It’s been nearly a decade since Jim Thome donned a professional uniform, but the image of him standing in the left-handed batter’s box with his bat pointed at the pitcher before unleashing a vicious uppercut swing will never be forgotten.
A handful of years have passed since he took the podium in Cooperstown, thanking all his friends, family and teammates for helping him join elite company that few players get to experience. In 2018, Thome was elected into the Hall of Fame and chose to boast a block “C” on his cap, becoming the first Cleveland player to get inducted since 1976 (Bob Lemon) and the 13th for the club overall.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 moments of Thome’s career that helped lead him to Cooperstown.
Though most of his career took place in Northeast Ohio, his 22 Major League seasons also included stops in Philadelphia, Chicago (White Sox), Los Angeles (Dodgers), Minnesota and Baltimore — all of which played an integral part in creating his dazzling résumé,…