Dr. J. Thompson "Doc" Prothro of Memphis, Tennessee, was a well-known baseball player/manager, team & ball park owner, cotton planter, & real estate investor in the first half of the 20th century.
Son of John Rosser Prothro (1865-1923) and Roberta Alice Thompson (1866-1050), he attended Castle Heights Military Academy and was a graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee School of Dentistry. A WWI veteran he served briefly in the U.S. Navy. In October 1917 Thompson married Katherine Cates of Cates Landing, Tennessee (Lake Co.), and opened a dental practice in Dyersburg. Their son Tommy was born in Dyersburg in July 1920.
"Doc," as he became known, was older than most new players but accounted himself well, playing for several years in the majors with a career batting average over .300 and then became a very successful minor league manager/player (the Little Rock (Arkansas) Travelers., the Portland (Oregon) Beavers, etc.) and for a short time in WWII he managed a major league team, the struggling & under-funded Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball meant living in the team's city so they sold their Dyersburg home. It meant lots of travel for "Doc" and spring training meant a stay in a warm climate for both of them. Apartments were generally "home" but in the mid-1930's he & Katherine purchased a 3 bedroom house in Memphis' Hein Park, their principal residence for the rest of his life. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Willis Cates, lived with them there, traveling or visiting other relatives during the baseball season.
Thompson returned to Memphis as manager & part owner of the Memphis Chickasaws ("Chicks"), a strong Triple-A team, and of Russwood Park, the Memphis ball park. His partners were Edward F. "Ed" Barry and Frank L. Longinotti. Although Russwood was retained, the baseball club itself was sold to the Chicago White Sox in 1947, and Doc shifted his primary attention to family farming interests and to real estate investment. Out of years of habit, Katherine & Thompson for some time continued their annual wintering in Florida for 6 to 8 weeks, made more practical with Doc's sister, Roberta, living just 2 doors away in same Memphis neighborhood.
Doc had three sisters, Roberta Wellford, Mary Carey, both of Memphis, & Maria Brown living in Nashville. He farmed in Crittenden Co., Arkansas (West Memphis), and Lake Co., Tennessee. In Memphis he was a member of St. John's Methodist Church, Society of Memphi, and the University Club. He was honored as a member of the Castle Ht.s Sports Hall of Fame and also was voted a member of the Tennessee Hall of Fame. His close friendship with his brother-in-law, Clifton B.Cates, was important to his life. They loved to fish, fresh water and deep sea, & go to the horse races together. He enjoyed good friends, good food, good music, and good books.
A kind man, his final few years saw him fight prostate cancer and mobility problems from a back injury but he maintained his smile & sense of humor through most of his life.
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ORIGINAL MEMORIAL: "Practicing dentist before signed contract for major league bas eball. Major league baseball player 1920-1926. Position player for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Became minor league manager of the Memphis Chicks and the Little Rock Travelers thru 1938. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1939-1941. Replaced by Hans Lobert at the end of 1941 season and he went on to return as manager of the Memphis Chicks. After retirement (sic), he became co-owner of the club." -- original memorial bio by Carol Tessein.
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Son of John Rosser Prothro (1865-1923) and Roberta Alice Thompson (1866-1050), he attended Castle Heights Military Academy and was a graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee School of Dentistry. A WWI veteran he served briefly in the U.S. Navy. In October 1917 Thompson married Katherine Cates of Cates Landing, Tennessee (Lake Co.), and opened a dental practice in Dyersburg. Their son Tommy was born in Dyersburg in July 1920.
"Doc," as he became known, was older than most new players but accounted himself well, playing for several years in the majors with a career batting average over .300 and then became a very successful minor league manager/player (the Little Rock (Arkansas) Travelers., the Portland (Oregon) Beavers, etc.) and for a short time in WWII he managed a major league team, the struggling & under-funded Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball meant living in the team's city so they sold their Dyersburg home. It meant lots of travel for "Doc" and spring training meant a stay in a warm climate for both of them. Apartments were generally "home" but in the mid-1930's he & Katherine purchased a 3 bedroom house in Memphis' Hein Park, their principal residence for the rest of his life. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Willis Cates, lived with them there, traveling or visiting other relatives during the baseball season.
Thompson returned to Memphis as manager & part owner of the Memphis Chickasaws ("Chicks"), a strong Triple-A team, and of Russwood Park, the Memphis ball park. His partners were Edward F. "Ed" Barry and Frank L. Longinotti. Although Russwood was retained, the baseball club itself was sold to the Chicago White Sox in 1947, and Doc shifted his primary attention to family farming interests and to real estate investment. Out of years of habit, Katherine & Thompson for some time continued their annual wintering in Florida for 6 to 8 weeks, made more practical with Doc's sister, Roberta, living just 2 doors away in same Memphis neighborhood.
Doc had three sisters, Roberta Wellford, Mary Carey, both of Memphis, & Maria Brown living in Nashville. He farmed in Crittenden Co., Arkansas (West Memphis), and Lake Co., Tennessee. In Memphis he was a member of St. John's Methodist Church, Society of Memphi, and the University Club. He was honored as a member of the Castle Ht.s Sports Hall of Fame and also was voted a member of the Tennessee Hall of Fame. His close friendship with his brother-in-law, Clifton B.Cates, was important to his life. They loved to fish, fresh water and deep sea, & go to the horse races together. He enjoyed good friends, good food, good music, and good books.
A kind man, his final few years saw him fight prostate cancer and mobility problems from a back injury but he maintained his smile & sense of humor through most of his life.
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ORIGINAL MEMORIAL: "Practicing dentist before signed contract for major league bas eball. Major league baseball player 1920-1926. Position player for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Became minor league manager of the Memphis Chicks and the Little Rock Travelers thru 1938. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1939-1941. Replaced by Hans Lobert at the end of 1941 season and he went on to return as manager of the Memphis Chicks. After retirement (sic), he became co-owner of the club." -- original memorial bio by Carol Tessein.
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Dr. J. Thompson "Doc" Prothro of Memphis, Tennessee, was a well-known baseball player/manager, team & ball park owner, cotton planter, & real estate investor in the first half of the 20th century.
Son of John Rosser Prothro (1865-1923) and Roberta Alice Thompson (1866-1050), he attended Castle Heights Military Academy and was a graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee School of Dentistry. A WWI veteran he served briefly in the U.S. Navy. In October 1917 Thompson married Katherine Cates of Cates Landing, Tennessee (Lake Co.), and opened a dental practice in Dyersburg. Their son Tommy was born in Dyersburg in July 1920.
"Doc," as he became known, was older than most new players but accounted himself well, playing for several years in the majors with a career batting average over .300 and then became a very successful minor league manager/player (the Little Rock (Arkansas) Travelers., the Portland (Oregon) Beavers, etc.) and for a short time in WWII he managed a major league team, the struggling & under-funded Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball meant living in the team's city so they sold their Dyersburg home. It meant lots of travel for "Doc" and spring training meant a stay in a warm climate for both of them. Apartments were generally "home" but in the mid-1930's he & Katherine purchased a 3 bedroom house in Memphis' Hein Park, their principal residence for the rest of his life. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Willis Cates, lived with them there, traveling or visiting other relatives during the baseball season.
Thompson returned to Memphis as manager & part owner of the Memphis Chickasaws ("Chicks"), a strong Triple-A team, and of Russwood Park, the Memphis ball park. His partners were Edward F. "Ed" Barry and Frank L. Longinotti. Although Russwood was retained, the baseball club itself was sold to the Chicago White Sox in 1947, and Doc shifted his primary attention to family farming interests and to real estate investment. Out of years of habit, Katherine & Thompson for some time continued their annual wintering in Florida for 6 to 8 weeks, made more practical with Doc's sister, Roberta, living just 2 doors away in same Memphis neighborhood.
Doc had three sisters, Roberta Wellford, Mary Carey, both of Memphis, & Maria Brown living in Nashville. He farmed in Crittenden Co., Arkansas (West Memphis), and Lake Co., Tennessee. In Memphis he was a member of St. John's Methodist Church, Society of Memphi, and the University Club. He was honored as a member of the Castle Ht.s Sports Hall of Fame and also was voted a member of the Tennessee Hall of Fame. His close friendship with his brother-in-law, Clifton B.Cates, was important to his life. They loved to fish, fresh water and deep sea, & go to the horse races together. He enjoyed good friends, good food, good music, and good books.
A kind man, his final few years saw him fight prostate cancer and mobility problems from a back injury but he maintained his smile & sense of humor through most of his life.
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ORIGINAL MEMORIAL: "Practicing dentist before signed contract for major league bas eball. Major league baseball player 1920-1926. Position player for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Became minor league manager of the Memphis Chicks and the Little Rock Travelers thru 1938. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1939-1941. Replaced by Hans Lobert at the end of 1941 season and he went on to return as manager of the Memphis Chicks. After retirement (sic), he became co-owner of the club." -- original memorial bio by Carol Tessein.
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Son of John Rosser Prothro (1865-1923) and Roberta Alice Thompson (1866-1050), he attended Castle Heights Military Academy and was a graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee School of Dentistry. A WWI veteran he served briefly in the U.S. Navy. In October 1917 Thompson married Katherine Cates of Cates Landing, Tennessee (Lake Co.), and opened a dental practice in Dyersburg. Their son Tommy was born in Dyersburg in July 1920.
"Doc," as he became known, was older than most new players but accounted himself well, playing for several years in the majors with a career batting average over .300 and then became a very successful minor league manager/player (the Little Rock (Arkansas) Travelers., the Portland (Oregon) Beavers, etc.) and for a short time in WWII he managed a major league team, the struggling & under-funded Philadelphia Phillies.
Baseball meant living in the team's city so they sold their Dyersburg home. It meant lots of travel for "Doc" and spring training meant a stay in a warm climate for both of them. Apartments were generally "home" but in the mid-1930's he & Katherine purchased a 3 bedroom house in Memphis' Hein Park, their principal residence for the rest of his life. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Willis Cates, lived with them there, traveling or visiting other relatives during the baseball season.
Thompson returned to Memphis as manager & part owner of the Memphis Chickasaws ("Chicks"), a strong Triple-A team, and of Russwood Park, the Memphis ball park. His partners were Edward F. "Ed" Barry and Frank L. Longinotti. Although Russwood was retained, the baseball club itself was sold to the Chicago White Sox in 1947, and Doc shifted his primary attention to family farming interests and to real estate investment. Out of years of habit, Katherine & Thompson for some time continued their annual wintering in Florida for 6 to 8 weeks, made more practical with Doc's sister, Roberta, living just 2 doors away in same Memphis neighborhood.
Doc had three sisters, Roberta Wellford, Mary Carey, both of Memphis, & Maria Brown living in Nashville. He farmed in Crittenden Co., Arkansas (West Memphis), and Lake Co., Tennessee. In Memphis he was a member of St. John's Methodist Church, Society of Memphi, and the University Club. He was honored as a member of the Castle Ht.s Sports Hall of Fame and also was voted a member of the Tennessee Hall of Fame. His close friendship with his brother-in-law, Clifton B.Cates, was important to his life. They loved to fish, fresh water and deep sea, & go to the horse races together. He enjoyed good friends, good food, good music, and good books.
A kind man, his final few years saw him fight prostate cancer and mobility problems from a back injury but he maintained his smile & sense of humor through most of his life.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
ORIGINAL MEMORIAL: "Practicing dentist before signed contract for major league bas eball. Major league baseball player 1920-1926. Position player for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Became minor league manager of the Memphis Chicks and the Little Rock Travelers thru 1938. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1939-1941. Replaced by Hans Lobert at the end of 1941 season and he went on to return as manager of the Memphis Chicks. After retirement (sic), he became co-owner of the club." -- original memorial bio by Carol Tessein.
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