| MLB Player Profile: Jim Thome |
| By Sally Haase July 24, 2011 For those who remember Starting Lineups, the 5 to 6 inch figures of the day’s hottest sports stars you know that the figures rarely looked like the players, but the poses created for the player were accurate. Except for a 2000 figure of Jim Thome that I found in a flea market two years ago, the pose for Thome featured him bunting, yes, bunting. My thought was when has Jim Thome ever bunted in his career. For a man who is only a handful of home runs away from the 600 mark, sacrifice bunts are not a top priority, why waste an out on someone who can his the ball over 400 feet. Thome started his career with the Cleveland Indians where he started his career at first base, then eventually split time between first base and the designated hitter role. From 1994 to 2004 Thome had a string of 20 plus home run seasons ending because of an injury shortened season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005. A move back to the American League in 2006 brought back Thome’s home run swing, hitting 42 for the Chicago White Sox. After his time with the White Sox ended Thome spent some time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and then signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins in 2010. Thome has been the only Twins player who has actually made Target Field look small, hitting monster shots to all fields of the park. Almost 41, it could likely be Thome’s last year in baseball but one thing is certain this future Hall of Famer will be known as on the of the nicest and most respect players in the game. |
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