Posted on 02/12/2010 7:20:51 PM PST by Viking83
Frank Thomas, who officially announced his retirement on Thursday night, will have his No. 35 retired during an on-field ceremony on Aug. 29, when the White Sox celebrate "Frank Thomas Day" as they host the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. CT.
Thomas, 41, earned American League MVP honors twice during his tenure with the White Sox and, during his 19-year career, was considered one of the game's foremost sluggers.
Signed by the White Sox in 1989 as their first-round pick (seventh overall) out of Auburn, he made his big league debut just over a year later, and in 1991, his first full season, he finished third in the AL MVP voting.
During his career, spent with the White Sox through 2005 and then with the Athletics and Blue Jays over the next three seasons, Thomas hit .301 with 521 home runs, 1,704 RBIs, 1,494 runs scored and 495 doubles while drawing 1,667 walks in 2,322 games.
A five-time All-Star, he was just the 11th player in big league history to win back-to-back MVP awards, winning in 1993 and 1994.
Thomas holds the franchise record in several offensive categories as well, including home runs (448), doubles (447), RBIs (1,465), runs scored (1,327), extra-base hits (906), walks (1,466), total bases (3,949), slugging percentage (.568) and on-base percentage (.427).
Along with Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, Thomas is one of just four players in baseball history to have a .300 average with 500 home runs, 1,500 RBIs, 1,000 runs scored and 1,500 walks in his career. He is a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1991, 1993, 1994, 2000), and he was named the 2000 AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Thomas announced his retirement while receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Comcast SportsNets Awards ceremony benefiting the March of Dimes.
"I am officially retired. It's time. It's in my heart, and it's time to move on," Thomas said. "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 becomes the 10th player to have his number retired by the White Sox. His No. 35 joins Nos. 2 (Nellie Fox), 3 (Harold Baines), 4 (Luke Appling), 9 (Minnie Minoso), 11 (Luis Aparicio, though it has been un-retired for the 2010 season for veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel), 16 (Ted Lyons), 19 (Billy Pierce), 42 (Jackie Robinson) and 72 (Carlton Fisk).
Never even a hint of steroids. In fact he was the only active MLB player that offered to testify at the Mitchell hearings on steroid abuse in baseball.
War Eagle, Big Hurt! Next stop, Cooperstown.
A well deserved jersey retirement.
Jeff Bagwell is up for the HOF next year (I think) — as Baggie goes, so goes Frank Thomas.
SnakeDoc
I work with a big Cubs fan that refers to him as ‘The Big Skirt’
He’s a Bears fan, as well....
So, it’s understandable....
;-)
Thomas leaves legacy as greatest player in White Sox history
First baseball player I ever had a poster of in my room. Good memories, can’t ask for more.
How many homosexuals does it take to flip a car?
I guess we'll find out when the Cubs win the World Series.
Hey, leave us Cub and Bear fans alone! lol!
He was a great player with a lot of class. ...even if he did play for the White Sox. Though that’s still better than playing for the Cubs.
The Cubs and Bears are OK in my book.... This guy just irritates me, so I give him grief....
It was significant because a week earlier Jim Thome had returned to Cleveland in a Sox uniform and the fans booed him mercilessly.
Boy were there some good 1st basemen in the 90’s
Baggs and Thomas were the pinnacle of their era. Pujols puts them both to shame, though.
SnakeDoc
Ditto from a long-time Auburn football fan
Probably the second-most famous Auburn baseball player behind Bo.
Great baseball player; great football player. And a good guy . . .
Un-retire a number?
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