:Jim Thome

Thome was born in Peoria, Illinois, on August 27, 1970,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jkqN0qu-fcC&pg=PA251|title=The Cleveland Indians Encyclopedia|last=Schneider|first=Russell|date=2001|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=9781582613765|pages=251|language=en|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154956/https://books.google.com/books?id=9jkqN0qu-fcC&pg=PA251|url-status=live}} and is the youngest of five children.{{cite magazine |last=Bamberger |first=Michael |date=July 13, 1998 |title=The Pride of Peoria |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1013325/index.htm |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |volume=89 |issue=2 |pages=98–105 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123543/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1013325/index.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2013}} Many of the Thome family played sports: Jim's grandmother was hired at a local Caterpillar plant solely to play for the company's softball team; his father built bulldozers for Caterpillar and played slow-pitch softball;{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/08/16/jim-thome600 |title=Thome reaches 600 with humility, grace and country power |last=Verducci |first=Tom |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=October 14, 2011 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155012/https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/08/16/jim-thome600 |url-status=live }} his aunt Caroline Thome Hart is in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame;{{cite news|last=Pluto|first=Terry|title=Thome shows power of Peoria Indian: Third baseman's rural roots are apparent in his blue-collar work ethic and his ability to hit the ball a country mile|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/10/01/thome-shows-power-of-peoria-indian-third-basemans-rural-roots-are-apparent-in-his-blue-collar-work-ethic-and-his-ability-to-hit-the-ball-a-country-mile/|access-date=July 28, 2018|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=October 1, 1996 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201110440/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-10-01/news/1996275157_1_jim-thome-peoria-cleveland |archive-date=February 1, 2014}} and his two older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, played baseball at Limestone High School. Thome learned to play baseball from his father on a tennis court, and also played basketball in what he described as the "ghetto" of Peoria, noting that he was the only white kid there but that he earned the respect of his fellow players. One day during his youth, Thome sneaked into the Cubs' clubhouse at Wrigley Field in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain an autograph from his favorite player, Dave Kingman. Though Thome received signatures from several other players, this experience influenced him to be generous with signing autographs for fans during his playing career.

As with his older brothers, Thome attended Limestone High School where he achieved all-state honors in basketball and as a baseball shortstop. He played American Legion Baseball for Bartonville Limestone Post 979 in his hometown, as well.{{Cite news |last=Eminian |first=Dave |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Aug. 16, 2011: Limestone teammate: 'He was a competitor and a joy' |language=en |work=Peoria Journal Star |url=http://www.pjstar.com/x633534358/Limestone-teammate-He-was-a-competitor-and-a-joy |url-status=dead |access-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154959/https://www.pjstar.com/x633534358/Limestone-teammate-He-was-a-competitor-and-a-joy |archive-date=October 19, 2021}} Although he had hoped to draw the attention of scouts, at just {{convert|175|lb|kg}} he was relatively underweight for his {{convert|6|ft|2|in|cm|adj=on}} height, meaning that he attracted only passing interest—the average Major League Baseball (MLB) player weighed {{convert|195|lb|kg}} in 1993.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Christopher|title=Major League Baseball (MLB) Player Height and Weight|url=http://sportsologist.com/baseball-player-height-and-weight-by-year/|work=Sportsologist|access-date=January 15, 2014|date=March 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127132541/http://sportsologist.com/baseball-player-height-and-weight-by-year/|archive-date=November 27, 2013|url-status=dead}} Thome graduated in 1988 and, after not being drafted, enrolled at Illinois Central College where he continued his baseball and basketball careers. After one season, he was drafted by MLB's Cleveland Indians as an "afterthought" in the 13th round (333rd overall) of the 1989 MLB draft.{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Phil|title=Jim Thome can't stop touching all the bases|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-144688355.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611004345/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-144688355.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=April 19, 2006 |via=HighBeam Research}}{{Cite web |title=13th Round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1989&draft_round=13&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

For the 1989 season, Thome was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Indians, a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. He finished the year with a .237 batting average, no home runs, and 22 runs batted in (RBIs) in 55 games.{{cite web|last=Sickels|first=John|title=Jim Thome Career Profile|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/1/21/1949238/jim-thome-career-profile|work=Minor League Ball – SBNation.com|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=September 20, 2012|date=January 21, 2011|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155000/https://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/1/21/1949238/jim-thome-career-profile|url-status=live}} After his rookie season, he met "hitting guru" Charlie Manuel,{{cite web |last=Lentz |first=Scott |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Is 2013 the Last Hoorah for Charlie Manuel in Philadelphia |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2013-last-hoorah-charlie-manuel-philadelphia-180800739--mlb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407185822/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/2013-last-hoorah-charlie-manuel-philadelphia-180800739--mlb.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |work=Yahoo! Sports}}{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Ryan |date=January 15, 2014 |title=Report: Charlie Manuel rejoining Phillies |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Report-Charlie-Manuel-rejoining-Phillies.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154958/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Report-Charlie-Manuel-rejoining-Phillies.html |archive-date=October 19, 2021}} who later became his manager and mentor. Unlike most Indians staff, Manuel saw potential in Thome and worked hard with him, particularly on his hip motion while swinging the bat. Thome later said, "[Manuel] saw something in me I didn't." During this work, Manuel suggested to Thome that he point his bat out to center field before the pitch to relax himself like Roy Hobbs did when batting in the baseball film The Natural.{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=September 27, 2010 |title=He's 40, but Jim Thome's mind isn't on retirement – Page Three |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/3/index.htm |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123619/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/3/index.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2014}} The work paid off; in 1990, Thome hit .340 and totaled 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 67 games playing at both the Rookie and Class A levels of the minor leagues. Thome spent most of the 1991 season splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A where, in combination, he hit .319 with seven home runs and 73 RBIs in 125 games.{{cite web |date= |title=Jim Thome Minor Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=thome-001jam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154959/https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thome-001jam |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=March 7, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}}

File:ClevelandMunicipalStadium1993Interior (Jim Thome crop).jpg in 1993|alt=Jim Thome batting left-handed in a game in 1993; he is amidst his stride forward, and is about to swing.]]

Thome made his MLB debut on September 4, 1991, as a third baseman against the Minnesota Twins. In the game, he recorded two hits in four at bats (2-for-4).{{cite web |date=September 4, 1991 |title=September 4, 1991 Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins box score and play by play |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN199109040.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019154959/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN199109040.shtml |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}}{{cite web |date= |title=Jim Thome Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomeji01.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155014/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomeji01.shtml |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=October 29, 2012 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} He hit his first career home run on October 4.{{cite web |date= |title=Jim Thome Career Home Runs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=thomeji01&t=b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155001/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=thomeji01&t=b |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} Injuries shortened his 1992 campaign, during which he played for both the Indians and their Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Across the minor and major leagues that year, he combined to hit .236 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 52 games.{{cite book|title=Who's Who in Baseball, 2007|year=2007|editor=Palmer, Pete|publisher=Who's Who in Baseball Magazine Co.|location=New York|isbn=978-0-910692-26-7|pages=169–170}} In 1993, playing mostly for the Charlotte Knights, the Indians' new Triple-A affiliate, he led the International League with a .332 batting average and 102 RBIs, complemented by 25 home runs in 115 games. This performance earned him a late season promotion to the major league, where he hit .266 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 47 games.

Thome spent the entire 1994 season with Cleveland, playing in 98 games while hitting .268 with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, before the 1994 players' strike forced cancellation of the season's remaining games.{{cite book|title=The Baseball Chronicle|year=2002|publisher=Publications International, Ltd.|location=Lincolnwood, Illinois|isbn=0-7853-7012-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/baseballchronicl0000unse/page/592 592, 600, 616, 622, 650, 656]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/baseballchronicl0000unse/page/592}} Thome achieved his first career multi-home run game, hitting two solo home runs on June 22, 1994, against Detroit Tigers' pitcher John Doherty.{{cite web |date=June 22, 1994 |title=Box Score of game played on Wednesday, June 22, 1994 at Tiger Stadium |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199406220DET |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155015/https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199406220DET |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2013 |work=Baseball Almanac}}

File:1995 Cleveland Indians (18853942660).jpg

Part of a strong Cleveland lineup in 1995, Thome hit .314 with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 137 games.{{cite web |date= |title=1995 Cleveland Indians Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1995.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155001/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1995.shtml |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} The Indians won the American League pennant but lost the 1995 World Series to the Atlanta Braves in six games. Thome hit .211 in the World Series with one home run and two RBIs. During the 1996 season, Thome hit 38 home runs.{{cite web |title=Jim Thome |url=https://baseballbiography.com/jim-thome-1970 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |work=Baseball Biography}}

Before their 1997 season, the Indians moved Thome, originally a third baseman, to first base after acquiring third baseman Matt Williams from the San Francisco Giants.{{cite news |last=Ringolsby |first=Tracy |date=November 16, 1997 |title=Marlins, Reds begin cleaning house |page=Sports |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |location=Denver, Colorado |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67743710.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611004349/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67743710.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |via=HighBeam Research}} That year, Thome helped the Indians set a new franchise single-season record for home runs (220), contributing 40 of them.{{cite news|last=Housenick|first=Mandy|title=Potent Phillies, Yankees bats, homer-friendly parks could mean crowd-pleasing slugfest|url=http://articles.mcall.com/2009-10-28/sports/4465999_1_yankee-stadium-potent-phillies-phillies-game|access-date=March 7, 2014|newspaper=The Morning Call|date=October 28, 2009|location=Allentown, Pennsylvania|archive-date=March 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308013720/http://articles.mcall.com/2009-10-28/sports/4465999_1_yankee-stadium-potent-phillies-phillies-game|url-status=dead}} Thome also totaled an AL-high 120 walks to go along with 102 RBIs in 147 games. Cleveland returned to the World Series, but they lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games; Thome hit .286 with two home runs and four RBIs in the World Series.

An article in Sports Illustrated published in July 1998 commented that despite Thome's early career success (two All-Star Games and appearances in two of the previous three World Series), he was only "faintly famous" nationally and was not particularly well known outside of Cleveland or his hometown, Peoria. His former teammate Jeromy Burnitz said, "You can't really say he's underrated, because everybody considers him one of the top hitters in the American League, but he's surrounded by so many good players, it's hard to stand out on that team." In August, Thome broke a bone in his right hand and spent several weeks on the disabled list, missing 35 games.{{cite news |date=August 8, 1998 |title=Cleveland Loses Thome In Victory at Tampa Bay |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/08/sports/american-league-roundup-cleveland-loses-thome-in-victory-at-tampa-bay.html |access-date=October 29, 2012}}{{cite magazine |last=Pearlman |first=Jeff |date=March 23, 1999 |title=1999 Sports Illustrated Baseball Preview – Cleveland Indians |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/1999/si_preview/indians/ |access-date=April 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222225923/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/1999/si_preview/indians/ |archive-date=February 22, 2006}} He finished the year with 30 home runs and 85 RBIs while posting a .293 batting average in 123 games. Thome hit four home runs in the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees, but Cleveland lost the series in six games.{{cite web |title=Indians Postseason Results |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/history/postseason_results.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116203512/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/history/postseason_results.jsp |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |work=Cleveland Indians |publisher=MLB.com}}

In 1999, Thome's batting average fell to .277, but he increased both his home run and RBI totals to 33 and 108, respectively. On July 3, 1999, against Kansas City Royals pitcher Don Wengert, Thome hit a {{convert|511|ft|m|adj=on}} home run at Jacobs Field, the longest home run ever at a Cleveland ballpark.{{cite news | publisher = Yahoo Sports |title=A 511-foot home run, the guy who gave it up and how Jim Thome was the godfather of modern baseball |url = https://sports.yahoo.com/511-foot-home-run-guy-gave-jim-thome-godfather-modern-baseball-060318674.html | first=Jeff |last=Passan |date=July 28, 2018 |accessdate=October 23, 2023}} Thome hit four home runs in the AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, but the Indians lost the series three games to two.

During the 2000 season, Thome hit .269 with 37 home runs and 106 RBIs in 158 games. In 2001, he finished second in the AL with 49 home runs.{{cite web |title=Top 25 Home Runs in 2001 in the American League |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/top25.php?s=HR&l=AL&y=2001 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |work=Baseball Almanac}} In addition, Thome had 124 RBIs and 111 walks in 156 games. However, he led the league with 185 strikeouts.

Thome had his best season with Cleveland in 2002, leading the AL in walks (122), slugging percentage (.677) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.122), while batting .304 (16th in AL) with a .445 on-base percentage (second in AL). He also hit a career-high 52 home runs (second in AL) and collected 118 RBIs (seventh in AL).{{cite web |date= |title=2002 American League Batting Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2002-batting-leaders.shtml |access-date=January 16, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} The 52 home runs set a new Cleveland Indians' single-season record and made Thome the 21st major league player to join the 50 home run club.{{cite book|last=Bryant|first=Howard|title=Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of the Major League|year=2006|publisher=Penguin|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4406-4955-4|page=136|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mwfo3ihBeawC&pg=PT136}}{{cite magazine |date=December 2, 2002 |title=Sources: Phillies, Thome agree to six-year deal |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN. Associated Press |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/12/02/thome_phillies_ap/ |access-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415223642/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com:80/baseball/news/2002/12/02/thome_phillies_ap/ |archive-date=April 15, 2008}} During his stint with the Cleveland Indians, when Jim Thome would hit a home run, the scoreboard would often display "THOME RUN" to mark this accomplishment. He was also known as the "THOMENATOR" during this time.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2012 |title=Progressive Field; Jim Thome; baseball roadtrip; ballpark food |url=https://mlblogstheballparkguide.wordpress.com/tag/progressive-field-jim-thome-baseball-roadtrip-ballpark-food/ |website=The Ballpark Guide}} On December 6, 2002, Thome, who was a free agent, signed a six-year, $85 million contract{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2003 |title=Top 50 free agents |url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/s/top50.html |access-date=September 4, 2008 |website=ESPN}} with the Philadelphia Phillies – he thought the Phillies were closer to winning a championship than the Indians. With the Phillies, Thome's salary rose from $8 million per year to $11 million per year. Thome hit a franchise record 334 home runs in his first stint with the Indians.{{cite web |last= |first= |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Minnesota Twins trade Jim Thome to Cleveland Indians |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/6896481/minnesota-twins-trade-jim-thome-cleveland-indians |access-date=October 18, 2012 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press}}{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/08/cleveland-indians-re-acquire-jim-thome/1#.UIBrA8XA-uI|title=Cleveland Indians reacquire Jim Thome|date=August 26, 2011|last=Kimball|first=Bob|work=USA Today|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=October 18, 2012}}

File:Baseball - sledge making base.jpg in 2005|alt=Thome with an outstretched glove about to catch a pickoff throw to first base; meanwhile, Terrmel Sledge dives back safely.]]

Thome hit 47 home runs in his first season with the Phillies, finishing one behind Mike Schmidt's single-season team record of 48 in 1980, and tied with Alex Rodriguez for the MLB lead in 2003.{{cite web |title=2003 MLB Team and Player Stats |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/_/season/2003/seasontype/2 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=ESPN}}{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Stephen |date=August 26, 2006 |title=Wolf, Howard help Phillies hold off Mets |newspaper=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.mcall.com/2006/08/26/wolf-howard-help-phillies-hold-off-mets-randy-wolf-pitches-well-enough-to-improve-to-3-0-ryan-howard-hits-45th-hr/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014340/http://articles.mcall.com/2006-08-26/sports/3683086_1_ryan-howard-randy-wolf-wolf-s-work |archive-date=April 19, 2014}} On June 14, 2004, at Citizens Bank Park, Thome hit his 400th career home run, surpassing Al Kaline for 37th on the all-time home run list.{{cite news |date=June 15, 2004 |title=Baseball Roundup; Thome Hits 400th Home Run of Career |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/15/sports/baseball-roundup-thome-hits-400th-home-run-of-career.html |access-date=April 1, 2009}} He ended the 2004 season batting .274 with 42 home runs and 105 RBIs in 143 games. In 2004, Thome won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, which is given to players who best exemplify Gehrig's character and integrity both on and off the field.{{cite news|last=White|first=Paul|title=Questions about honesty, lefties and public personas|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/columnist/white/2005-08-09-leading-off_x.htm|access-date=February 21, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 10, 2005}}

Thome missed a significant portion of the first half of the Phillies' 2005 season due to injury;{{cite magazine |last=Chen |first=Albert |date=August 1, 2005 |title=First Priority |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1112139/index.htm |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |volume=103 |issue=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201234555/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1112139/index.htm |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2012}} he compiled only a .207 batting average with seven home runs and 30 RBIs going into the All-Star break. He had season-ending surgery on his right elbow in August, while his replacement at first base, Ryan Howard, won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.{{cite web |last= |date=November 7, 2005 |title=Street wins AL Rookie of Year; Howard wins NL |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2216645 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214101254/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2216645 |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |access-date=February 21, 2013 |work=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press}} The Phillies traded Thome and cash considerations to the Chicago White Sox on November 25, 2005, for outfielder Aaron Rowand and minor league pitching prospects Gio González and Daniel Haigwood.{{cite web |date=November 25, 2005 |title=White Sox send Rowand to Phils for Thome |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2236730 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155528/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2236730 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |work=ESPN}} Though the emergence of Howard made Thome more expendable to the squad, another factor in his trade to the White Sox was his family situation – Thome's mother, the "go-to lady" in his family and his biggest fan,{{cite news |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=April 4, 2005 |title=A piece of the rock: Jim Thome's mother was his family's foundation. He's building on that. |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://articles.philly.com/2005-04-04/sports/25427229_1_chuck-thome-joyce-thome-voice-mail |url-status=dead |access-date=January 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051608/http://articles.philly.com/2005-04-04/sports/25427229_1_chuck-thome-joyce-thome-voice-mail |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} had died a year earlier, and he worried about his father. Since Philadelphia was willing to trade him, Thome waived the no-trade clause in his contract for the good of the team and requested that if possible, they trade him to either the Chicago White Sox or Cubs so he could be near his father.{{cite web |last=Stark |first=Jayson |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Jim Thome a truly real and caring person |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings110816/jim-thome-truly-real-caring-person |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155531/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings110816/jim-thome-truly-real-caring-person |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=ESPN}}

File:Jim Thome 2008.jpg in 2008]]

Thome became Chicago's regular designated hitter in April 2006 and flourished in his first season in Chicago. He set the team record for most home runs in the month of April (10), overtaking Frank Thomas's previous record by one.{{cite web |last= |date=April 30, 2006 |title=Contreras masterful again as White Sox slip past Halos |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260429103 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} He also set a major league record by scoring in each of Chicago's first 17 games.{{cite web |last= |date=April 23, 2006 |title=Uribe powers ChiSox past Twins for eighth straight win |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?id=260423104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417064833/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?id=260423104 |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} For the season, Thome hit 42 home runs, drove in 109 runs, and hit .288 in 143 games, though he struck out in 30% of his plate appearances, the highest percentage in the AL.{{cite web |title=Major League Leaderboards – 2006 – Batters – Advanced Statistics |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016032428/http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2006 |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |website=FanGraphs}} On May 1, 2006, Thome returned to Cleveland to play against the Indians in his first game as a visitor at Jacobs Field, and received an unenthusiastic reception.{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=May 2, 2006 |title=Thome, Sox silence Cleveland critics |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060501&content_id=1427637&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107045546/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060501&content_id=1427637&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}

On September 16, 2007, Thome joined the 500 home run club by hitting a walk-off home run against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Dustin Moseley.{{cite magazine |date=September 24, 2007 |title=For the Record |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108003/index.htm |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |volume=107 |issue=12 |page=22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325065341/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108003/index.htm |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=March 25, 2014}} Thome became the 23rd major leaguer to reach the milestone and the third in the 2007 MLB season (the others were Frank Thomas and Alex Rodriguez), as well as the first ever to do it with a walk-off home run.{{cite web |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Thome reaches 500 HR milestone in walk-off fashion |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270916104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020559/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270916104 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press}} Several family members including his father were on hand to witness the accomplishment,{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Thome family shares in joy of No. 500 |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2212868&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115053044/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2212868&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws&fext=.jsp |archive-date=January 15, 2014 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |website=Chicago White Sox |publisher=MLB.com}} which occurred at a game during which the White Sox distributed free Thome bobbleheads to fans. Thome celebrated by pointing upward in homage to his late mother as he rounded the bases.{{cite web |last=Gyr |first=Alex |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Thome's quest for 500 ends with win |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211833&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201104101/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211833&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |work=Chicago White Sox |publisher=MLB.com}}

On June 4, 2008, Thome hit a {{convert|464|ft|adj=on}} home run—which at the time was the ninth-longest home run in U.S. Cellular Field history—against Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar in a 6–4 White Sox victory.{{cite web |last=Gano |first=Rick |date=June 5, 2008 |title=White Sox beat Royals in 15 on Konerko homer |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280604104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022031618/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280604104 |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=June 6, 2008 |work=Yahoo! Sports |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |last=Gregor |first=Scot |date=June 6, 2008 |title=How far did Thome's HR fly? |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20080605/other-sports/how-far-did-thomes-hr-fly/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250212035148/https://www.dailyherald.com/20080605/other-sports/how-far-did-thomes-hr-fly/ |archive-date=2025-02-12 |access-date=2025-02-12 |newspaper=Daily Herald |location=Arlington Heights, Illinois}} He hit a solo home run in the AL Central Tiebreaker game, which proved to be the difference as the White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins, 1–0.{{cite web |date=September 30, 2008 |title=September 30, 2008 Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox Play by Play and Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200809300.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001102139/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200809300.shtml |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=July 8, 2009 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} Those two 2008 home runs are honored with a plaque in the center field Fan Deck at Rate Field.{{Cite web |title=Jim Thome Home Runs Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=248327 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}

Thome's hitting remained strong during Chicago's 2009 season, as he hit .249 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs in 107 games, including his 550th career home run on June 1.{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2009 |title=Thome records 550th home run to put White Sox ahead of A's |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290601104 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215083828/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290601104 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=ESPN |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} On July 17, 2009, he hit a grand slam and a three-run home run for a single-game career-high seven RBIs.{{cite news |date=July 18, 2009 |title=Jim Thome's 7 RBIs lead Chicago White Sox past Baltimore Orioles, 12–8 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-18-sp-al-game18-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155907/https://www.latimes.com/archives |archive-date=October 19, 2021}} By the conclusion of the season, he had passed Reggie Jackson for 11th place on the all-time home run list with 564 home runs.{{cite web |last=Eymer |first=Rick |date=August 15, 2009 |title=Thome matches Reggie on all-time list |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090815&content_id=6443636&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819140127/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090815&content_id=6443636&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=August 19, 2009 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}

On August 31, 2009, the White Sox traded Thome to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with financial considerations for minor league infielder Justin Fuller.{{cite web |date=September 1, 2009 |title=Chicago White Sox deal Jim Thome, Jose Contreras at deadline |url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/story?section=mlb&id=4436350 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155910/https://www.espn.com/chicago/story?section=mlb&id=4436350 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=ESPN}} Thome waived his no-trade clause because he thought the Dodgers could win the World Series,{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Phil|title=Jim Thome shows once again why he's a throwback player|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/09/02/throwback-thome-classy-to-end/|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=November 5, 2012|date=September 2, 2009|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202172813/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-09-02/sports/0909010723_1_dodgers-general-manager-dodger-stadium-trade|url-status=live}} but Thome's only appearances with the Dodgers were as a pinch hitter, due to chronic foot injuries that limited his mobility.{{cite web |last=Ely |first=David |date=September 2, 2009 |title=Pinch-hitting role suits Thome fine in LA |url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090902&content_id=6759980&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905022153/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090902&content_id=6759980&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la |archive-date=September 5, 2009 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Dodgers |publisher=MLB.com}} Thome reunited with former Cleveland teammate Manny Ramirez in Los Angeles.{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Mike|title=Ex-Cleveland Indians sluggers Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez re-unite on Los Angeles Dodgers|url=http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/09/excleveland_indians_sluggers_j.html|access-date=April 16, 2014|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=September 1, 2009|location=Cleveland, Ohio|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155912/https://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/2009/09/excleveland_indians_sluggers_j.html|url-status=live}} He hit .235 (4-for-17) with no home runs and three RBIs in 17 games with the Dodgers. After the season, Thome filed for free agency.

File:Thome.jpg against the Cleveland Indians, September 21, 2010|alt=The moment of contact between Thome's bat and a pitch from Roberto Hernandez; the image is distorted through the black screen protecting those sitting behind home plate.]]

On January 26, 2010, Thome signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2010 |title=Thome agrees to one-year contract with Twins |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4860973 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Thome hit his first home run with the Twins on April 8, during the Twins' season-opening road trip. The Twins opened Target Field, their new home stadium, on April 12, 2010.{{cite web |date=April 12, 2010 |title=Twins defeat Red Sox in first game at outdoor Target Field |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300412109 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155911/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300412109 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2014 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} This was the third time in Thome's career that his team had opened a new stadium – the 1994 Cleveland Indians when they opened Jacobs Field,{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ02ZYZQn6Y |title=Video: Indians win Jacobs Field opener |date=April 4, 1994 |publisher=MLB |location=Cleveland, Ohio |people=Berman, Chris}}{{cite web |date= |title=Progressive Field History |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/downloads/y2009/progressive_field.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003436/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/downloads/y2009/progressive_field.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2014 |work=Cleveland Indians |publisher=MLB.com}} and the 2004 Philadelphia Phillies when they opened Citizens Bank Park.{{cite web |last=Shenk |first=Larry |date=April 3, 2014 |title=Citizens Bank Park 'firsts' through history |url=https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/citizens-bank-park-firsts-through-history/c-70805782 |access-date=April 20, 2014 |work=Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=MLB.com}} On July 3, Thome hit two home runs, passing fellow Twin Harmon Killebrew for tenth on the all-time home run list.{{cite news|last=Hartman|first=Sid|title=Thome humbled to pass Killebrew|url=http://www.startribune.com/featuredColumns/97748654.html|access-date=April 16, 2014|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=July 3, 2010|location=Minneapolis|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019155918/https://www.startribune.com/thome-humbled-to-pass-killebrew/97748654/|url-status=live}} The game was stopped and the Twins played a pre-recorded message from Killebrew congratulating Thome on the accomplishment, during which Killebrew noted he was happy Thome did it while a member of the Twins.{{cite web |last=Kay |first=Joe |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Thome hits 600th home run |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/08/16/1415685/rookie-hazing-changing.html#storylink=misearch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221152533/http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/08/16/1415685/rookie-hazing-changing.html#storylink=misearch |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |work=The News & Observer |publisher=McClatchy Newspapers}}{{cite web |date=July 3, 2010 |title=Jim Thome passes Harmon Killebrew for 10th place on HR list |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Jim-Thome-passes-Harmon-Killebrew-for-10th-place-on-HR-list-070310 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706070954/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Jim-Thome-passes-Harmon-Killebrew-for-10th-place-on-HR-list-070310 |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2012 |work=Fox Sports |agency=Associated Press}} Thome hit the first walk-off hit in Target Field on August 17, a 445-foot two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning against the White Sox.{{cite web |date=August 17, 2010 |title=Twins stretch AL Central lead to 4 thanks to Jim Thome homer in 10th |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300817109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821093342/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300817109 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2010 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} It was the 12th walk-off home run of his career, tying him for the most all time (a record he subsequently broke).{{cite magazine |last=Abnos |first=Alexander |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Jim Thome hits 13th walk-off home run, an MLB record |url=http://tracking.si.com/2012/06/24/jim-thome-walk-off-home-run-record/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220705/http://tracking.si.com/2012/06/24/jim-thome-walk-off-home-run-record/ |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} On September 4, Thome again hit two home runs in a single game to tie and then pass Mark McGwire for the ninth spot on the career home run list.{{cite web |date=September 4, 2010 |title=Jim Thome passes Mark McGwire for 9th on HR list in Twins' victory |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300904109 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160046/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300904109 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Thome surpassed Frank Robinson's home run total on September 11, when he hit his 587th career home run in the top of the 12th inning in Cleveland.{{cite web |date=September 11, 2010 |title=September 11, 2010 Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Indians Play by Play and Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE201009110.shtml |access-date=September 14, 2011 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} Toward the end of the season, Thome commented that playing with the Twins made him feel rejuvenated.{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=September 27, 2010 |title=He's 40, but Jim Thome's mind isn't on retirement – Page Five |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/5/index.htm |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117053520/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/5/index.htm |archive-date=January 17, 2014}} He finished the 2010 season with a .283 average, 25 home runs and 59 RBIs in 108 games.{{cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |date=August 18, 2010 |title=Thome's blast ups Twins' lead to four games |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100817&content_id=13553382&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819144121/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100817&content_id=13553382&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} Thome posted his best slugging percentage since 2002.{{Cite web |title=Jim Thome |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/Pthomj002.htm |access-date=November 1, 2012 |website=Retrosheet}}

In January 2011, Thome accepted a one-year, $3 million contract with incentives to continue playing for the Twins.{{cite web |date=January 14, 2011 |title=Jim Thome gets 1-year deal from Twins |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=6021966 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} On July 17, Thome hit the longest home run ever at Target Field, a {{convert|490|ft|adj=on}} home run into the upper deck in right-center field.{{cite web |last=Schelling |first=Jordan |date=July 17, 2011 |title=Jim Thome's mammoth blast, No. 596, lifts the Twins over Royals |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=21906408&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20110717 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623035827/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=21906408&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20110717 |archive-date=June 23, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} He hit his 599th and 600th career home runs (in consecutive at-bats) at Comerica Park in Detroit on August 15, making him only the eighth player to achieve that home run total.{{cite web |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Thome becomes eighth to hit 600 homers |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110815&content_id=23251446&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918070535/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110815&content_id=23251446&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}

On August 26, 2011, Thome waived his contractual no-trade clause to return to his first team, the Cleveland Indians, in exchange for future considerations for the Twins.{{cite web |last=Bastian |first=Jordan |date=August 25, 2011 |title=Thome waives no-trade, returns to Indians |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110825&content_id=23729390&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107055642/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110825&content_id=23729390&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=November 1, 2012 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} On September 18, the clubs announced that Minnesota had received $20,000 for him, which Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports called "silly" and "nothing"; Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer wrote that ticket and jersey sales alone from re-acquiring Thome covered the money they paid to acquire him.{{cite web |last=Gleeman |first=Aaron |date=September 19, 2011 |title=Twins get $20,000 from Indians to complete Jim Thome deal |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/19/twins-get-20000-from-indians-to-complete-jim-thome-deal/ |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=NBC Sports}}{{cite news |last=Hoynes |first=Paul |date=September 18, 2011 |title=Tribe sends $20K to Twins to complete Thome deal |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/09/tribe_sends_20k_to_twins_to_co.html |access-date=March 28, 2014}} On September 23, Cleveland held a ceremony to honor Thome, and revealed plans to erect a statue depicting him in Heritage Park. In the game, he hit a home run that landed near the proposed location for his statue.{{cite web |last= |first= |date=September 24, 2011 |title=Thome's night ends with Santana's walk-off homer |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/310923105 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215185917/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/310923105 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} While with Cleveland in 2011, Thome played in 22 games, predominantly hitting fifth in the batting order, and he posted a .296 batting average with three home runs and 10 RBIs. Through 2011, Thome was second among all active major leaguers in career home runs (604; behind Alex Rodriguez) and RBIs (1,674; Rodriguez), and fifth in career slugging percentage (.556; behind Albert Pujols, Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, and Howard).{{cite web |date= |title=Ryan Howard Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howarry01.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806003704/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howarry01.shtml |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=October 15, 2011 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} Thome is currently the Indians/Guardians' all-time leader in home runs (337), walks (1,008), and strikeouts (1,400).{{cite web |title=Cleveland Guardians Top 10 Career Batting Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/leaders_bat.shtml |access-date=December 15, 2022 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}}

File:Jim Thome on June 9, 2012.jpg in 2012|alt=Thome has swung through a pitch during a day game wearing his gray Phillies uniform.]]

On November 4, 2011, Thome agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal that returned him to Philadelphia.{{cite news |date=November 4, 2011 |title=Phillies sign Thome to 1-year deal |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/phillies/story/2011-11-04/thome-returns-to-philadelphia/51077260/1 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202190424/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/phillies/story/2011-11-04/thome-returns-to-philadelphia/51077260/1 |archive-date=February 2, 2014}} He called coming back to Philadelphia a "no-brainer" in his news conference.{{cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=November 5, 2011 |title=Jim Thome ready to pinch-hit, play for Phillies |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111105&content_id=25921086&c_id=phi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201201048/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111105&content_id=25921086&c_id=phi |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=March 12, 2013 |work=Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=MLB.com}} He also mentioned that, due to Ryan Howard's Achilles tendon injury, he would "spend the offseason preparing himself to play first base once or twice a week", despite not having played defensively since 2007.{{cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=November 5, 2011 |title=Jim Thome back with Phillies on one-year deal |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111104&content_id=25915372&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb#disqus_thread |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203090230/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111104&content_id=25915372&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb#disqus_thread |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} Thome started his first game at first base since 2007 on April 8, 2012, during which he started a 3–6–3 double play.{{cite web |date=April 8, 2012 |title=Pirates' Andrew McCutchen laces game-winner vs. Phillies in ninth |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320408123 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411030240/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320408123 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2013 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}

Thome experienced stiffness in his lower back in the Phillies' game against the Chicago Cubs on April 28,{{cite web |last=Brookover |first=Bob |date=May 1, 2012 |title=Jim Thome struggling as pinch-hitter |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-01/news/31519812_1_ryan-howard-charlie-manuel-phillies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924222731/http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-01/news/31519812_1_ryan-howard-charlie-manuel-phillies |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2012 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} and early in May, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back.{{cite web |last= |date=June 6, 2012 |title=Philadelphia Phillies activate Jim Thome from disabled list, option Pete Orr to Triple-A |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8017811/philadelphia-phillies-activate-jim-thome-disabled-list-option-pete-orr-triple-a |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} At the time, he was batting only .100.{{cite news |last=Housenick |first=Mandy |date=June 16, 2012 |title=With Interleague soon over, will Jim Thome be just a pinch hitter for the Phillies? |newspaper=The Morning Call |location=Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania |url=http://articles.mcall.com/2012-06-16/sports/mc-phillies-thome-column-0616-20120616_1_interleague-jim-thome-pinch |url-status=dead |access-date=February 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124517/http://articles.mcall.com/2012-06-16/sports/mc-phillies-thome-column-0616-20120616_1_interleague-jim-thome-pinch |archive-date=February 2, 2014}} Thome returned to the club in early June, and prepared for interleague play against the Baltimore Orioles as the DH. Thome finished the nine-game interleague road trip with four home runs and 14 RBIs.{{cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=June 29, 2012 |title=Phillies could trade Thome to AL team soon |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120629&content_id=34160500¬ebook_id=34164782&vkey=notebook_phi&c_id=phi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201201051/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120629&content_id=34160500¬ebook_id=34164782&vkey=notebook_phi&c_id=phi |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2013 |work=Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=MLB.com}}

On June 17, Thome became the fourth major league player to hit 100 home runs with three different teams, joining Reggie Jackson, Darrell Evans and Rodriguez.{{cite web |date=June 17, 2012 |title=Colby Rasmus 3 for 4 with homer, 3 RBIs as Blue Jays cap sweep |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320617114 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619175859/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320617114 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=April 13, 2014 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} Six days later, Thome hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run in the ninth inning off of Jake McGee to beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 7–6. This was Thome's 609th home run, tying Sammy Sosa for seventh all-time in home runs while also setting the new record for most walk-off home runs (13) in the modern era.{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Jake |date=June 23, 2012 |title=Thome's walk-off caps day of Phils milestones |url=https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/jim-thomes-walk-off-helps-phillies-sting-rays/c-33792010 |access-date=June 24, 2012 |work=Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=MLB.com}} Thome's last game as a Phillie was an afternoon loss to the Miami Marlins on June 30. After the game (which coincided with Howard's return from the disabled list), the team announced that Thome had been traded to Baltimore to serve as their designated hitter.{{cite web |last=Luca |first=Greg |date=June 30, 2012 |title=Orioles trade for Jim Thome from Phillies |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120630&content_id=34230330&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703211816/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120630&content_id=34230330&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=February 20, 2013 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}

File:Jim Thome on July 1, 2012.jpg in 2012]]

The Orioles cited Thome's veteran experience on a playoff-bound team as a primary factor in acquiring him.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2012 |title=Baltimore Orioles acquire Philadelphia Phillies' slugger Jim Thome |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8117305/baltimore-orioles-acquire-philadelphia-phillies-slugger-jim-thome |access-date=November 28, 2012 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news |last=Connolly |first=Dan |date=June 30, 2012 |title=Orioles close to closing deal for Jim Thome |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-xpm-2012-06-30-bal-orioles-close-to-closing-deal-for-jim-thome-20120630-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117040643/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-06-30/sports/bal-orioles-close-to-closing-deal-for-jim-thome-20120630_1_orioles-trade-orioles-manager-buck-showalter-orioles-executive-vice-president |archive-date=January 17, 2014}} Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said of Thome,

{{blockquote|"I think you look at him and say: This is a guy who loves the game more than anyone. He's the first guy to the park, the first guy to the weight room, the first guy hitting."{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/jim-thome--he-of-600-home-runs--loves-baseball-so-much-it-s-infectious-to-his-orioles-teammates.html|title=Jim Thome, he of 600 home runs, loves baseball so much it's infectious to his Orioles teammates|website=Yahoo! Sports|last=Carpenter|first=Les|date=July 17, 2012|access-date=July 18, 2012}}}}

On July 20, Thome hit his first home run with the Orioles, his 610th of all time moving him past Sosa for seventh place all-time, against the Indians at Progressive Field.{{cite news |date=July 20, 2012 |title=Jim Thome hits home run No. 610, seventh all-time |newspaper=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2018737437_baseballnotes21.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224030710/http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2018737437_baseballnotes21.html |archive-date=February 24, 2014}} On August 6, Thome was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a herniated disk; he remained on the DL until September 21.{{cite web |last=Ghrioli |first=Brittany |date=August 6, 2012 |title=Thome out until September with herniated disc |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120806&content_id=36221514¬ebook_id=36227784&vkey=notebook_bal&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809013250/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120806&content_id=36221514¬ebook_id=36227784&vkey=notebook_bal&c_id=bal |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=November 29, 2012 |work=Baltimore Orioles |publisher=MLB.com}} In his first game back, he drove in the game-winning run in extra innings against the Boston Red Sox.{{cite news |last=Ulman |first=Howard |date=September 22, 2012 |title=Orioles Beat Red Sox: Jim Thome lifts Baltimore to 16th straight win in extra innings |work=The Huffington Post |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/22/orioles-red-sox-9-6-jim-thome-extra-innings_n_1906330.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928234419/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/22/orioles-red-sox-9-6-jim-thome-extra-innings_n_1906330.html |archive-date=September 28, 2012}} After beating the Indians in a game where he hit his 611th career home run, Thome said, "There's a lot [of] memories. I've had great memories on that side and then coming in here as an opponent against them. Any time you come home, they say, it's very special. It's even more special to get the W's. That's, I think, the main thing. The bottom line is I played here a long time."{{cite news |date=July 21, 2012 |title=Indians lose to old friend Jim Thome |newspaper=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2018743738_apbbaindians.html |url-status=dead |access-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224032247/http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2018743738_apbbaindians.html |archive-date=February 24, 2014}} Orioles teammates remarked at Thome's commitment to talking about the game while in the dugout. Thome remarked, "I talk the game. When I sit in the dugout during games, I talk baseball to these guys. They'll ask, 'Hey, what's this pitcher like?' or 'What about the game?' 'What about all those Indians teams you were on?' I did it to Eddie Murray when he was in his 40s." The Orioles made the playoffs, but lost in five games to the Yankees during the AL Division Series. Thome hit .133 in the playoffs with no home runs or RBIs.

{{MLBBioRet

|Image = CLE 25 JimThome.png

|Name = Jim Thome

|Number = 25

|Team = Cleveland Indians

|Year = 2018

|}}

On July 2, 2013, Thome joined the White Sox organization as special assistant to the general manager.{{cite news|last=Gonzales|first=Mark|title=Chicago White Sox Jim Thome special assistant|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/07/02/thome-joins-sox-as-special-assistant/|access-date=September 11, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 2, 2013|archive-date=September 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917111014/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-02/sports/chi-chicago-white-sox-jim-thome-special-assistant-20130702_1_rick-hahn-assistant-gm-buddy-bell-batting-coach|url-status=live}} In the future, Thome aspires to be a manager, an aspiration that White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wholeheartedly supports; Reinsdorf commented, "He can be a batting coach. He'd be a great batting coach, but someday he'll be a manager."{{cite news |last=Van Schouwen |first=Daryl |date=February 23, 2014 |title=White Sox' Jim Thome wants to manage in future |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/25791548-574/white-sox-jim-thome-wants-to-manage-in-future.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083521/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/25791548-574/white-sox-jim-thome-wants-to-manage-in-future.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014}} In March 2014, Thome clarified that he was not officially retired; while he "loves" his front office job with the White Sox, he would "have to take" a call about him playing again.{{cite web |last=Heyman |first=Jon |date=March 5, 2014 |title=Thome loves front office job but if someone offers playing job, well ... |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/thome-loves-front-office-job-but-if-someone-offers-playing-job-well-/ |access-date=April 3, 2014 |work=CBS Sports}} However, on August 2, 2014, he signed a one-day contract with the Cleveland Indians to retire officially as a member of the team.{{cite web |last=Snyder |first=Matt |date=August 2, 2014 |title=Jim Thome officially retires as an Indian with one-day contract |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jim-thome-officially-retires-as-an-indian-with-one-day-contract/ |access-date=August 2, 2014 |work=CBS Sports}} In addition to his role with the White Sox, Thome currently serves as an analyst for MLB Network.{{Cite web |title=[P] – MLB Network |url=https://www.mlb.com/network/personalities?id=228035056 |access-date=January 22, 2020 |website=MLB Network |language=en-US}}

On January 24, 2018, Thome was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was formally inducted on July 29, 2018, alongside Trevor Hoffman, Vladimir Guerrero, and Chipper Jones.{{cite magazine |date=July 29, 2018 |title=Chipper Jones, Jim Thome Highlight 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremony |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/29/2018-baseball-hall-fame-induction-ceremony-chipper-jones-jim-thome |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=August 18, 2018 |agency=Associated Press}} He was the first person to be inducted as an Indian without the use of Chief Wahoo on his plaque since the mascot's inception in 1947.{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2018 |title=Thome HOF plaque won't feature Chief Wahoo |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22859017/baseball-hall-fame-stop-using-cleveland-indians-chief-wahoo-logo-starting-jim-thome-plaque |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=ESPN}} The Indians retired Thome's number 25 on August 18, 2018.{{cite news |date=August 18, 2018 |title=Indians retire Hall of Famer Jim Thome's No. 25 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/08/18/indians-retire-hall-of-famer-jim-thomes-no-25/37530557/ |access-date=August 18, 2018}}

On February 23, 2022, Thome was announced as the new president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, succeeding Brooks Robinson.{{cite web |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Jim Thome announced as new president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-jim-thome-announced-as-new-mlb-players-alumni-association-presiden |accessdate=February 23, 2022 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}

File:Jim Thome runs to first base (cropped).JPG) ran at a slower rate, partly due to injury]]

Thome is regarded as a great example of a "pure" power hitter, as indicated by his .278 Isolated Power (ISO) rating.{{cite web |last=Gaines |first=Cork |date=May 23, 2012 |title=The 20 Greatest Power Hitters of All-Time |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-greatest-power-hitters-of-all-time-2012-5?op=1 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |work=Business Insider}} Thome's consistency was a draw for clubs to continue to sign him, even toward the very end of his 22-year career and after most sluggers' productivity fades.{{cite web |last=Gleeman |first=Aaron |date=February 22, 2013 |title=Jim Thome is looking for work |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/22/jim-thome-is-looking-for-work/ |access-date=February 25, 2013 |work=NBC Sports}} In 2011, he was ranked the sixth-best designated hitter in MLB history by Fox Sports.{{cite web |date=October 10, 2011 |title=Best designated hitters ever |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/mlb-baseball-best-designated-hitters-of-all-time-092111#tab=photo-title=6.+Jim+Thome+&photo=30190259 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022003952/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/mlb-baseball-best-designated-hitters-of-all-time-092111#photo-title=6.%20Jim%20Thome%20&photo=30190259 |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |access-date=March 5, 2013 |work=Fox Sports}} During his career, he compiled a .284 batting average against fastballs but compiled just a .170 batting average against sliders.{{cite web |title=Jim Thome Scouting Report |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/2604/jim-thome |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 5, 2013 |work=ESPN}}

Since Thome was a pull hitter, opposing teams often employed a defensive shift against him; by playing three infielders on the right side of the field and the outfielders towards his pull side, teams put themselves in better position to field batted balls.{{cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Jon |date=May 6, 2006 |title=Notes: Shift doesn't bother Thome |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060506&content_id=1440454&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423133053/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060506&content_id=1440454&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=April 23, 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2013 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}{{cite web |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |date=April 5, 2011 |title=Defensive shift a new challenge for Mauer |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110405&content_id=17396986¬ebook_id=17396992&vkey=notebook_min&c_id=min&partnerId=rss_mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116221430/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110405&content_id=17396986¬ebook_id=17396992&vkey=notebook_min&c_id=min&partnerId=rss_mlb |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2013 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} In 2011, Lindy's Sports described him as an "extremely patient veteran slugger who launches cripple fastballs and breaking-ball mistakes to all fields", though they did note that he struck out frequently, had poor speed, and should serve only as a designated hitter.{{cite book|title=Lindy's Sports Baseball 2011 Preview|date=February 2011|page=176|editor1-first=Shane|editor1-last=O'Neill|publisher=J. Lindy Davis Jr.|location=Birmingham, Alabama}} During his career, he had strong power numbers; in 15 of his 22 seasons, he had a slugging percentage of over .500. He is an example of a "three-true-outcome" player; 47.6% of his career plate appearances resulted in either home runs, strikeouts, or walks, the highest of all time by nearly seven percentage points. Thome averaged 111 bases on balls per 162 games, and currently ranks seventh on the MLB career walks list with 1,747. He led the American League in walks in three seasons, all with Cleveland (1997, 1999 and 2002). He is a self-described slow runner, but has said that he always hustled.{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=September 27, 2010 |title=He's 40, but Jim Thome's mind isn't on retirement – Page Four |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/4/index.htm |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123513/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/4/index.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2014}} He stole only 19 bases after 1994.{{cite web|title=Career Stolen Bases – Jim Thome|url=http://www.sportometry.com/sportlive?type=demototals&game=baseball&ptype=DH&fn=SB&pids=4762&k=923648240|work=Sportometry|publisher=Tangraph Technologies|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116182945/http://www.sportometry.com/sportlive?type=demototals&game=baseball&ptype=DH&fn=SB&pids=4762&k=923648240|url-status=dead}}

File:Jim Thome sliding into second.jpg]]

Thome began his career playing third base and did so until the 1997 season, when he converted to first base to make room at third after the Indians traded for Matt Williams.{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |date=September 14, 2007 |title=Moving day was a blessing: Thome's switch from 3rd base to 1st jump-started career |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-168659205.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611100617/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-168659205.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |via=HighBeam Research}}{{cite news |last=Whiteside |first=Larry |date=March 1, 1997 |title=Indians hope Williams will be bellwether – They're counting on ex-Giant for punch |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8408100.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611100614/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8408100.html |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |via=HighBeam Research}} Injuries, however, took their toll and confined him almost exclusively to being a designated hitter in the latter stages of his career. Overall, he spent 10 separate stints on the disabled list, mostly for his back.{{cite book|title=Who's Who In Baseball|year=2012|publisher=Who's Who in Baseball Magazine Co.|location=New York|isbn=978-0-910692-32-8|page=175|editor=Palmer, Pete}}{{cite web |date=September 22, 2012 |title=Thome, Orioles win 16th straight in extra innings |url=http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/19613425/2012/09/22/thome-orioles-win-16th-straight-in-extra-innings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219084757/http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/19613425/2012/09/22/thome-orioles-win-16th-straight-in-extra-innings |archive-date=February 19, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |work=WFXT |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Dayn |author-link=Dayn Perry |date=August 7, 2012 |title=Jim Thome could miss rest of season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jim-thome-could-miss-rest-of-season/ |access-date=February 26, 2013 |work=CBS Sports}} By the end of Thome's career, his back prevented him from playing the field effectively{{Cite news |last=Vetrone Jr. |first=Bob |date=June 21, 2012 |title=Our Jim Thome Plan |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/Our-Jim-Thome-Plan0621.html |access-date=March 3, 2013 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}—he played first base four times with the Phillies in 2012, which marked the first time he played the field since 2007 with the White Sox.{{cite web |date= |title=Jim Thome Fielding Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomeji01-field.shtml |access-date=March 3, 2013 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}} By the end of his career, writers described him as being a "huge liability in the field".{{cite web |title=Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte among members of age 40 club that are still making impact in majors |url=http://nesn.com/playlist/jason-giambi-andy-pettitte-among-members-of-age-40-club-that-are-still-making-impact-in-majors/5/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325235131/http://nesn.com/playlist/jason-giambi-andy-pettitte-among-members-of-age-40-club-that-are-still-making-impact-in-majors/5/ |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=April 9, 2013 |website=NESN}}

Thome was known throughout the baseball world for wearing high socks and for his unique batting stance. In 1997, the Indians wore high socks for his birthday in August, but ended up wearing them for the remainder of the season out of superstition and eventually reached the World Series. Upon his return to the Indians in 2011, the club again sported the high socks as a tribute.{{cite web |last=Meisel |first=Zack |date=August 26, 2011 |title=Indians welcome Jim Thome back by emulating his high socks |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110826&content_id=23796972&c_id=cle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221220246/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110826&content_id=23796972&c_id=cle |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2013 |work=Cleveland Indians |publisher=MLB.com}} His batting stance featured him pointing his bat to center field prior to the pitch.{{cite book |last1=Ryness |first1=Gar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dZdWebZTGKkC&q=thome&pg=PA216 |title=Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball |last2=Dewart |first2=Caleb |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4391-8172-0 |pages=32, 217 |access-date=March 30, 2013}} Thome adopted this stance from Charlie Manuel, who was the Indians hitting coach, and since then Ryan Howard has also adopted it.{{cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |date=August 20, 2011 |title=Thome's success rooted in a simple suggestion |work=The New York Times |url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/thomes-success-rooted-in-a-simple-suggestion/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105035032/http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/thomes-success-rooted-in-a-simple-suggestion/ |archive-date=January 5, 2014}} Thome credits his calm demeanor to his role model during his early playing years, Eddie Murray, once commenting, {{blockquote|"Eddie taught me to play the game exactly the same when you fail and when you succeed. Hit a home run, hey, enjoy the moment, but then let it go. If you strike out with the bases loaded, same thing, let it go. I don't smash helmets when I strike out, because it's not the helmet's fault, it's my fault."}}

File:Jim Thome 2010.jpg

Thome's friendly personality has been the subject of much attention. In a 2007 poll of 464 MLB players, he tied with Mike Sweeney for second-friendliest player, behind Sean Casey.{{cite magazine |date=May 16, 2007 |title=SI Players Poll: Friendliest/Unfriendliest MLB Player? |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/05/16/0521poll/ |access-date=April 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522101220/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/05/16/0521poll/ |archive-date=May 22, 2007}} After Thome hit his 600th home run, Twins closer Joe Nathan said, "He is the world's nicest man." Teammate Michael Cuddyer added, "He is the nicest, gentlest, kindest guy you will ever meet ... to everything except the baseball, he still hits that really hard."{{cite web|last=Kurkjian|first=Tim|title=Jim Thome as genuine as they come|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/6847957/road-600-home-runs-memorable-one-jim-thome|work=ESPN The Magazine|access-date=March 30, 2013|date=August 17, 2011}} His kindness comes up in conversations with many MLB players. When he signed with the Phillies in the offseason before the 2012 season, Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro Jr. cited Thome's constant positive attitude as a main reason for his signing.{{cite web |last=Snyder |first=Matt |date=November 4, 2011 |title=Jim Thome signs with Phillies |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33108673 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116124819/http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33108673 |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2013 |work=CBS Sports}} As an exercise in remaining humble, he annually visited his high school prior to spring training. A Sports Illustrated article said that Thome frequently signs autographs for fans and that he is "endlessly patient with requests".{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=September 27, 2010 |title=He's 40, but Jim Thome's mind isn't on retirement – Page Two |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/2/index.htm |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116123546/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174607/2/index.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2014}} In a piece for Philadelphia magazine discussing Thome's Baseball Hall of Fame prospects, sportswriter Stephen Silver wrote,

{{blockquote|"It's not just the numbers. Thanks to his gregarious personality, Thome is the rare athlete who played in several cities and was beloved everywhere he went. I saw the Twins and Phillies play each other in Philadelphia when Thome was with the Twins, and the same two teams in Minnesota two years later when Thome was a Phillie, and the opposing crowd cheered Thome both times, even when he hit home runs for the road team. Thome was similarly loved in his long stints in Cleveland and Chicago, as well as shorter runs in Los Angeles and Baltimore."{{cite web|last=Silver|first=Stephen|title=Jim Thome's faltering case for the Hall of Fame|url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2013/01/16/jim-thome-hall-fame/|work=Philadelphia Magazine|access-date=January 15, 2014|date=January 16, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160404/https://www.phillymag.com/news/2013/01/16/jim-thome-hall-fame/|url-status=live}}}}

A fan poll in The Plain Dealer in 2003 named him the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history.{{cite web |last=Arcand |first=Tim |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Gentleman Jim Thome set to make history as a Minnesota Twin |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/413866-gentleman-jim-thome-set-to-make-minnesota-twins-history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622170616/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/413866-gentleman-jim-thome-set-to-make-minnesota-twins-history |archive-date=June 22, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2012 |work=Bleacher Report |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System}}

Despite his injuries throughout his later years, Thome totaled, according to Fangraphs, 71.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), a sabermetrics baseball statistic intended to quantify a player's total contributions to a team.{{cite web |title=Jim Thome – Statistics – Batting |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=409&position=1B/DH |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160432/https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jim-thome/409/stats?position=1B%2FDH |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |work=FanGraphs |publisher=Stats LLC}} He was one of few players whose prime was during the steroid era and who was not suspected of using steroids; Thome adamantly denies ever using performance-enhancing drugs.{{cite news|last=Shea|first=John|title=Jim Thome has clean reputation amid steroid era|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jim-Thome-has-clean-reputation-amid-steroid-era-2335403.php|access-date=March 14, 2013|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 14, 2011|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160459/https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jim-Thome-has-clean-reputation-amid-steroid-era-2335403.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Couch |first=Greg |date=August 16, 2011 |title=In an era of cheats, Thome is a player worth believing in |url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2011-08/thome-600/story/in-an-era-of-cheats-thome-is-a-player-worth-believing-in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102112529/http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/feed/2011-08/thome-600/story/in-an-era-of-cheats-thome-is-a-player-worth-believing-in |archive-date=January 2, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |work=Sporting News |publisher=AOL}} Soon after the announcement of his front office position (which signified the end of his playing career), writers began to speculate as to whether Thome would make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and more specifically, whether he would gain entrance in his first year of eligibility in 2018.{{cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Dave |date=November 23, 2013 |title=Hall of Fame voters eager for Jim Thome ballot |newspaper=Journal Star |location=Peoria, Illinois |url=http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131123/NEWS/131129750/11132/NEWS |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160451/https://www.pjstar.com/article/20131123/NEWS/131129750/11132/NEWS |archive-date=October 19, 2021}}{{cite web |last=Peick |first=Sean |date=June 24, 2012 |title=Jim Thome's tremendous numbers likely won't be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame on first ballot |url=http://nesn.com/2012/06/jim-thome-will-likely-not-be-voted-into-hall-of-fame-on-first-ballot-despite-tremendous-numbers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160413/https://nesn.com/2012/06/jim-thome-will-likely-not-be-voted-into-hall-of-fame-on-first-ballot-despite-tremendous-numbers/ |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |website=NESN}} Writers also questioned whether Thome's candidacy would be hindered by his lack of self-promotion and others' tendency to overlook him.{{cite news |last=Wessler |first=Kirk |date=November 23, 2013 |title=Why doesn't anyone talk about Jim Thome? |newspaper=Journal Star |location=Peoria, Illinois |url=http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131123/NEWS/131129759/11132/NEWS |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160437/https://www.pjstar.com/article/20131123/NEWS/131129759/11132/NEWS |archive-date=October 19, 2021}}{{cite web |last=Silver |first=Stephen |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Jim Thome's faltering case for the Hall of Fame |url=http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/01/16/jim-thome-hall-fame/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118052303/http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/01/16/jim-thome-hall-fame/ |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |work=Philadelphia Magazine |publisher=The Philly Post}}

File:Thomes (48250603676).jpg in 2019]]

Thome and his wife, Andrea, have two children, Lila Grace and Landon.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=December 12, 2007 |title=Sox entertain kids at holiday party |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071212&content_id=2323279&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |access-date=December 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107045636/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071212&content_id=2323279&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp |archive-date=November 7, 2012}} He has also established funds to put his 10 nieces and nephews through college.{{cite web |title=Jim Thome: Postseason Players |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2010/players/?id=123272 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160431/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2010/players/?id=123272 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=December 2, 2012 |work=MLB.com}} During the offseason he lives in Burr Ridge, Illinois. ESPN's SportsCenter reported that shortly after his nephew, Brandon, was paralyzed in an accident, he asked Thome to hit a home run for him; Thome obliged, hitting two in the subsequent game.{{cite news |date=July 8, 2001 |title=Thome's shot trumps McGwire's slam |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-08-sp-20018-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019160434/https://www.latimes.com/archives |archive-date=October 19, 2021}} Thome is also a philanthropist and provided help to the communities surrounding the teams for which he played. In recognition of his community involvement, he was given the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award in 2001 and 2004, and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 2004.{{cite web |last=Hunter |first=Justin |date=July 1, 2012 |title=The Unappreciated Career of Jim Thome |url=http://calltothepen.com/2012/07/01/the-unappreciated-career-of-jim-thome/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204045659/http://calltothepen.com/2012/07/01/the-unappreciated-career-of-jim-thome/ |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |work=Call to the Pen |publisher=FanSided}} In 2013, after the November 17, 2013, tornado outbreak struck Washington, Illinois, just {{convert|15|mi}} from his hometown, he and his wife pledged to donate $100,000 to relief efforts.{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=November 27, 2013 |title=Jim Thome donates $100,000 to help with tornado relief |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/phi/jim-thome-donates-100000-to-help-with-tornado-relief?ymd=20131127&content_id=64267502&vkey=news_phi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012609/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/phi/jim-thome-donates-100000-to-help-with-tornado-relief?ymd=20131127&content_id=64267502&vkey=news_phi |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2013 |work=Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=MLB.com}} Among the philanthropic endeavors Thome and his wife heavily support are Children's Home + Aid, which strives to help underprivileged children predominantly with finding care (e.g., foster care, adoption, etc.), and an annual benefit to raise money for the Children's Hospital of Illinois, continuing a tradition his mother started years ago.{{cite web |last=Just |first=David |date=January 13, 2008 |title=Thome hosts annual charity event |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080113&content_id=2344771&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083800/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080113&content_id=2344771&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws&fext=.jsp |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=April 6, 2014 |work=Chicago White Sox |publisher=MLB.com}} Moreover, the Thomes try "to stay connected with at least one or two organizations in each of the cities" that Thome has played.{{cite news |last=Hageman |first=William |date=September 15, 2013 |title=Andrea Thome on why she volunteers |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/09/15/andrea-thome-on-why-she-volunteers/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407092708/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-15/features/ct-tribu-remarkable-thome-20130915_1_andrea-thome-jim-gala |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}

In 2019, a renovated youth baseball field in Cleveland was named the 'Jim Thome All-Star Complex' in his honor.{{Cite web |last=Footer |first=Alyson |date=July 8, 2019 |title=MLB, Tribe honor Thome with All-Star Complex |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/indians-unveil-jim-thome-all-star-complex |access-date=July 8, 2019 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |language=en}}

{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}

{{Div col}}

• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs-batted-in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders
• List of Major League Baseball home run records
• List of Major League Baseball progressive career home runs leaders

{{Div col end}}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{bbhof|thome-jim}}
• {{baseballstats |mlb=123272 |espn=2604 |br=t/thomeji01 |fangraphs=409 |brm=thome-001jam |retro=T/Pthomj002 |almanac=thomeji01}}
• {{sabrbio|Jim-Thome|Joseph Wancho}}

{{s-start|header={{s-ach}}}}

{{succession box| before = Mike Sweeney | title = American League Player of the Month| years = July 2001 | after = Jermaine Dye}}

{{succession box| before = Vladimir Guerrero
Lance Berkman | title = National League Player of the Month| years = September 2003
June 2004 | after = Barry Bonds
Jim Edmonds}}

{{succession box|title=Indians' Minor League Player of the Year
(The Lou Boudreau Award)|years=1990
1993|before=Award created
Ken Ramos|after=Manny Ramirez
David Bell}}

{{s-end}}

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{{IL MVPs}}

{{AL 3B Silver Slugger Award}}

{{Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award}}

{{Roberto Clemente Award}}

{{Lou Gehrig Memorial Award}}

{{AL MLB Comeback Players of the Year}}

{{AL Comeback Players of the Year}}

{{NL home run champions}}

{{50 home run club|state=collapsed}}

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:American League All-Stars

Category:Baltimore Orioles players

Category:Baseball players from Chicago

Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players

Category:Burlington Indians players (1986–2006)

Category:Canton-Akron Indians players

Category:Charlotte Knights players

Category:Chicago White Sox players

Category:Clearwater Threshers players

Category:Cleveland Indians players

Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players

Category:Gulf Coast Indians players

Category:Illinois Central Cougars baseball players

Category:Illinois Central Cougars men's basketball players

Category:International League MVP award winners

Category:Kinston Indians players

Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players

Category:Major League Baseball designated hitters

Category:Major League Baseball first basemen

Category:Major League Baseball players with retired numbers

Category:Major League Baseball third basemen

Category:Minnesota Twins players

Category:MLB Network personalities

Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees

Category:National League All-Stars

Category:National League home run champions

Category:Baseball players from Hinsdale, Illinois

Category:Philadelphia Phillies players

Category:Silver Slugger Award winners

Category:Baseball players from Peoria, Illinois

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:20th-century American sportsmen