Thome joins elite with 600th homer
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2011, Wednesday
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JIM Thome became just the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 600 home runs on Monday after blasting two for the Minnesota Twins in their 9-6 win over the Detroit Tigers.
The 40-year-old slugger belted a two-run shot in the sixth inning to notch his 599th, then reached the milestone with a three-run blast an inning later that put the Twins up 9-5 and sparked a standing ovation at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
"It's surreal, you never really imagine being in this situation," said Thome, who was swamped by teammates and family after reaching home plate.
"It was very special. I was just trying to have good at-bats, and the main thing was not to rush it," he added.
Thome became the first to reach the 600-club since the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez a year ago. A five-time All Star, Thome, who has played for five major league teams, is now nine home runs shy of Sammy Sosa, who is seventh on the career list.
He became just the eighth major league player to reach the milestone, adding his name to a list of greats that includes Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660).
'Steroid era'
The achievement will warm the hearts of traditionalists, coming through the so-called 'steroids era' of baseball without a hint of controversy tainting Thome's image as an honest, old-fashioned slugger.
Recent inductees to the 600-club have been dogged by admissions or allegations of having used performance-enhancing drugs, including Barry Bonds (762), Sosa (609) and Rodriguez (626).
Thome, untainted like Ken Griffey Jr (630) who retired last season, was more of a throwback player.
He wore his socks pulled up high in the old style and his hair cut short, with his bulging forearms warning opposing pitchers to keep the ball away from the barrel of his bat.
What he lacked in glamour, soft-spoken Thome made up in integrity and determination as he battled injuries, including a chronic back problem that made it a struggle for him to reach the goal in his 21st major league season.
Thome began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1991 and moved on to the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers before ending up at the Twins.
He was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB Draft and quickly proved to be a bargain.
He hit .340 with 16 home runs combined in two minor league stops in 1990, and batted .319 the next year, leading to a September call-up by Cleveland as a 21-year-old third baseman.
What next, Cooperstown?
"I don't know. That's not for me to decide," he said. "That would be a dream. It's pretty special. I don't think it's really hit home. To be mentioned and have the Hall of Fame mentioned, that's just very, very special. That's just really cool."
The 40-year-old slugger belted a two-run shot in the sixth inning to notch his 599th, then reached the milestone with a three-run blast an inning later that put the Twins up 9-5 and sparked a standing ovation at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
"It's surreal, you never really imagine being in this situation," said Thome, who was swamped by teammates and family after reaching home plate.
"It was very special. I was just trying to have good at-bats, and the main thing was not to rush it," he added.
Thome became the first to reach the 600-club since the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez a year ago. A five-time All Star, Thome, who has played for five major league teams, is now nine home runs shy of Sammy Sosa, who is seventh on the career list.
He became just the eighth major league player to reach the milestone, adding his name to a list of greats that includes Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660).
'Steroid era'
The achievement will warm the hearts of traditionalists, coming through the so-called 'steroids era' of baseball without a hint of controversy tainting Thome's image as an honest, old-fashioned slugger.
Recent inductees to the 600-club have been dogged by admissions or allegations of having used performance-enhancing drugs, including Barry Bonds (762), Sosa (609) and Rodriguez (626).
Thome, untainted like Ken Griffey Jr (630) who retired last season, was more of a throwback player.
He wore his socks pulled up high in the old style and his hair cut short, with his bulging forearms warning opposing pitchers to keep the ball away from the barrel of his bat.
What he lacked in glamour, soft-spoken Thome made up in integrity and determination as he battled injuries, including a chronic back problem that made it a struggle for him to reach the goal in his 21st major league season.
Thome began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1991 and moved on to the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers before ending up at the Twins.
He was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB Draft and quickly proved to be a bargain.
He hit .340 with 16 home runs combined in two minor league stops in 1990, and batted .319 the next year, leading to a September call-up by Cleveland as a 21-year-old third baseman.
What next, Cooperstown?
"I don't know. That's not for me to decide," he said. "That would be a dream. It's pretty special. I don't think it's really hit home. To be mentioned and have the Hall of Fame mentioned, that's just very, very special. That's just really cool."
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