Danny Leon Thompson (February 1, 1947 – December 10, 1976) was an American college and professional baseball player, a major league shortstop from 1970 to 1976.

[3] He was traded along with Bert Blyleven from the Twins to the Texas Rangers for Roy Smalley III, Mike Cubbage, Bill Singer and Jim Gideon on June 1, 1976.

[4][5] Following a routine pre-season physical the day before his 26th birthday, Thompson was called in for additional tests and diagnosed with granulocytic leukemia in early February 1973,[6][7] but he continued his major league career for the next four seasons.

The Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting leukemia and cancer research, was launched in 1977 by the Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew (1936–2011), a former teammate with the Twins;[15] and Ralph Harding (1929–2006), a former Idaho congressman.

[16][17][18] The first edition included former President Gerald Ford, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, and Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle.