third-generation baseball player. He is the grandson of Freddie Thon Sr., a native Puerto Rican who played and managed in the Puerto Rican Baseball League during World War II. His father Freddie Thon Jr., who signed a major-league contract but injured his arm before reporting to training, played semi-pro baseball while finishing college at Notre Dame, and coached all of his sons throughout their Little League and teenage years. Dickie's brother Frankie Thon is also affiliated with major league baseball in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico having been a player, a manager and a current major-league scout, as well as the general manager of the Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican League. Thon's son, Dickie Joe Thon, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round, 156th overall in the June 2010 baseball draft and played the 2016 season for the Dunedin Blue Jays. Thon joined the Astros coaching staff in 2021, and in 2022, the junior Thon was named manager for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, the Low-A club for the Astros. Thon was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on September 13, 2003. As of 2013, Thon owned a Puerto Rican Winter League team in Santurce. He is a devout Catholic. See also Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Houston Astros award winners and league leaders List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico List of Puerto Ricans List of second-generation Major League Baseball players#Third-generation families References External links Prospectus Hit and RunI Saw 'em When, Part 2, article by Jay Jaffe 1958 births Baseball players from South Bend, Indiana California Angels players Houston Astros players Living people Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico Major League Baseball shortstops Milwaukee Brewers players National League All-Stars Philadelphia Phillies players Puerto Rican baseball players Salinas Angels players Salt Lake City Gulls players San Diego Padres players Quad Cities Angels players Texas Rangers players Tucson Toros players Silver Slugger Award winners Sportspeople with a vision impairment Puerto Rican Roman Catholics Catholics from Indiana