Vital Statistics:
Born: August 27, 1970
Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
Height: 6-3
Weight: 250
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Family: Wife, Andrea; Daughter, Lila
Primary position: Designated hitter
Before The Bigs:
- Selected in the 13th round (331st overall) in the 1989 draft by the Cleveland Indians.
- Hit .373 with 12 home runs in 34 games at rookie-level Burlington in 1990 and .337 at Double-A Canton-Akron in 1991; he made his big-league debut with Cleveland that September.
- Was selected the International League MVP in 1993, hitting .332 with 25 home runs and 102 RBI for Triple-A Charlotte.
- Hit 20 home runs as Cleveland's third baseman in 1994, then .314 with 25 home runs for the Indians in 1995, when they went 100-44 and won the AL pennant.
- Moved to first base and was selected to the All-Star team for the first time in 1997, when he hit 40 home runs and 102 RBI.
- Hit 49 home runs in 2001 and 52 in his final season with Cleveland in 2002.
- Signed as a free agent with Philadelphia in 2003 and drove in a career-high 131 for the Phillies that season.
- After missing much of the 2005 season with injury, the Phillies traded Thome to the Chicago White Sox in order to clear a spot for rookie Ryan Howard.
- Was selected AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2006, hitting 42 home runs for the White Sox.
- Hit his 500th career home run on Sept. 16, 2007, a game-winner off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Dustin Moseley on Jim Thome Bobblehead Day in Chicago.
