Jim Thome blasted two home runs in the Twins’ 8-6 loss to the Rays on Saturday, moving into sole possession of 10th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time career home run list. Here’s a look at the updated list, with the still-active names in bold:
Barry Bonds 762
Hank Aaron 755
Babe Ruth 714
Willie Mays 660
Ken Griffey Jr. 630
Sammy Sosa 609
Alex Rodriguez 595
Frank Robinson 586
Mark McGwire 583
Jim Thome 574
Harmon Killebrew 573
Rafael Palmeiro 569
Reggie Jackson 563
That’s some rather impressive company, and it really must have been a special day for Thome. According to MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier, the veteran slugger received a phone call from
Killebrew shortly after passing him on the list.
“I’m happy for him. Jim is a great guy and if anyone passed me, I’m
glad it was him,” Killebrew said from Arizona. “I hope he hits a bunch more over the rest of the year
for the Minnesota Twins.”
Thome, 39, has done everything that the Twinkies have asked of him this season since signing a bargain one-year, $1.5 million contract in the winter. Through 124 at-bats, he has a .258/.388/.597 slash line, 10 home runs and 25 RBI. He also owns a 1.058 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
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- Buccofan - Jul 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM
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Killebrew has always been a class act. Of course, in his mind the “pain” of being one notch lower on the HR list is mitigated by the fact that Thome hit the two dingers as a Twin.
I’m a Thome owner, and of course he was on my bench this week. All I can do is laugh at myself and congratulate the big guy.
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- (Not That) Tom - Jul 3, 2010 at 11:41 PM
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Congratulations Ji
Jim Thome!
