February 11, 2010

The Big Hurt makes it official.:
After sitting out for a full year after getting no suitable offers in 2009, Frank Thomas has announced his retirement.

posted by grum@work to baseball at 11:47 PM - 5 comments

A first ballot HOF'er (in skills and in nickname), he retires as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport.

He was Albert Pujols before there was Albert Pujols.

Easily the greatest hitter in Chicago White Sox history:

RCAA = runs created above average 

Rank Name                        RCAA    
1    Frank Thomas                800   
2    Eddie Collins               364   
3    Minnie Minoso               281   
4    Luke Appling                239   
5    Joe Jackson                 227   
6    Harold Baines               154   
T7   Magglio Ordonez             143   
T7   Dick Allen                  143   
9    Floyd Robinson              132   
10   Paul Konerko                123

posted by grum@work at 12:00 AM on February 12, 2010

Five years ago I would have said Thomas would not be a first ballot HoFer (not because he doesn't deserve it, but because the BBWAA are idiots and probably would not appreciate just how good he was -- cf. Alomar, Roberto). But, considering that the BBWAA are apparently the arbiters of who got a boost from PEDs and who did not (and of whose apologies are contrite enough or strike the right tone and content), and that Frank is one of two people (Junior Griffey being the other) who is considered to be above reproach as it relates to steroids, I think he is a shoo-in first ballot guy now.

posted by holden at 12:12 AM on February 12, 2010

One of the greatest power hitters that I ever had the privilage of watching play for a long time. Hands down Hall of Famer.

posted by BornIcon at 07:27 AM on February 12, 2010

Before he got to the major leagues, he tore apart the Cape Cod League.

People there still mark the chronology of their lives in terms of whether certain things happened "before Frank Thomas" or "after Frank Thomas".

posted by beaverboard at 08:20 AM on February 12, 2010

He'll go in as a Blue Jay, right ?

I kid, I kid ;-)

posted by tommybiden at 11:32 AM on February 12, 2010

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