AP Story by Ted Wexel

June 21, 2012: Crystal Lake, IL – Crystal Lake Sandgnats owner / GM Dean Giesey received a peculiar call recently.  It was June 14^th, an off-day for the club.  One of the players, major league first basemen P.J. Thomas, was found inside the archeological dig site located on Gnat Field grounds.  Last year, workmen struck a buried wall during excavation of the property as part of the continuation of the stadium beautification implemented by the club several seasons ago.  The wall was found to contain a stone with the Hebrew alphabet inscribed on it.  This set off a controversy inside scientific and historical circles as to its origins.  The area has been cordoned off and is being researched by a scientific team from the Field Museum in Chicago.  Thus far, not much is known about the find, but the research team has said that it will schedule a news conference sometime next month.

As had been previously reported, Thomas has been no stranger to the site.  He has often been photographed walking on the grounds and seen talking to museum staff.  This was prior to the implementation of the security fence around the perimeter of the dig.  Security guard Ricky Gómez said he was making his rounds when he discovered Thomas on all fours, brushing dust off a flat surface within the security zone of the dig site.  “I knew who he was as soon as I saw him.  I recognized him as Thomas, star first basemen for the Bugs.” (Ed. Note: “Bugs” is a local nickname for the Sandgnats)

Ricky continued, “I said, ‘Man, you can’t be in here.’”  Thomas replied that he was working.  So I said, ‘Fine – show me your ID card!’  At first I thought it was like a practical joke.  When he shows me his ID, I start looking around for cameras or something.  He stood there smiling at me.  He said, ‘I really do work here.’  He had credentials, but I didn’t have him on my duty roster.  He said he signed in and that it must be a mistake.  I didn’t know what to do, so I called it in.  It wasn’t like I was in any danger, and he had an ID and was dressed for the work.”

Bill Hewitson was nearby, on a tour / briefing.  He was notified that Thomas had been stopped inside the perimeter and they wanted to know what to do with him.  Bill said that he was close and would head over.  He also relayed the message to Dean, who is fanatically protective of his players – especially publicity about his players.  He was working late at the stadium offices and said he, too, would head over.

Thomas greeted his employer and explained that he was working as a consultant for the Field Museum.  “I do this in my spare time,” he explained.  “It helps me relax and keeps me out of trouble.  I am allowed to have a flexible work schedule.  I work in the evenings after day games or in the mornings before practice.”

“I am not sure I understand any of this,” Dean said.  “How is it that the museum hired you?”

“I have a MA in ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and Middle East.  My degree is in historical archeology,” Thomas replied.  “Before I was drafted out of college, I worked several summers researching antiquities and attempting to reconstruct portraits of now-extinct cultures.  I also find work in the off-season.  I have worked under Israeli archaeologist Yossi Garfinkel on a proto-Canaanite fortress.  We discovered a shard of pottery with one of the oldest Hebrew inscriptions ever found.  I also worked on the Tel Zayit site.  I am fluent in Hebrew and some other Middle Eastern languages,” Thomas said.

The Tel Zayit site hit the news recently when archaeologists discovered a 40-pound stone containing the oldest known example of the Hebrew alphabet.  The stone, inscribed with the Hebrew alphabet was found in the wall of a building dated from the 10^th century B.C. in Tel Zayit, ancient Judea, south of Jerusalem.  This find was very similar to the find here in Crystal Lake, the difference being that the discovery in the U.S. is not what conventional historians or archeologists would expect to find.

“The Museum called,” Hewitson said.  “P.J. is on staff.”

“Well,” Giesey said, “we should let this man get back to work.”  He turned, and then turned back, smiling.  “This isn’t going to affect your play on the field?”

“Absolutely not!” Thomas said.

Thomas is hitting .268 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI.  He has suffered several injuries this season, including a recent hamstring injury.  Thomas joined the club in 2009 and, since that time, has slugged 53 home runs and driven in 281 RBI while batting .310 with a .380 OBA.