Jim Thome elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum tonight announced the 2018 results of the annual Baseball Writers' Association of America Hall of Fame election. Retired Indians slugger JIM THOME appeared on 89.8% of the ballots cast in his first year of ballot eligibility to earn induction into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018 in July.
CLEVELAND, OH -- The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum tonight announced the 2018 results of the annual Baseball Writers' Association of America Hall of Fame election. Retired Indians slugger JIM THOME appeared on 89.8% of the ballots cast in his first year of ballot eligibility to earn induction into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018 in July.
Thome, 47, batted .276 (2328-8422) with 451 doubles, 612 home runs and 1699 RBI over an illustrious 22-year career from 1991-2012, spending 13 seasons with the Indians from 1991-2002 and again in 2011. The five-time All-Star was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 Amateur Draft (333rd overall) and debuted with the Indians in September of 1991.
Thome went on to capture the hearts of Indians fans as a member of six American League Central Division champion clubs, appearing in 55 Postseason games from 1995-2001. He finished his career as the franchise's all-time leader in career home runs (337) and walks (1008) and ranks second in club history in career RBI (937) and third in on-base pct. (.414) and OPS (.980). He also owns two of the top three single-season home run marks in the 117-year history of the club (club-record 52 in 2002; 49 in 2001) and also owns the top five single-season base on ball totals in Indians history.
The Peoria, Illinois native retired following the 2012 season and currently ranks eighth in the history of Major League Baseball in career home runs (612) and seventh in walks (1747). His 47 home runs with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003 led the National League as he ranked in the top five in home runs in his respective league over eight different seasons. His 13 "walk-off" home runs are the most in MLB history and he ranks tied for seventh in MLB history with 17 career Postseason home runs. His 13.76 home runs per at bat ranks fourth in MLB history behind Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds (%).
He is the 33rd Hall of Famer to play at least one career game with Indians and only the second player
drafted and signed by the club to earn induction (Dennis Eckersley, 1972 draft).