Jake Thies

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Jake Thies

|position=Pitcher

|image=Jake Thies.jpg

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1926|04|01}}

|birth_place=St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2013|02|10|1926|04|01}}

|death_place=Florissant, Missouri, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 24

|debutyear=1954

|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=April 17

|finalyear=1955

|finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=3–10

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.90

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=57

|teams=

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{baseball year|1954}}–{{baseball year|1955}})

}}

Vernon Arthur Thies (April 1, 1926 – February 10, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Listed at {{convert|5|ft|11|in}}, {{convert|170|lb}}, he batted and threw right handed.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thiesja01.shtml|title=Jake Thies Statistics and History|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|accessdate=August 9, 2016}}

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Thies served in the 117th Infantry Division during World War II. After discharge, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign for one year.

After playing for several minor league teams,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=thies-001ver|title=Jake Thies Register Statistics & History|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|accessdate=August 9, 2016}} Thies joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954, pitching in 34 games (33 starts) while collecting a 3–9 record and a 3.87 earned run average in 130 innings. In addition, he hurled three complete games, including a three-hit shutout on August 13 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/Kthiej1010011954.htm|title=The 1954 PIT N Regular Season Pitching Log for Jake Thies|website=retrosheet.org|accessdate=August 9, 2016}} His ERA was the second-best for the last-place Pirates, being surpassed only by Dick Littlefield (3.60).{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/UPPIT01954.htm|title=The 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Roster|website=retrosheet.org|accessdate=August 9, 2016}}

In 1955, Thies made one start for the Pirates at Forbes Field while facing the Brooklyn Dodgers. He allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out one batter in 3{{fraction|2|3}} innings of work. He was credited with the loss and never appeared in a major league game again.

In a two-season career, Thies posted a 3–10 record with a 3.90 and 57 strikeouts in 134 innings. He later pitched for Triple A Columbus Jets in 1956. It was his last season in organized baseball.

After baseball, Thies worked in sales for more than 40 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?pid=163022012#fbLoggedOut|title=Vernon "Jake" Thies: Obituary|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|website=legacy.com|date=February 12, 2013|accessdate=February 21, 2013}}

Thies died in 2013 in Florissant, Missouri, at the age of 86.