Jim Thome

Jim Thome

James Howard "Jim" Thome ( /ˈtoʊmi/; born August 27, 1970) is an American professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who is currently a free agent in Major League Baseball (MLB). A five-time MLB All-Star, he has played for the Cleveland Indians (1991–2002, 2011), Philadelphia Phillies (2003–2005, 2012), Chicago White Sox (2006–2009), Los Angeles Dodgers (2009), Minnesota Twins (2010–2011) and Baltimore Orioles (2012).

He also won the Silver Slugger Award (1996) and the Comeback Player of the Year Award (2006). His additional accolades include the Roberto Clemente Award (2002), the Babe Ruth Home Run Award (2003), and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2004). In 2011, he became the eighth MLB player to hit 600 home runs. His currently seventh all-time for most career home runs (612) and 24th all-time for runs batted in (RBIs) with 1,699.

Thome was part of a Cleveland Indians core which led the franchise to two World Series appearances in three years during the mid-1990s. The group went to two World Series, but lost both. In 1995, they lost to the Atlanta Braves in six games while in 1997 they lost to the young Florida Marlins franchise in seven games. His trademarks include his high socks, which he helped make popular again in the mid-'90s, a time when players wore their pant cuffs down around their ankles; his batting stance, in which he holds the bat out with his right hand and points it at right field before the pitcher comes set; and his consistent positive attitude.