Jim Thome's Countdown to Career Home Run Number 600

by Jesse on Jul 4, 2011 9:00 PM EDT in News

Thome_medium

I just wanted to take a moment to bring up a few names that were Jim Thome's comtemporaries. Guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Belle, Greg Vaughn were all rookies the year Thome was drafted, and now that Griffey is gone he's outlasted them all..

But the guys below were all drafted in 1989, along with Thome, and in fact all of them were all drafted in front of him. Well, they're all out of the game, too. The first five are Twins draft picks, just for reference. The remainder of the list represent the best of the '89 draft with Thome.

Thome's out-lasted them all. And as long as the Twins can keep him healthy, he'll likely jack career home run number 600 before the calendar turns to August.

Chuck Knoblauch
Marty Cordova
Denny Neagle
Scott Erickson
Denny Hocking
Mo Vaughn
Frank Thomas
Tim Salmon
John Olerud
Jeff Bagwell
Trevor Hoffman

A career like the one Thome has had is a very special one. It takes a wold of talent, longetivity, and plenty of luck to stick around Major League Baseball this long. And part of what makes this approaching milestone so great is that you know for a fact that Thome appreciates every game.

We'll keep track of each of Thome's upcoming homers with a graphic similar to the one above; it'll be our way of celebrating along with him and the Twins. He'll have another chance at it tomorrow, but until then enjoy the rest of your Independence Day. Happy Fourth!

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Maybe if he wants to wait till the middle of August?

That way I might get to see it live!

He deserves all the attention and is truly great! If he isn’t a first ballot, well …

by twinscrazy_german on Jul 5, 2011 5:24 AM EDT reply actions

I'm hoping for a little sooner,

I’ll be at the makeup game on July 18th. He’s got 10 games to get to 599. I think he can do it.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!!!

by bf4mvp on Jul 5, 2011 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

I'll be there tomorrow

I’m hoping for a couple tonight and a 3 dinger game tomorrow #itshappening

I’m also there on July 22nd, might be a little more realistic. I’ll be on the homerun porch waiting for an opposite field dinger.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 5, 2011 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

He does like to go Oppo from time to time.

Good luck dude.

Good luck to anyone who has an opportunity to see #600 in person!

by Jesse on Jul 5, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, I'll be at the Cell on Friday and Sunday

Aside from Buehrle on Saturday, we’re facing all RHP’s this week, so hopefully he’ll have the chance to knock a couple in before then.

Just one dinger per game if he gets the start against all the righties, then it’s #600 to me, sitting in right/center, on Sunday…that’s realistic, right?!?

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on Jul 5, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

In Thome, all things are possible.

Thus sayeth the baseball gods.

by Jesse on Jul 5, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Sacrificing shall commence this night

An altar of diamond dust must be constructed, then I shall burn great sacrifices of glove-leather and the finest ash bats before these gods of the diamond.

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on Jul 5, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

You are more likely to see Joe Mauer hit a game winning home run.

Besides there is a chance that Thome will likely sit out Wednesday’s game so Joe Mauer could DH.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew

by Jessy S on Jul 5, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions