Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Baseball (1967-70)

Riggy Thomas was one of the outstanding players who had a major role in launching the strong Southeastern baseball tradition in the late 1960’s. Thomas was a key player in Coach Don Parham’s program that later developed into a national power that lasted through the rest of the 20th century and into the new millennium.

Riggy Thomas was born on August 9, 1948 in Durant, Oklahoma. He attended the public schools there where he participated in sports. However, his preparation for a college baseball career was gained by playing on a very strong American Legion baseball team in Durant.

Thomas entered Southeastern in 1966 but did not play baseball until his sophomore year. He was a left-handed pitcher who lived off a knuckleball and a mean curve ball that often had hitters swinging at pitches in the dirt.

He played at Southeastern before the period of heavy playing schedules. During three years the Savages posted an 80-23 record with one conference championship and two runner-up finishes. The 1970 Savages were defeated in extra innings in the area championship game which qualified its winner for the national tournament.

Riggy was a three time All-Conference pitcher who also played first base. He had a 21-3 record while setting team records for total wins, shutouts, and complete games. Thirty years later he still held the record for most shutouts (10), the second best career ERA (1.60), the third best single season ERA (1.00), and was fourth in strikeouts (210) and in complete games (17).

During his college career, Thomas pitched 197 innings, gave up 131 hits, struck out 208 hitters, and yielded only 35 earned runs. In 1970 he pitched a no-hitter against Langston.

Riggy Thomas was one of the best pitchers in Savage baseball history. He helped establish Southeastern baseball as a regional and national power. The University honored Riggy Thomas with induction into the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on January 15, 2000.