Jim Thome Hits 600

Thome celebrates with his teammates

One of the best clubs in sports has a new member. The 600 Home Run Club welcomed Jim Thome yesterday after he hit a 7th inning home run off Daniel Schlereth. Thome hit the home run 1 inning after he hits home run #599 off Rick Porcello. 

Jim Thome has had a career different then any other 600 HR Club Member, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr, and Alex Rodriguez. He wasn't considered the best player of his era (Ruth, Mays, Aaron, Griffey Jr), wasn't linked with steriods (Bonds, Sosa, Rodriguez ) and wasn't a media star who was always in the spotlight (All of them). 

Thome led the league in home runs in 2003 with the Indians (47) and came in second twice in 2001 (49) and 2002 (52). He lost to Rodriguez  both times by less then 5 homers. The least diggers Thome hit in a season in which he played at least 81 games (half the season) was in 1994. he played in 98 games and hit 20 home runs with the Cleveland.

Thome is not the man you will think will hit 600 home runs because he did his work quietly. So quietly that he only made 5 all star games. In the years he came in first and second in the home run race, he wasn't in the All-Star Game. Thome participated in 3 Home Run Derby but didn't win any. Maybe that's another reason why he was not a house hold name. Should all fans know who he is.

If there really was a club for 600 Home Run Club, around the walls would be plaques. Thome's plaque would be placed there at the end of the year. And hopefully soon after Thome retires he will have a Hall of Fame plaque

Congrats Jim! You really deserve this.