"Ten years ago, Thomas was pitching for the Minnesota Twins' Double-A affiliate in New Britain (Conn.). The Rock Cats were in the Eastern League playoffs, playing the Norwich Navigators in a best-of-five series. Had New Britain lost the series, Thomas would've flown home to his native Australia. The first part of his flight was from Boston to Los Angeles, scheduled for Sept. 11. He had a ticket on American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center." Via Big League Stew, as written by the venerable Mr. Casselberry.