California State University Northridge Athletics
CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame
Jason Thompson
- Induction:
- 1982
Jason Thompson was inducted into the CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982, lettered from 1974 to 1975Â for the San Fernando Valley State/CSUN Baseball team.
Thompson was a two-time All-CCAA selection at first base and a member of the 1975 CCAA championship team. During his time with the Matadors, he was a standout player, earning Team Most Valuable Player honors in 1975 and being named to the All-CCAA First Team.
Following his college success, he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 4th round of the 1975 MLB June Amateur Draft. Thompson would put together a highly productive 11-year career in the major leagues (1976–1986), compiling 208 home runs and 783 RBI's. He became a three-time MLB All-Star (1977, 1978, 1982) and was one of the few players in history to post 30-home run seasons in both the American and National Leagues.
Thompson broke into the big leagues with Detroit in 1976 and immediately earned a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team by hitting 17 home runs. In just his second season, Thompson delivered a monster year, batting .270 with 31 home runs and 105 RBI's, earning his first career American League All-Star selection. He followed it up with another All-Star nod in 1978 (.287, 26 HRs, 96 RBIs) and hit 20 more home runs in 1979.
After a brief stint with the California Angels in 1980, Thompson was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he experienced a massive career resurgence. In 1982, Thompson put together his finest professional season, hitting 31 home runs while driving in 101 runs along with 101 walks. In doing so, he became one of the few players in MLB history to hit 30+ home runs in both the American and National Leagues. He finished fifth in the NL with a stellar .902 OPS.
On June 26, 1984, Thompson tied a legendary franchise record held by Ralph Kiner by launching four home runs in a single doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. While his 208 career home runs drew headlines, modern advanced metrics highly value Thompson's incredible eye at the plate. He retired with an impressive .366 lifetime On-Base Percentage. He walked 816 times against 862 strikeouts—an elite ratio for a power hitter of his generation.
Thompson's MLB career concluded with the Montreal Expos in 1986
Thompson was a two-time All-CCAA selection at first base and a member of the 1975 CCAA championship team. During his time with the Matadors, he was a standout player, earning Team Most Valuable Player honors in 1975 and being named to the All-CCAA First Team.
Following his college success, he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 4th round of the 1975 MLB June Amateur Draft. Thompson would put together a highly productive 11-year career in the major leagues (1976–1986), compiling 208 home runs and 783 RBI's. He became a three-time MLB All-Star (1977, 1978, 1982) and was one of the few players in history to post 30-home run seasons in both the American and National Leagues.
Thompson broke into the big leagues with Detroit in 1976 and immediately earned a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team by hitting 17 home runs. In just his second season, Thompson delivered a monster year, batting .270 with 31 home runs and 105 RBI's, earning his first career American League All-Star selection. He followed it up with another All-Star nod in 1978 (.287, 26 HRs, 96 RBIs) and hit 20 more home runs in 1979.
After a brief stint with the California Angels in 1980, Thompson was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he experienced a massive career resurgence. In 1982, Thompson put together his finest professional season, hitting 31 home runs while driving in 101 runs along with 101 walks. In doing so, he became one of the few players in MLB history to hit 30+ home runs in both the American and National Leagues. He finished fifth in the NL with a stellar .902 OPS.
On June 26, 1984, Thompson tied a legendary franchise record held by Ralph Kiner by launching four home runs in a single doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. While his 208 career home runs drew headlines, modern advanced metrics highly value Thompson's incredible eye at the plate. He retired with an impressive .366 lifetime On-Base Percentage. He walked 816 times against 862 strikeouts—an elite ratio for a power hitter of his generation.
Thompson's MLB career concluded with the Montreal Expos in 1986
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