As long as he is never implicated to steroids, he will probably get elected, but I don't think it will be first ballot.

Jim thome hit his 600th home run Monday night against Detroit, the 8th major leaguer to do so. Thome has always been a hard-working professional who prefers to talk with his bat instead of his mouth. Additionally, in an age where accomplishments and milestones are viewed with suspicion, he has never been connected with steroids. Some people may question his Hall of Fame credentials because he's been a DH for most of his career, but in my feeble mind, he's a sure first-ballot selection.

I think it might lower to conage of the relm if he made the Hall of Fame.

I agree with your entire post right up until the very last phrase.

His 600 home runs are the ONLY thing in his bag of tricks that are hall of fame material.

Lifetime batting average over 21 seasons = .277, with about 2200 hits. NOT even close to hall of fame numbers.

A near lifetime of DHing counts against him, you are correct, but unfortunately in his case, it gets worse. Some sluggers prolong their careers by DHing, but Thome was so incredibly bad in the field that he never would have gotten close to 600 homers had they not been able to DH him. This is a guy who stands under a fly ball, pounds his glove, and gets hit on the head.

NO speed, slow as a bag or rocks.

Lots of strikeouts, and low doubles & triples output.

He led the league in home runs exactly once in 21 years, and once in SP.

He had ten consistent, solid power hitting years and ten mediocre years, surrounded by many other, better power hitters. Because of his 600 home runs he'll be considered a borderline HOF candidate, but no possible way will he get in first ballot.

Agreed. I would have a hard time voting Thome into the HOF.  The guy does one thing...hit home runs.

Are there any player in the HOF who spent their entire career as a DH?

and you think he doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame?????


Un-fucking-believable.  If he ain't first ballot, then no one is.

(which, I don't care what anyone says is still a helluva lot of hits), always a very high OBP, and on top of it all one of the classiest men to ever put on the uniform.

There are pitchers who have made the Hall solely due to winning 300+ games.  Even some who have lost nearly as many as they have won. But, they hit that milestone. Hitting 600 HR's is a much more significant milestone than 300 wins.

I agree, the first ballot thing really depends on who else is eligible for the first-year induction. Many voters will only pick one of two new guys per year and if Thome hits the ballot at the same time as other preeminent players, he may not make it the first year.

But this guy is a shoo-in for the Hall. He did something only seven others have done in baseball history. And some of those have the steroid cloud hanging over their heads. Plus, Thome is loved by the media and the guys in the Hall that do the voting. He deserves the Hall and will be there, shortly if not soon after he is eligible.

Hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field. Jim Thome excels at one of those. He stinks at three - significantly below average for a major league ballplayer. You think that translates into first round hall of fame?

He never finished higher than 4th in MVP voting - he put together his three best seasons in 01, 02, 03, and finished 7th, 7th, and 4th; contemporaries like Bonds, ARod, Tejada, Pujols, Giambi, and Gonzalez consistently outshone him, and often unsimilar players like Suzuki, Garret Anderson, Soriano, Bret Boone, Torii Hunter, etc, took higher honors.

Hall of Famers in the 600 home run club include Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays. Nobody in their right mind would mention Jim Thome in the same sentence with those three. Those not in the Hall include ARod, Bonds, Sosa, and Griffey. ARod, Bonds, and Griffey DWARF Thome statistically - Thome has the lowest BA, HR, RBI, 2B, 3B and SB total, the most strikeouts, and is the worst fielder by far. The only player he compares with favorably as a hitter is Sosa, and Sosa was a good fielder who stole 234 bases. It's true he is a member of an exclusive club, but he is far and away the weakest member.

I actually hate running the guy down like this because I think he is a good baseball man, and a definite HOF CANDIDATE. I just think it's outrageous to call him a 1st ballot shoo-in. And I'll bet you a nickel it doesn't happen.