Thome’s in the 500 Club, but Maybe Not in THE Club

[Linnwood]

The New York Times

 

April 27, 2008

 

Thome’s in the 500 Club, but Maybe Not in THE Club

 

By JACK CURRY

 

Jim Thome of the White Sox hits long homers, prodigious homers, majestic homers, a lot of homers. Thome is patient and powerful, a left-hander hitter with an open stance, with an uppercut swing and with forearms as massive as telephone poles. Before he ever swings, he looks like someone who should pound homers.

 

With Thome, looks are not deceiving. When he bashed his 513th homer, for the Chicago White Sox against the Yankees on Thursday, Thome chugged past Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews on the career list. Only 18 major league players, three of whom are active, have accumulated more homers than Thome.

 

“It’s very humbling,” Thome said. “You’re talking about being grouped with the greatest home run hitters who ever played.”

 

Still, when Thome’s career statistics are dissected and debated, he is not universally considered an automatic Hall of Famer. Of the 16 players with at least 500 homers who are eligible for the Hall, 15 have made it. Mark McGwire, who has been suspected of using steroids, is the one player in the 500 club who does not have a spot in Cooperstown.

 

Thome has never been connected with the use of performance-enhancing drugs, but he has played in what has become known as the Steroid Era. Five hundred homers used to guarantee admittance to the Hall, but those standards could be changing. Maybe 600 will be the new 500.

 

“When I hear people say 500 homers doesn’t get you in the Hall of Fame, that’s a bold statement because 500 homers isn’t something that just happens,” Thome said in a phone interview. “It’s not something that you just toss out there.”

 

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa have been linked to performance enhancers, so their candidacies for the Hall will be muddied. The veteran baseball writers who vote must decide how to evaluate the players from this era. In McGwire’s first two years on the Hall of Fame ballot, his best showing was 23.6 percent of the votes; 75 percent is necessary for induction.

 

Thome said that the inflation of statistics, some illegitimate, has made it more complicated to judge accomplishments. After he said he had been hurt by playing at a time when players used steroids, he amended his comments.

 

“I shouldn’t say it’s hurt me,” Thome said. “It’s hurt the game. It’s a part of what has happened and what we all have to deal with. It’s put us in a position where people’s speculation is one of the things you have.”

 

There is no doubt that Thome is an excellent power hitter, but is he a Hall of Famer? One of the players he surpassed said yes.

 

“He’s definitely a Hall of Famer,” Banks said in a telephone interview. “He’s been consistent. He’s done a lot of wonderful things. He’s played in the World Series. He’s been a great asset to baseball.”

 

Writers routinely say that a player has to dominate his era to be a Hall of Famer. Thome has averaged a homer every 13.47 at-bats, the fourth-best ratio ever. He has driven in 100 or more runs nine times, hit 40 or more homers six times, scored 100 or more runs eight times and has a career on-base percentage of more than .400. As strong as those statistics are, do they show dominance?

 

Thome’s detractors say he has led the league in homers only once, he has never been in the top three in the most valuable player voting, he has 2,062 strikeouts, which is the third-highest career total, and his 1,942 hits are modest for a player in his 18th season. But Banks, a Hall of Famer who played for the Chicago Cubs, sees Thome as someone who belongs in the exclusive club.

 

“To me, he’s a natural-born home run hitter,” Banks said. “He hits to all fields. He hits off lefties. He hits off righties. I’m proud of him.”

 

If Thome makes 564 plate appearances in 2008, 28 more than he had last year, he will secure a $13 million option with the White Sox for 2009. Whether he returns to Chicago or goes elsewhere, Thome, 37, who exercises daily for his once troublesome back, wants to play for a few more years.

 

That means he will presumably climb higher on the home run list. Although Thome is proud of his place in baseball history, he will not say definitively that he deserves to be in the Hall. He would only describe the strenuous journey to Highway 500, the road that used to assure players of getting there.

 

“I do know one thing,” Thome said. “I know how hard and how long and how many countless hours you have to put in for it. I know how much you have to work your butt off to even come close to 500 homers.”

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/sports/b...ll/27thome.html

[max power]

I can't believe this. He is a hall of famer. He might have 600 when he retires, depending on his health.

[joejoesox]

I'm glad the Sox are giving Thome his PA's, I wouldn't mind seeing him again next year in a Sox uniform

[drowninginflame]

He's my favorite for sure.

[witesoxfan]

Thome's put up outstanding numbers throughout his career, has been in the running for MVPs on several occasions, is a 5-time all-star, has made 2 World Series appearances in his career, has played more games at 3B than DH in his career and was almost an exclusive 1Bman for 8+ years, and he's a fantastic person.

 

Oh yeah, and he's hit a few homers too.

 

Thome may/probably isn't a first ballot hall of famer, but discrediting his accomplishments in such a fashion would just be absolutely rude as hell.

[kjshoe04]

If he gets to 600 it is a no doubter, but until then I think there will still be debate on it.

[southsider2k5]

Of course he isn't a Hall of Famer, he didn't play in NY or Boston....

[Jimbo's Drinker]

NY media should focus on the fact they are in second to last place

[Linnwood]

Of course he isn't a Hall of Famer, he didn't play in NY or Boston....

 

 

Ding, Ding, Ding! And we have a winner!