Frank Thomas

even though he’s a White Stocking ;)

I always used to wish he was of our side…:)

… Thomas was a great player, and no doubt, a first-ballot HoFer. He’s the greatest player in White Sox history.

In his prime, he was probably one of the most feared hitters in the game.

Respect.

Should be a no doubt first ballot HOF-er. Maddux, Glavine and Thomas. That’s one hell of a class.

Frank Played football at Auburn, a bastion of steroid use.

just curious to your reaction to how this same write up is being perceived on SSS

Speaking of WSI, I do browse there. There is one category of posts called “What’s The Score?” The moderator has written that they do not endorse “Cubsessed” posts where the Cubs are bashed for the sake of it. They would rather have fans talk about the Cubs like they do the rest of the league. Ok, that makes sense. But, if that was the case, why the hell does the “What’s the Score” graphics have a sign that says “Welcome to Loserville – Home of the Urinal?” When you see something like that, just what kind of talk do you think that is going to encourage?

Great write up. It really does justice to a great player. He was always one of my favorites growing up. I did take a look at his numbers compared to other 1st basemen and if we group him in with those guys he comes out at least the fifth or sixth best first basemen of all time. He is better than McCovey and he got in on the first ballot. I think the writers will give him a boost for not using steroids in this era. He is boarderline first ballot to me, but I would surely give it to him on the second ballot. I have not looked at a lot of the more advanced stats, but I could be convinced to group him in as a first ballot guy.

I think of a low outside pitch being driven into the right-centerfield gap. He was a pure hitter.

I look at him as a 1st ballet HOF, when we weren’t televised, i’d usually check out the Sox if they were on WGN to check out the Big Hurt make pitchers look foolish, especially coming out of a decade where everyone who put up numbers similar to his are in the center of the steroid accusations.

No one is. For a decade he was consistently listed in elite company with the 4 or 5 all-time greats. A pure hitter and slugger with strike zone mastery….it doesn’t get much better.

One helluva an article – clearly lays out the facts for Frank Thomas as a clear Hall Of Famer AND attacks the steroid accusations (see "Jerry Morales" ’I’m not saying, I’m just saying…’ comments).

FRANK THOMAS’ AMAZING CAREER:

For his career, Thomas has a .300 batting average and 500 home runs. That right there should make him an absolute Hall of Fame lock. Nine players in baseball have that combination — and only seven of them pulled it off with no steroid stain on their careers (A-Rod and MannyBManny are the other two). The seven are:
    1. Hank Aaron
    2. Babe Ruth
    3. Willie Mays
    4. Jimmie Foxx
    5. Ted Williams
    6. Mel Ott
    7. Frank Thomas
    Not bad, eh? …

Seasons with 100 runs, 100 RBIs, 100 walks and .300 average:

    1. Babe Ruth, 12
    2. Lou Gehrig, 10
    3. Frank Thomas, 8
    (tied) Barry Bonds, 8
    (tied) Ted Williams, 8
    6. Jimmie Foxx, 6
    7. Mel Ott, 5

    Thomas was not a good fielder, of course — he actually spent more games at DH than first base — and he was famously slow on the bases in the later years of his career. But he’s one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, and an absolute Hall of Fame slam dunk.

ON THE STEROIDS SMEARS:

Frank Thomas is probably the most prominent non-steroid user in baseball history. Of course, we can’t know the secret lives of bees or people. But every indication is that Frank Thomas avoided steroids. He was so public about his disgust over performance enhancing drugs. He advocated steroid testing fifteen years ago. He came forward to talk to the Mitchell Report people. If he used steroids, it was one hell of an act.