White Sox slugger Jim Thome nods into history with 500th home run

The timing couldn't have been better. Today was Jim Thome Bobblehead Day on Chicago's South Side for this afternoon's game, the last of a ten-game homestand, versus the Los Angeles Angels.

Peoria, Illinois native and Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome just hit his 500th home run. Thome is the first player to achieve the feat in a Sox uniform.

And it was done in dramatic fashion: Thome launched an opposite field two-run homer on a full count in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Sox a 9-7 victory over the Angels. Dustin Moseley gave up the historic four-bagger.

With his wife and father and other family members in attendance, Thome became the 23rd Major League Baseball player to achieve the 500 homer milestone, the other two being Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and Frank Thomas of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thomas hit most of his home runs as a member of the White Sox.

For years I watched Thome beat the stuffing out of baseballs against the South Siders while playing for the Cleveland Indians. And I said to myself, "Why can't we get this guy on our team?"

Last year it happened, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Thome, coming off an injury plagued 2005 season, to the White Sox.

The story of the 2007 Chicago White Sox is about individual achievement. In April, Sox ace Mark Buehrle pitched the first Sox no hitter at home in forty years. Last month, White Sox closer Bobby Jenks tied a major league record for retiring the most consecutive batters.

But team performed poorly, the Sox are currently in last place in their division.

Nice guys don't always finish last. In a 2007 Sports Illustrated poll of Major League Baseball players, Thome finished in a second-place tie with fellow designated hitter Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals when players were asked, "Who is the friendliest player in baseball?" Detroit Tigers first baseman Sean Casey topped the poll.

Well done, Jim.

Thanks for the link:

Peoria Pundits

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