Fresco "Tommy" Thompson broke into professional ball at twenty one years old with the Grand Island Champions in the Nebraska State League. The youngster from Centreville Alabama led the league in 1923 in runs scored and batted .291 in 133 games for Grand Island. The fleet second baseman caught the eye of Barney Burch, owner of the Omaha Western League franchise and his contract was bought by Burch. He finished the season in Omaha, playing in 26 games and averaging .369. He returned to Omaha for the 1924 season. He played in 166 games and averaged .304.

Fresco impressed the major league scouts while playing for Omaha and the Pittsburg Pirates bought him from Burch. In 1925 he played for Kansas City and in 1926 he played for Buffalo in the International League. Fresco made his major league debut in late 1925. He played for nine years in the major leagues with four different teams all in the National League. His lifetime batting average was .298 and from 1927-1929 he was in the top ten in both at bats and stolen bases. In 1932 he returned to being a regular in the minors playing for Jersey City. In 1933 he played for Jersey City and Buffalo. In 1934 and 1935 he played for Montreal. From Montreal he moved to Minneapolis the Birmingham, Hartford, Williamsport and Reading. He finished his career in 1941 where the 39 year old managed and played for Reading.

In 1943 he managed Montreal as a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1944 and 1945 he managed New Orleans and in 1947 he managed the Kingston Ponies in the Border League.

He retired to California and died in 1968 in Fullerton California.

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