February 12, 201016 yr February 12, 2010 Frank Thoms WHITE SOX TO RETIRE UNIFORM NO. 35 IN HONOR OF FRANK THOMAS; ANNOUNCE ‘FRANK THOMAS DAY’ WILL BE CELEBRATED AUGUST 29 Frank Thomas, two-time Most Valuable Player with the Chicago White Sox and one of baseball’s greatest offensive players during his playing career, will be honored by the franchise by having his uniform No. 35 retired during an on-field ceremony on “Frank Thomas Day,” August 29, when the White Sox take on the New York Yankees (1:05 p.m.). The announcement by the White Sox comes one day after Thomas announced his retirement at Thursday night’s annual Comcast SportsNet Awards dinner to benefit March of Dimes. Thomas, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the fundraising event, meets with the Chicago media Friday morning at U.S. Cellular Field. “I am officially retired. It’s time. It’s in my heart and it’s time to move on,” Thomas told Comcast SportsNet Thursday night. “I’m proud to say I’m ready to retire. I enjoyed a wonderful career and have nothing left to prove. It’s a young man’s game now.” Thomas’ No. 35 becomes the 10th uniform number to be retired by the White Sox, joining No. 2 (Nellie Fox), No. 3 (Harold Baines), No. 4 (Luke Appling), No. 9 (Minnie Minoso), No. 11 (Luis Aparicio, currently un-retired for the 2010 season), No. 16 (Ted Lyons), No. 19 (Billy Pierce), No. 42 (Jackie Robinson) and No. 72 (Carlton Fisk).
February 12, 201016 yr Can't wait to hear Gene Honda announce his name one last time. Congratulations, Frank.
February 12, 201016 yr I kinda of was hoping in my heart for one last hurrah with Frank in a Sox uniform, but it's not to be. He is a Hall of famer for sure
February 12, 201016 yr So they will honor Frank Thomas on a day when a decent percentage of folks will be cheering for the other team.... Why not do this to sell tickets to a game against a s***ty team? Edited February 12, 201016 yr by Jenks Heat
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 11:39 AM) So they will honor Frank Thomas on a day when a decent percentage of folks will be cheering for the other team.... Why not do this to sell tickets to a game against a s***ty team? I agree, it sucks that it's against the Yankees, especially because it jacks the price of the tickets up. But I just couldnt pass up missing this, and I just purchased a few tickets. Can't wait!
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 11:39 AM) So they will honor Frank Thomas on a day when a decent percentage of folks will be cheering for the other team.... Why not do this to sell tickets to a game against a s***ty team? It's not like Yankee fans will be booing this.
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 12:39 PM) So they will honor Frank Thomas on a day when a decent percentage of folks will be cheering for the other team.... Why not do this to sell tickets to a game against a s***ty team? They want to make sure the building is absolutely full for this ceremony I'd assume, and I can't blame them (although I think it'd sell out even if the ceremony were held on a Wednesday against the Orioles or something, but I can see why they did it this way).
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 12:11 PM) His final game played was August 29th, 2008. Wow...great point. I just bought my tickets as well. Father's Day gift for my dad.
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 12:19 PM) I kind of want to travel to Chicago just to see this. Yeah i might have to drive out there myself.
February 12, 201016 yr Well I announced this around 2 am on the Frank retired thread, but I deleted it cuz I wanted it to be a surprise and for Steve to finally make a thread noone hasn't done already.. Edited February 12, 201016 yr by SoxAce
February 12, 201016 yr I live in Europe and am thinking about flying back for this. He truly was, for a few years, one of the best hitters of all time IMO. He would RARELY swing at a pitch outside the strike zone (except against Jeff Nelson) and would seemingly hit every ball hard. Such a joy to watch for most of the 90's...
February 12, 201016 yr I honor of Frank Thomas day they should bust out these throwbacks from when he made his debut...
February 12, 201016 yr I was hoping for an Emmit Smith kind of one day symbolic signing. The greatest batter I've watched.
February 12, 201016 yr If Hawk Harrelson presents him at the HOF induction ceremony it could be epic.
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) If Hawk Harrelson presents him at the HOF induction ceremony it could be epic. He's already booked doing Carlos Gomez's retirement that same day.
February 12, 201016 yr QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 12, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) I was hoping for an Emmit Smith kind of one day symbolic signing. The greatest batter I've watched. 1. They'd have to clear a spot on the 40 man roster since a minor league contract really wouldn't count 2. Since anyone on the 40 man roster is considered "active" in the offseason I do believe signing him would push back his possible enshrinement date by 2 years. It really wouldn't be worth it.
February 13, 201016 yr I gotta get tickets for this. I'd get to see him at the Cell one last time. Also, ESPN making love to him all of the sudden is quite odd.
February 13, 201016 yr That is totally awesome, and it's on my birthday to boot! Edited February 13, 201016 yr by MexSoxFan#1
February 13, 201016 yr There are Frank Thomas 1990 Leaf Rookie cards on eBay Buy It Now now for under $10.00. Get 'em while you can! (Don't buy the reproduction)
February 13, 201016 yr I was really bummed because I was already going to the game on the 28th with two friends, one another diehard Sox fan and another a diehard Yankees fan. But the more I thought about it, the more special it seemed, and I talked to my dad and he thought we should definitely go. Got UD box seats for section 527! He also said he really wants to drive out to Cooperstown again (we went there as a family in '99) when he gets in.
February 13, 201016 yr Frank's 35 is retired Aug 29. The Twins fall apart, the Sox need another bat, they trade for Thome Aug 31 making him eligible for the postseason. His number 25 is taken by Andruw Jones, so Thome sports 35 as a tribute to Frank. Perfect.
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