Thome's 600th home run

[Seth Stohs]

Three years ago today, Jim Thome hit his 600th career home run. If I remember correctly, he also hit his 599th earlier in the game? If I also recall, he crushed them to the bullpen in left centerfield, right? Anyway, THIS PICTURE from twitter is great. (Cuddyer, Morneau, Mauer and Revere included)

 

I think I appreciated what the Twins had in Thome when he was here, but probably not enough. What a great power hitter, one of the best all time!

[nicksaviking]

Nice pic.  It might be a classic if not for Danny Valencia lurking behind Cuddyer.

[GCTF]

I believe this Sunday marks the fourth anniversary of Jim Thome's two run, walk off homer vs the White Sox. Can't seem to find Hawk Harrelson's "call" of the AB anywhere.

[IowaTwin]

It's not Hawk, but it is still fun to watch.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v11087783/must-c-clutch-thome-blasts-first-walkoff-at-target

 

Have a big picture of the home plate celebration hanging in my basement.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I appreciated Thome too, but I would have appreciated him a lot more if the Twins had signed him back in 2003.  Imagine a 150 OPS+, 40+ HR bat added to the Twins lineup from 2003-2008...

 

Or even if we had swung a deal for him before 2006 -- the White Sox basically got him for 4/32 at that point, with the cash that Philly included in the deal.  We would have had to give up some talent too, but we'd have been getting back a formidable player (not like the talent we gave up 2 years later to get Delmon Young... arg).

[nicksaviking]

I appreciated Thome too, but I would have appreciated him a lot more if the Twins had signed him back in 2003.  Imagine a 150 OPS+, 40+ HR bat added to the Twins lineup from 2003-2008...

 

Or even if we had swung a deal for him before 2006 -- the White Sox basically got him for 4/32 at that point, with the cash that Philly included in the deal.  We would have had to give up some talent too, but we'd have been getting back a formidable player (not like the talent we gave up 2 years later to get Delmon Young... arg).

 

Yeah, I think it was pretty universal that every Twins fan wanted Jim Thome basically every chance he was available.  Hell, even when he wasn't available.

 

Fun fact:  Jim Thome's second best single season OPS+ was a whopping 182.  He produced that season in 2010 at the age of 39 for the Minnesota Twins.

[DocBauer]

If there was ever a player that just seemed a fit for a team..............

[Thrylos]

I appreciated Thome too, but I would have appreciated him a lot more if the Twins had signed him back in 2003.  Imagine a 150 OPS+, 40+ HR bat added to the Twins lineup from 2003-2008...

THIS

 

For me the Twins' getting Thome was like the Vikings getting Favre.  Career .314/.415/.635 with 61 HRs against the Twins (including the one that cost them a post-season) does not really endear him to me...