2014 MLB Hall of Fame Inductees: Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine
By Aaron Somers
Jul 14, 2013; Flushing, NY, USA; MLB former player Frank Thomas hits a home run during the 2013 All Star Legends and Celebrity softball game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
521 home runs, tied for 18th all time with Willie McCovey and Ted Williams. A .301/.419/.555 career slash line in over 10,000 plate appearances. Five All Star Game appearances. Two Most Valuable Player Awards, won back-to-back in 1993 and 1994.
The Big Hurt, one of the most feared hitters to ever wear the Chicago White Sox uniform.
Thomas arrived on scene with a bang when he stepped into the Chicago lineup full time in 1991. He rattled off seven consecutive seasons where he’d finish in the Top 10 in MVP voting, winning the award twice. He’d hit .330/.452/.604 during that stretch, with 250 home runs and 823 RBI. Of note, he also walked 835 times versus just 528 strikeouts. Thomas could hit, and hit well.
His body began to wear down on him in the second half of his career, but he still produced a pair of Top 5 MVP finishes and a number of productive seasons.
Thomas was named on 478 of the 571 ballots – 83.71% – and will take his place in Cooperstown, with a White Sox cap on his plaque, in his first year of eligibility.