeated the New York Yankees. His batting average for the series was .417 to lead the Cardinals at bat. Tommy drove in what became the game winning run in the seventh inning of game seven. He also made a fantastic leap and caught a line drive for an out that would have certainly won the game and series for the Yankees. Tommy also hit one of the few inside the park home runs ever hit in Major League history in the '26 World Series. Tommy hit a ball into right field where Babe Ruth was playing. Babe tried to chase down the ball that went into the corner offset, but was unable to find the ball in the shadows of the bleachers, thus allowing the home run. 1926 Series Record: at bat: 24; Hits: 10; Run scored: 10; Total bases: 14; 1 double, 1 home run, 10 put outs, 26 assists and handled a total 38 chances. During the 1927 season Tommy suffered a broken leg while sliding into base which cut his season short. In 1929 Tommy was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and was critically injured in an overturned automobile accident, but was back in uniform playing before the end of the season. Tommy stayed with the Philadelphia Phillies until 1931 when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played shortstop with the Pirates from 1931-1935. In 1936 he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds where he played only 1 year. In 1937 he played for the old Boston Bees and the New York Giants. In 1938 Tommy went back to Pittsburgh and ended his playing career with the Pirates. He managed a Class D team in Ashland, Kentucky for one year and then retired from baseball. During his 15 year playing career, Tommy played in a total of 1,229 Major League games. He had a lifetime batting average of .248 with 1933 being his best year at .312 while he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 23 years old when he started his Rookie Year. He played in 156 games and had 1,013 chances at the plate, this being more than any infielder in his league, except for first baseman. Tommy batted only .255, yet scored 64 runs and batted in 63 runs... these 127 runs were less than half of the first 20 batsmen of the league were responsible for. People said that Tommy couldn't hit, but Rogers Hornsby said, "He can hit when hits are needed most." Tommy was not an outspoken playing during his career for which he was given the nickname of "Silent Tommy." Tommy and his wife, the former Helen Hargitt, lived at 903 West Second Street, which had been Tommy's home as a youngster. This marriage produced 4 children, Tommy Joseph, Jr., Victor Hargitt, Mary Jane and Sarah Elizabeth. Tommy worked at the Charlestown Powder Plant during WWII and later helped manage the Madison Moose Lodge. He purchased the Star Store and operated it until his death in 1957 at the age of 53. Tommy was inducted into the State of Indiana's Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2001. Sources: Madison Courier; Historical Files; Lee Dowell, researcher |
