Let me start by saying I've always been a fan of Jim Thome, despite having grown up watching him kill Twins pitching in Cleveland and Chicago. I think he's just a tough guy to hate, you can hate that he's beat your team time in and time out, but you can't hate how he goes about doing so. Thome has lived in the steroid era where nearly every other top homerun hitter has been indicated as users, ie: McGwire, Sosa, Rodriguez, Palmeiro, Ramirez, Ortiz, Sheffield, Giambi, and the list goes on. Only 2 of the great homerun hitters of this era can be described as clean, Thome and Ken Griffey Jr.
James Howard "Jim" Thome was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB draft out of Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. He was the 333rd overall selection. 221 players drafted ahead of Thome NEVER played in the majors. To say Thome was a diamond in the rough, is a gross overstatement. Thome was drafted as a long-shot prospect, an 18 year old, who at the time was only 6'1", 180, (Thome currently stands at 6'3", 250). His rapid ascent through the minors began with bewildered everyone, including the Indians, who drafted him. They had no choice but to move him up. Thome's ascent had more to do with his hard work ethic than his pure talent, a trait that makes him even more easier to be a fan.
Thome's first major league game occurred in September 1991, against, of all teams, the Minnesota Twins. He went 2 for 4 against the eventual world series champion Twins and so his career began. However, it wasn't until the strike shortened season of 1994, that Thome became a regular everyday player, having only hit 10 home runs in 369 at bats. Thome doubled that amount (20), in 1994, starting a string of 16 out of 17 years of 20 or more homeruns. (injury shortened 2007 to 59 games) While with the Indians, Thome put up 6 seasons of 30 plus homeruns and 100 RBI's. He switched from 3rd base to 1st base in 1997, when the Indians traded for Matt Williams, which seemed to only make him better at the plate. Although its been 8 years, since Thome has played for Cleveland, he is still revered in that town and will likely don an Indians cap some day in Cooperstown.
Thome left Cleveland in 2003, deciding to jump ship to the National League, a puzzling move for a guy seemingly headed towards a DH role. But that didn't matter either as Thome put together his best season as a professional, leading the league with 47 home runs and posting a career best 131 RBI's, while finishing in the top 4 in MVP voting. He was rewarded with another trip to the all star game the following year while posting back to back 40Hr/100RBI seasons. The only statistical blemish during Thome's prime happened in 2005, when a slow start and a season ending injury eventually ended Thome's career in Philadelphia, after Ryan Howard's emergence left Thome expendable. He was traded the following offseason to the White Sox.
Thome's return to the American League turned out to be a godsend for him. In his first year with the White Sox, Thome went back to doing what he does best, smashing baseballs. He hit 42 homers and 109 RBI, gaining an all-star nod and earning himself the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award. His production only slightly dipped, however in his 3.5 years with the White Sox, Thome hit 134 home runs and 369 RBI's, for an average of 38/105. Not too shabby. His time with Chicago ended when the White Sox were looking to dump salary and start building for the next year. On August 31, 2009, Thome was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with cash for minor league infielder Justin Fuller. Thome's only appearances with the Dodgers were as a pinch hitter. He had four hits in seventeen at-bats with the Dodgers.
That brings us to last year, when Thome's services, after a dismal short campaign with the Dodgers were seemingly running out of options. Thome was seen as a aging power hitter with pinch hitting abilities, useless in the field, and likely losing prowess at the plate. Despite the fact that he hit 23 homeruns the previous year, not many teams were shelling out the cash for Thome's services. The White Sox were said to have been interested, but the team didn't think they could give Thome enough at-bats to be satisfied. That's when the Twins swooped in and offered Thome an incentive laden contract offering at-bats, but no promises. The offer was good enough for Thome, who had always liked Minnesota, and was very familiar with the AL Central.
For the Twins, Thome was earning $1.5 million, less than utility man Nick Punto, who owns a career .247 batting average in 10 years. At first, Thome was used as planned, providing spot starts and pinch hitting appearances, but about mid-season, he turned things up a notch and was regularly providing big hits, so much that he was awarded the full time DH spot essentially when Morneau's injury moved Cuddyer to 1st Base, allowing Kubel to be used in the outfield, a domino effect that actually improved the Twins.
After that point, Thome became the Twins power hitting force. He hit 25 homeruns in 269 at bats, a mind boggling homerun per at bat ratio of 10.76. That put him 2nd behind the major league leader, Jose Bautista, and 1 at bat better than Babe Ruth's career ratio. Aside from hitting homeruns, Thome got on base just as effectively, his OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) came in at 1.039, just a couple ticks shy of Josh Hamilton's 1.044 mark. He also bettered his career marks in Batting Avg (.283), On-Base percentage (.412), and slugging percentage (.627).
His career accomplishments are staggering enough, Thome is 8th all time on the Home Run list with 589, likely to top 600 next season. He's in the top 30 in RBI's, Walks, Extra Base Hits, On Base percentage, and at-bats per home run. He's also as many power hitters go, prone to the strikeout, of which currently Thome is 2nd all time to hall of famer Reggie Jackson in that department.
His career statistics are remarkable, but what makes Thome more likable than say Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, or Sammy Sosa, is the fact that he's an all around good guy. In a 2007 poll of 464 Major League Baseball players, he was voted the second friendliest player in a tie with Mike Sweeney. He's putting all of his 10 nieces and nephews through college. He has been the recipient of several character and community awards including the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the MLB player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. and Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. And also receiving the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given to players who best exemplify his character and integrity both on and off the field.
Well there, now its been said. Here's one fan who took notice to Jim Thome's incredible year with the Twins, and incredible baseball and personal career. Here's hoping that Thome continues to wear Twins pinstripes, but in case he moves on, here's saying thanks and best wishes on a hall of fame career.
Until next time, remember the pen is mightier than the sword.
bsv
the courtesy wave
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