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Frank Thomas broke into the big leagues in 1990. In 60 games he hit .330 with a .983 OPS. His first 8 years in the majors were simply dominant. Each of those seasons he hit at least .308. Thomas hit a career-high .353 in 1994 and won a batting crown in 1997 when he hit .347.

Thomas also hit for power, averaging 34 homers in his first 10 full big league seasons. In the collection is this lineup card from Thomas’ 405th game in the majors. The game was in Chicago with 33,983 fans in attendance.

In the bottom of the first inning with Lance Johnson aboard, The Big Hurt slammed Cleveland starter Matt Young’s 1-1 offering into the left field stands. The bomb was the 67th of Thomas’s career 521 homers.

The two run shot highlighted a five-run first inning for the Sox. Despite the early runs, Chicago had to come from behind to win a 10-7 slugfest.

In the collection is the lineup card that hung in the visitors’ dugout that night at Comiskey Park II. Notice Thomas’ name in the three hole in the lineup. The game was also remarkable as it featured the 9th and final career ejection for Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk.

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Frank Thomas just completed his first MVP season when signed this contract extension with Topps in February, 1994. The Big Hurt slugged 41 homers and drove in 128 runs that season.

The following year he was even better. In ’94 Thomas led the AL in both on-base and slugging percentage, runs and walks. He hit a career best .353; his OPS+ was an astounding 212. For his efforts Thomas earned his second straight MVP.

The contract ran through the 1997 season, the last of Thomas’ five All Star appearances. From the start of his career until this contract ran out, Thomas hit .330 with a 1.053 OPS. He averaged 32 homers with 107 runs batted in.

Thomas was a first-ballot selection for the Hall of Fame in 2014.

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When a slugger amasses 500 homers he’s likely punched his ticket for the Hall of Fame. In the collection is the ticket for the game when Frank Thomas went yard for the 500th time in his career.

The ticket above is for a contest on June 28, 2007. Thomas went 2-for-4 with his milestone homer and four runs batted. That pushed his career RBI total to 1,596 to move past Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt and tie KC’s George Brett on the all time list.

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Frank Thomas, the “Big Hurt”, retired in 2008 with 521 homers. That ties him with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey on the career leaderboard. All three sluggers were first-ballot selections for the Hall of Fame.

In the collection is this Major League Baseball Players Association document. Teddy Ballgame has filled it out entirely in his hand, lending his signature to the top.

The document reads in part, “In order to have the Association act on matters important to you and the Association itself we would appreciate your stating any opinions or suggestions you may have. These opinions and suggestions will be treated with the upmost confidence and will be categorized and analyzed.”

Interestingly, Williams suggests playing double headers as two 7-inning contests. More importantly the eagle-eyed Red Sox hitter writes, “Improve Baltimore, Chicago & KC backgrounds, check intensity of lights in the older parks”.

For more on Ted Williams, click here.

 

 

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Frank Thomas had prodigious power. His 521 homers tie him with fellow first-ballot Hall of Fame selections Ted Williams and Willie McCovey.

One of the 19 men who surpassed Thomas is his contemporary, Jim Thome. The Big Hurt broke into the bigs in 1990; Thome the following season. Thomas played until 2008 while Thome retired in 2012.

Shown there is the lineup card from June 29, 2008. The contest saw Thome hit his 522nd homer, putting him forever ahead of Thomas. Notice Thome’s signature above his inscription, “HR #522 passes Williams and McCovey”. Historic lineup cards like this are usually found in the player’s private collection or in the Hall of Fame.

Thome hit 90 more dingers before retiring in 2012. His 612 long balls put him 8th on the all-time list. Only Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. hit more.

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Among the many accolades Frank Thomas earned is induction into the Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame in 2010.  He was one of five who earned the distinction that year. The others included Ray Caldwell, Robin Ventura, Bill Hardekopf, and Eddie Glennon.

The Barons Hall describes Frank on its website, “The Big Hurt, as he came to be known during the 19-year Major League Baseball career which saw him hit .301 with 521 home runs, cemented himself as one of the most feared hitters of his era. Thomas’ uncanny combination of power and average led him to five MLB All-Star teams and back-to-back MVP seasons in 1993 and 1994. Thomas earned selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.”

Shown here is a correspondence on ornate Birmingham letterhead. Dated July 6, 1950, it is signed by fellow 2010 inductee Eddie Glennon. The letter is to George Trautman, the president of the National Association.

Glennon writes of the recall of Dick Littlefield for his big league debut. Littlefield is best remembered as the pitcher the Giants traded to the Dodgers for Jackie Robinson on December 13, 1956. Rather than report to his rival team, Robinson retired from the game.