Gene
“Junior” Thompson was in his second professional season
when he pitched for the Paducah Indians in 1936.
They
captured the first-half championship and were scheduled to
face the second-half champion Union City Greyhounds and
determine the winners of the Kitty League pennant.
But
after dropping the first game at Union City 6-2, seven
players refused to play the rest of the series and went
home. Thompson was among them. They were suspended
indefinitely by National Association president William G.
Bramham.
Manager
Ben Tincup himself refused to appear for the first game,
claiming Union City had two ineligible players on its
roster.
Among
the players’ grievances were biased officiating in the
first game and problems with club owner Burnley B. Hook.
“B.B.
Hook had made us promises all year that if we won either
half-season (pennant), he would give us extra money and he
did not,” recalled Thompson. “Ben (Tincup) was as upset
as the rest of us and he didn’t care if we went (to Union
City) or not. Needless to say, we did not go.”
The
suspensions were eventually lifted and Thompson went on to
pitch six seasons in the major leagues.
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