Jim Thome

Jim Thome was a beloved Hall of Fame slugger known for his prodigious power and good sportsmanship across five teams.

James Howard Thome was born on August 27, 1970, in Peoria, Illinois, into a working-class family with deep baseball roots — his father Chuck was an avid fan and coach who introduced him to the game early, and his grandmother and great-aunt had both played competitively in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the league later dramatized in the film A League of Their Own. Raised in a neighborhood steeped in baseball tradition, Thome played in local leagues throughout his childhood before the Cleveland Indians selected him in the 13th round of the 1989 draft — a low pick that belied the historic career ahead of him. Thome debuted with Cleveland in 1991 and spent over a decade there, developing into one of the most feared left-handed sluggers in baseball. His combination of enormous raw power and unusually disciplined plate approach set him apart: he is one of only seven players in MLB history to combine 500 home runs, a .400 on-base percentage, and a .550 slugging percentage. He went on to play for the Phillies, White Sox, Dodgers, Twins, and Orioles before retiring in 2012, finishing with 612 home runs — eighth on the all-time list — along with 1,699 RBIs and 1,747 walks, the seventh-most in history. Thome holds the MLB record for career walk-off home runs, with 13, a testament to his knack for delivering in decisive moments across 22 seasons. He was a five-time All-Star, won a Silver Slugger Award in 1996, and led the American League in home runs in 2003 while with Philadelphia. Despite playing during an era dominated by performance-enhancing drug scandals, Thome's name was never connected to any controversy, and he is widely remembered as one of the cleanest sluggers of his generation. Beyond the statistics, Thome earned a reputation as one of the most universally respected and well-liked players of his time — teammates and opponents alike consistently praised his humility and sportsmanship. Both the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies have honored him, retiring his No. 25 in Cleveland and inducting him into the Phillies' Wall of Fame despite playing just 391 games there, the shortest tenure of anyone so recognized by the franchise. Thome was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 with 89.8% of the vote, in his first year of eligibility.

Left-handed power hitter with distinctive batting stance

One of the greatest home run hitters in MLB history

• HOF 2018 (first ballot)
• 5x All-Star
• Silver Slugger 1996