Minneapolis – Frank Thomas hit his 500th home run today, routinely putting his head down as he rounded the bases while joining one of baseball’s most elite clubs.
The Toronto slugger became the 21st major leaguer to reach the career mark, a milestone that has usually meant an eventual spot in the Hall of Fame.
Thomas hit a three-run shot in the first inning, connecting against Minnesota’s Carlos Silva and sending a 1-2 pitch an estimated 396 feet into the left-field stands.
A fan in the fifth row, wearing a jersey of Twins player Jason Bartlett, caught the ball in his glove. He was quickly escorted away by security.
The Metrodome crowd responded with a standing ovation for the two-time AL MVP. Thomas took his home run trot and then pointed toward the suites down the right-field line when he crossed the plate as Toronto players spilled out of the dugout to congratulate him.
That Thomas did it in the Metrodome was fitting. He hit his first career home run at the ballpark against Gary Wayne while with the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 28, 1990. Thomas has 16 homers overall at the stadium.
The 39-year-old Thomas is in his first season with the Blue Jays. He played last year in Oakland.
Next on Thomas’ ascent on the career home run list are Eddie Murray (504), Mel Ott (511) and Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews (512 each). Also within reach of 500 this year are Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez.
Thomas entered today with four home runs in his previous 10 games. He has 13 this season. This was his second lifetime homer off Silva.
The Big Hurt has hit 50 career homers against the Twins, his most against any team and the most by an active player against Minnesota. Rocky Colavito hit 52 against the Twins and Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson each hit 51.
The seventh overall pick by the White Sox in 1989, Thomas spent 16 years in Chicago and established many franchise bests, including 448 home runs, 1,465 RBIs and 3,949 total bases. His .427 on-base percentage and .568 slugging percentage are also franchise bests.
But an injured ankle limited Thomas to 108 games in his final two seasons and led to a falling-out with the team.
After joining Oakland as a free agent, Thomas hit 39 home runs and drove in 114 runs last year in helping the A’s reach the AL championship series. He signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent on Nov. 17, 2006.
Baseball’s career home run leaders:
(x-active)
1. Hank Aaron 755
2. x-Barry Bonds 749
3. Babe Ruth 714
4. Willie Mays 660
5. x-Sammy Sosa 601
6. Frank Robinson 586
7. x-Ken Griffey Jr. 584
8. Mark McGwire 583
9. Harmon Killebrew 573
10. Rafael Palmeiro 569
11. Reggie Jackson 563
12. Mike Schmidt 548
13. Mickey Mantle 536
14. Jimmie Foxx 534
15. Willie McCovey 521
15. Ted Williams 521
17. Ernie Banks 512
17. Eddie Mathews 512
19. Mel Ott 511
20. Eddie Murray 504
21. x-Frank Thomas 500
22. Lou Gehrig 493
22. Fred McGriff 493
24. x-Alex Rodriguez 492
25. x-Jim Thome 482
26. x-Manny Ramirez 481
27. Stan Musial 475
27. Willie Stargell 475
29. x-Gary Sheffield 472
30. Dave Winfield 465
31. Jose Canseco 462
32. Carl Yastrzemski 452
33. Jeff Bagwell 449
34. Dave Kingman 442
35. Andre Dawson 438
36. Juan Gonzalez 434
37. Cal Ripken Jr. 431
38. Billy Williams 426
39. x-Mike Piazza 420
40. x-Carlos Delgado 418
41. Darrell Evans 414
42. Duke Snider 407
