Former Dodger Derrel Thomas, a flamboyant jack-of-all...

Former Dodger Derrel Thomas, a flamboyant jack-of-all trades player who spent 15 years in the major leagues, has been chosen to manage the Boise Hawks baseball team in their first season.

Thomas, 36, of Los Angeles, started his major league career with the Houston Astros in 1971 and last played with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985.

Thomas will get his first chance to manage in June, when minor league baseball returns to Boise for the first time in nine years. The Hawks will play a 78-game schedule in the Class-A Northwest League, beginning June 16.