On Monday, Jim Thome and the Twins headed into Comerica Park to play division rival Tigers. Jim Thome entered the game with 598 home runs and was very eager to reach number 600. In the 6th inning Thome came to the plate against Rick Porcello with Jason Kubel on base. Porcello threw a fastball which Thome connected for No. 599. This gave Minnesota a 5-3 lead. In the next inning Thome came to the plate again seeking No. 600; facing Tiger, Daniel Schlereth. No. 599 and No. 600 were both opposite field HR's. The slugger got all of this one as he trotted around the bases, fist pumped, all smiles, with his teammates waiting at home plate to congratulate him on his prosperous accomplishment.
It was perhaps fitting that Thome reached No. 600 in a matchup of AL Central rivals. He hit 334 home runs with Cleveland and 134 with the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers posted a congratulatory message on the scoreboard after Thome’s homer, which was classy, and the Twins came out to greet him at home plate. Thome joins an elite group of 7 other players in the 600 HR club: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez. Thome is the oldest person to hit his 600th homer. Sosa previously held that mark at 38 years, 220 days. He reached the milestone in 2007. Rodriguez needed two weeks to hit No. 600 after reaching 599 last year. Thome waited one inning. Usually the 600 HR mark is a Hall of Fame lock, but people are questioning if Thome is of the same tier as the other members of the 600 HR club.
| Thome high fives Twins third base coach as he connects on one of 600 career home runs. |
Jim Thome's Career Averages: 102 R, AVG: .277, HR: 40, RBI: 110
Jim Thome's Career Accolades:
5 time All-Star
Silver Slugger Award
Roberto Clemente Award
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
600 HR Club
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