The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
The Thome celebration tour reaches Cleveland
Former Indians slugger Jim Thome did not hesitate when asked to summarize his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last month and all the hoopla that has followed. “Incredible, surreal,” Thome said.
Former Indians slugger Jim Thome did not hesitate when asked to summarize his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last month and all the hoopla that has followed.
“Incredible, surreal,” Thome said Aug. 17 while speaking to reporters at Progressive Field before the Indians hosted the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series.
Thome was back for a series of events and ceremonies in the city where he was a fan favorite for 12plus seasons in a career that spanned 22 years. He was accompanied by his wife, Andrea, and the couple’s two children, Lila and Landon.
“It’s just a special time for our family, no doubt,” Thome said.
On Aug. 17, Thome spent much of the day in the Indians executive office and the home clubhouse.
One of the day’s highlights, Thome said, was spending 30 minutes chatting with former Indians teammate Sandy Alomar Jr., now the team’s firstbase coach.
Thome and Alomar were standouts on the powerpacked Indians teams of the mid-to-late 1990s that won five straight American League Central Division titles, made World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997 and set attendance records at what then was called Jacobs Field.
“Sandy was my first bigleague roommate. He took me under his wing,” Thome said. “That’s how our teams in the ‘90s were. We were all brothers. Even though you retire and move on with your life, when you get back together it’s like old times. You get to be a teammate again, when we shared something special.”
The post-game fireworks show on Aug. 17 was a celebration of Thome’s many achievements as a player for the Indians. He hit 337 of his 612 career home runs in a Cleveland uniform.
On Aug. 18, Thome will be honored in a pre-game ceremony scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m.
The program will include the presentation of gifts and mementos as well as remarks by Thome and former Indians manager Charlie Manuel. Also scheduled to participate are former Indians manager Mike Hargrove and a collection of Thome’s former teammates expected to include Alomar, Carlos Baerga and Kenny Lofton.
“The minute Baerga walks into the room, you know the energy level is going to rise,” Thome said, smiling.
Thome is making the rounds of a ballparks where he played during his career. On. Aug. 11 in Chicago, he was honored by the White Sox before a game against the Indians. Thome played for the White Sox from 2006 to 2009. The Twins will give away Jim Thome bobbleheads on Aug. 18. He spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Twins.
Thome said he’s looking forward to all the visits and ceremonies.
“Being able to thank everyone and truly show your appreciation is really what it’s all about,” Thome said.
Thome is bullish on the 2018 Indians, comparing them favorably to some of the powerhouse Cleveland teams on which he played.
“They’ve established themselves as the top of the Central,” he said. “This group is very special. I think Cleveland is waiting for them to get into October because special things are going to happen, for sure.”