Tigers 1997 All-Star calls it quits after 4 arm operations

"Former Tigers left-hander Justin Thompson, pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A team, announced his retirement.

Despite pitching nine innings and striking out a season-best nine Saturday, Thompson, 33, allowed four runs and took his third straight loss.

"I could tell things weren’t working," Thompson said. "I’d been getting my butt beat in my last couple of outings. I kind of knew it was time."

Thompson, an All-Star for the Tigers in 1997, signed a minor league contract and was attempting to revive his career after four shoulder surgeries."

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In 1996, the Tigers started off 8-7, and then proceeded to lose an amazing 39 out of their next 44 games (to fall to 13-46).  They "recovered" to finish 53-109, 21 games behind the 4th place finishing Toronto Blue Jays.  Along the way, they allowed 1103 runs (2nd worst in history to the 1930 Phillies) and sported a team ERA of 6.38.

Justin Thompson made his major league debut for the Tigers that year, and compiled a 1-6 record in 11 starts with a 4.58 ERA and 62 hits allowed in 59 innings (along with 44 Ks and 31 BBs).  Not too shabby for a former 1st round pick (#32 overall in the 1991 draft).

Thompson blossomed in 1997 at the tender age of 24, making the All-Star Team and ending up 15-11 with a sparkling 3.02 ERA in 223 innings (only 188 hits and 66 BBs, and 151 Ks in 32 starts).  The Tigers improved by 26 games to 79-83.  Things were looking up.

In 1998, at age 25, Thompson again pitched over 220 innings (34 starts), but his hits and walks increased noticeably (1.38 WHIP vs. 1.14 in 1997).  His K rate remained steady.  He finished 11-15 with a 4.05 ERA.

In 1999, his arm started to fail him … perhaps pitching 440+ innings over 2 years before the age of 26 was to blame, but he was the prize of the Tigers rotation, and they rode him hard.  He made only 24 starts (143 IP), with a 9-11 record and a 5.11 ERA (along with a 1.48 WHIP).

That off-season, he was shipped off to the Rangers as part of a package for Juan Gonzalez.  He never pitched for the Rangers during the following season, and in fact was granted free agency twice (in 2001 and 2003, each time re-signing with the Rangers).  Amidst all of this, he underwent 4 arm surgeries.

He finally re-appeared in the majors in 2005 at the age of 32, pitching in relief for the Rangers for all of 2 games (1.7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 HRA, 0 BB, 1 K, 21.60 ERA).

And still, he had to give it one more try, in the Brewers’ farm system in ’06.

Here’s to you Justin Thompson, for perseverance, and going out on your own terms.