Jim Thome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Thome |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Thome in 2015
|
|||
| First baseman / Designated hitter / Third baseman | |||
| Born: August 27, 1970 Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 4, 1991, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 2012, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Hits | 2,328 | ||
| Home runs | 612 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,699 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
|||
| Induction | 2018 | ||
| Vote | 89.8% (first ballot) | ||
James "Jim" Howard Thome (born August 27, 1970) is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 22 seasons, from 1991 to 2012. Jim Thome was a powerful hitter known for hitting many home runs.
During his career, Thome hit 612 home runs. This is the eighth-most home runs in MLB history. He also had 2,328 hits and 1,699 runs batted in (RBIs). His overall batting average was .276. He was chosen for the All-Star team five times. In 1996, he won a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting.
Thome grew up in Peoria, Illinois, in a family that loved sports. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1989. He started playing in the major leagues in 1991. Early in his career, he played third base. Later, he became a first baseman. With the Indians, he helped the team reach the World Series in 1995 and 1997.
After playing for Cleveland for over ten years, Thome joined the Philadelphia Phillies. He then played for the Chicago White Sox. In 2006, he won the American League (AL) Comeback Player of the Year Award. He also joined the 500 home run club while with the White Sox. Later in his career, back pain meant he mostly played as a designated hitter. He also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and briefly returned to Cleveland and Philadelphia. He finished his career with the Baltimore Orioles.
Jim Thome was known for his amazing power hitting. In 12 different seasons, he hit at least 30 home runs. In six of those seasons, he hit over 40 home runs. His best year was 2002, when he hit 52 home runs. He also led the National League in home runs in 2003 with 47. Thome was also good at getting walks. He finished his career with a .402 on-base percentage. In 2011, he became only the eighth MLB player to hit 600 home runs. He holds the record for the most "walk-off" home runs (13), which are home runs that end the game.
One of his famous habits was his unique batting stance. He would hold his bat out with his right hand and point it towards right field before the pitcher threw the ball. He got this idea from the baseball movie The Natural. Thome was also known for his positive attitude and friendly personality. He helped many communities during his playing career. He won awards like the Roberto Clemente Award for his community work. In 2018, Jim Thome was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in his first year of eligibility.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Jim Thome was born in Peoria, Illinois, on August 27, 1970. He was the youngest of five children. Many people in the Thome family played sports. His grandmother played softball for a company team. His father built bulldozers and played slow-pitch softball. His aunt, Caroline Thome Hart, is in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame. His older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, played baseball in high school.
Jim learned to play baseball from his father on a tennis court. He also played basketball when he was young. He once tried to get an autograph from his favorite player, Dave Kingman, at Wrigley Field. He didn't get Kingman's autograph, but this experience made him want to be good about signing autographs for fans later in his career.
Thome went to Limestone High School, just like his brothers. He was an all-state player in both basketball and baseball. He played baseball as a shortstop. He also played American Legion Baseball. When he graduated in 1988, he was not drafted by any MLB teams. He was quite thin for his height at the time.
After high school, he went to Illinois Central College. He continued to play both baseball and basketball there. After one season, the Cleveland Indians drafted him in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB draft.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues (1989–1991)
In 1989, Thome started playing for the GCL Indians. This was a minor league team for the Cleveland Indians. He didn't hit any home runs that year. After his first season, he met Charlie Manuel, who became his hitting coach and mentor. Manuel saw potential in Thome and helped him improve his swing. Thome later said, "He saw something in me I didn't."
Manuel suggested that Thome point his bat towards center field before each pitch. This was a way to relax, like a character in the movie The Natural. This advice helped Thome a lot. In 1990, he hit .340 with 16 home runs. In 1991, he played in Double-A and Triple-A. He hit .319 with seven home runs.
Cleveland Indians (1991–2002)
.jpg)
Jim Thome made his MLB debut on September 4, 1991. He played third baseman against the Minnesota Twins. He got two hits in that game. He hit his first career home run on October 4. In 1993, he played mostly for the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A team. He led that league with a .332 batting average and 102 RBIs. This earned him a call-up to the major leagues.
In 1994, Thome played his first full season with Cleveland. He hit 20 home runs before a players' strike ended the season early. In 1995, Thome was part of a strong Cleveland team. He hit .314 with 25 home runs. The Indians won the American League pennant. However, they lost the 1995 World Series to the Atlanta Braves. In 1996, Thome hit 38 home runs.
.jpg)
Before the 1997 season, Thome moved from third base to first base. This was because the Indians got Matt Williams to play third base. That year, Thome hit 40 home runs. He also had 102 RBIs and led the AL with 120 walks. Cleveland went to the 1997 World Series again. But they lost to the Florida Marlins.
In 1998, Thome broke a bone in his right hand and missed some games. He still finished with 30 home runs. In 1999, his batting average dropped, but he hit 33 home runs and had 108 RBIs. On July 3, 1999, Thome hit a huge 511-foot home run at Jacobs Field. This was the longest home run ever hit at a Cleveland ballpark.
In the 2000 season, Thome hit 37 home runs. In 2001, he hit 49 home runs, which was second-most in the AL. He also had 124 RBIs.
Thome had his best season with Cleveland in 2002. He led the AL in walks (122) and slugging percentage (.677). He also hit a career-high 52 home runs. This set a new single-season record for the Cleveland Indians. It also made Thome the 21st player to hit 50 home runs in a season. When Thome hit a home run, the scoreboard would often say "THOME RUN." He was also called the "THOMENATOR."
After the 2002 season, Thome became a free agent. He signed a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He felt the Phillies had a better chance to win a championship. Thome hit a team record 334 home runs in his first time with the Indians.
Philadelphia Phillies (2003–2005)
In his first season with the Phillies, Thome hit 47 home runs. This was just one shy of the team record. On June 14, 2004, Thome hit his 400th career home run. In 2004, he won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. This award goes to players who show great character on and off the field.
Thome missed much of the 2005 season due to an elbow injury. His replacement at first base, Ryan Howard, played very well. The Phillies traded Thome to the Chicago White Sox in November 2005. Thome wanted to be traded to a Chicago team to be closer to his father.
Chicago White Sox (2006–2009)
Thome became the regular designated hitter for the White Sox in 2006. He had a great first season in Chicago. He hit 42 home runs and had 109 RBIs. On May 1, 2006, Thome played against the Indians in Cleveland for the first time as an opponent.
On September 16, 2007, Thome hit a walk-off home run to join the 500 home run club. He was the 23rd player to reach this milestone. He was also the first player to hit his 500th home run as a walk-off. Many of his family members were there to see it. Thome pointed upward to honor his late mother as he ran around the bases.
On June 4, 2008, Thome hit a 464-foot home run. In 2009, he continued to hit well. He hit his 550th career home run on June 1. By the end of the season, he had passed Reggie Jackson for 11th place on the all-time home run list.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2009)
On August 31, 2009, the White Sox traded Thome to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thome agreed to the trade because he thought the Dodgers could win the World Series. However, foot injuries limited him to only playing as a pinch hitter. He played 17 games with the Dodgers. After the season, Thome became a free agent.
Minnesota Twins (2010–2011)
On January 26, 2010, Thome signed with the Minnesota Twins. On July 3, Thome hit two home runs. This moved him past fellow Twin Harmon Killebrew for tenth on the all-time home run list. The Twins stopped the game to play a message from Killebrew congratulating Thome.
On August 17, Thome hit the first walk-off hit at Target Field, the Twins' new stadium. It was a two-run home run in the 10th inning. This was his 12th career walk-off home run, tying the record. He later broke this record. Thome finished the 2010 season with a .283 average and 25 home runs.
In January 2011, Thome signed another contract with the Twins. On July 17, Thome hit the longest home run ever at Target Field, a 490-foot blast. On August 15, he hit his 599th and 600th career home runs in the same game. This made him only the eighth player to reach 600 home runs.
Second Time with Cleveland (2011)
On August 26, 2011, Thome agreed to return to his first team, the Cleveland Indians. On September 23, Cleveland held a ceremony to honor Thome. They announced plans to build a statue of him. In that game, he hit a home run that landed near where his statue would be. Thome played 22 games for Cleveland that year. He hit .296 with three home runs.
Second Time with Philadelphia (2012)
On November 4, 2011, Thome returned to Philadelphia. He said coming back was an easy decision. He even started preparing to play first base again, even though he hadn't played defense since 2007. He started his first game at first base since 2007 on April 8, 2012.
Thome had back stiffness in April and was placed on the disabled list. He returned in June. On June 17, Thome became the fourth player to hit 100 home runs with three different teams. Six days later, Thome hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run. This was his 609th home run, tying him for seventh all-time. It also set a new record for most walk-off home runs (13) in the modern era. Thome's last game as a Phillie was on June 30. He was then traded to Baltimore.
Baltimore Orioles (2012)
The Orioles wanted Thome for his experience on a team aiming for the playoffs. On July 20, Thome hit his first home run with the Orioles. This was his 610th career home run, moving him past Sammy Sosa for seventh all-time. On August 6, Thome was placed on the disabled list with a back injury. He returned on September 21.
After beating the Indians in a game where he hit his 611th career home run, Thome said it was special to play against his old team. Orioles teammates noted Thome's love for talking about baseball in the dugout. Thome said, "I talk the game. When I sit in the dugout during games, I talk baseball to these guys." The Orioles made the playoffs but lost in the AL Division Series. Thome's last game was in the playoffs.
Life After Playing Baseball
 |
|
| Jim Thome's number 25 was retired by the Cleveland Indians in 2018. |
On July 2, 2013, Thome joined the White Sox as a special assistant to the general manager. He hopes to be a manager someday. In March 2014, Thome said he wasn't officially retired yet. However, on August 2, 2014, he signed a one-day contract with the Cleveland Indians. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the team. Thome also works as an analyst for MLB Network.
On January 24, 2018, Jim Thome was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was formally inducted on July 29, 2018. The Indians retired Thome's number 25 on August 18, 2018.
In February 2022, Thome became the new president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
Player Profile
Hitting Skills
.JPG)
Jim Thome is known as a "pure" power hitter. He was very consistent throughout his 22-year career. In 2011, Fox Sports ranked him as the sixth-best designated hitter in MLB history. He hit well against fastballs.
Thome was a pull hitter, meaning he usually hit the ball to the opposite side of the field from where he stood. Because of this, opposing teams often used a special defense called a defensive shift against him. This meant they would move more players to the side where he usually hit the ball.
Lindy's Sports described him as a "patient veteran slugger." He was good at hitting pitches that were easy to hit. He also hit many home runs. Thome was known for striking out often and not being very fast. He mostly played as a designated hitter later in his career. He had strong power numbers, with a slugging percentage over .500 in 15 seasons. He also ranks seventh on the MLB career walks list with 1,747 walks. He led the American League in walks three times. Thome said he was a slow runner but always tried his best.
Defense
Thome started his career playing third base. In 1997, he moved to first base. This was to make room for Matt Williams at third base. However, injuries, especially to his back, limited him. Later in his career, he mostly played as a designated hitter. He was on the disabled list ten times, mostly for back problems. By the end of his career, his back made it hard for him to play defense.
Playing Style and Personality
Thome was known for wearing high socks and his unique batting stance. In 1997, the Indians started wearing high socks for his birthday. They kept wearing them for the rest of the season because they thought it brought them good luck. When he returned to the Indians in 2011, the team wore high socks again as a tribute.
His batting stance involved pointing his bat to center field before the pitch. He learned this from Charlie Manuel, his hitting coach. Thome said his calm attitude came from his role model, Eddie Murray. He learned to treat success and failure the same way.
Thome's friendly personality was well-known. In a 2007 poll of MLB players, he was voted one of the friendliest players. After he hit his 600th home run, his teammates called him "the world's nicest man." His kindness is often mentioned by other MLB players. When he signed with the Phillies in 2012, the general manager said Thome's positive attitude was a key reason for signing him.
Thome often signed autographs for fans and was very patient with them. A sportswriter noted that Thome was loved by fans in every city he played in. In 2003, a fan poll in Cleveland named him the most popular athlete in the city's history.
Career Achievements
Despite his injuries later in his career, Thome had a very successful career. He was one of the few power hitters during the "steroid era" who was not suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. Thome has always said he never used them.
When he retired, many writers wondered if he would make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. They also wondered if his quiet nature would make people overlook him. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Personal Life
.jpg)
Jim Thome and his wife, Andrea, have two children, Lila Grace and Landon. He also helped pay for college for his 10 nieces and nephews. During the offseason, he lives in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
Once, after his nephew Brandon was paralyzed in an accident, he asked Thome to hit a home run for him. Thome did, hitting two home runs in the next game. Thome is also a philanthropist. He helped communities in the cities where he played. He won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award twice and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for his community work.
In 2013, after a tornado hit Washington, Illinois, near his hometown, he and his wife donated $100,000 to help. The Thomes support organizations that help children, like Children's Home + Aid. They also raise money for the Children's Hospital of Illinois.
In 2019, a renovated youth baseball field in Cleveland was named the 'Jim Thome All-Star Complex' in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Thome para niños
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs-batted-in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders
- List of Major League Baseball home run records
- List of Major League Baseball progressive career home runs leaders
