Frank Thomas, nicknamend „The Big Hurt”, is a former mjor league baseball player in the 1990s. He was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 27th May 1968, where he attented Columbus High School. His parents didn’t push him to make sports, but he had a gift for it. „When I was a kid, probably around 12, I already knew I wanted to be a player”, Thomas told in an interview to Chicago Tribune.
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In 1986, he obtained a scholarship to play football at Auburn University. Here his potential was seen by the coach of the school’s baseball team. In the summer of 1987 he played for the U.S. Pan American team, but in autumn he returned to Auburn. In 1989, the Chicago White Sox selected Thomas in their team, with the seventh pick in the first round of the major League Draft.
Making history in Major League
In 1991 he won his first Silver Slugger Awards, awarded the best hitter at each position. Then , in 1993 he was voted the Most Valuable Player. Betwwen 1993-1997 Thomas was in the top 10 of the MVP voting every year. In 1997 he was injured and even he preferred to play in the field, the White Sox began tu use him as designated hitter. The year 2001 was very unfortunate for him, because he lost his father and he had a triceps tear in his right arm.
After this inhury, he never succeded in regaining his form. Because of the injuries and age, his performance was significantly reduced in 2004. In 2005, he received from the White Sox a championship reing for his efforts. Though he said „I see myself with the Sox my whole career”, the White Sox decided to release him. Bt the end of his career, Thomas entered in AL history for 521 home runs, ninth for RBI (1.704) ans sixth for walks (1.337).
He became the seventh player in history with .300 average and .500 runs. White Sox honnored him with a life-size bronze statue, that was unveiled in 31th July 2011 on the outfield concourse at U.S. Cellular Field. In 2014, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and on July 27, 2014 he was inducted as a member of the White Sox.
Personal life
He married for the first time in 1992 with Elise Silver and had three children, but got divorced in december 2001. In 2005 he married again with his current wife, Megan Celba, and had another two children.
Thomas and the media
He appeared in 1992 in the film Mr. Baseball and was a guest on TV show Married…with children. In 2007 he was invited as a guest analyst during TBS’s coverage of the 2007 MLB playoffs and since 2010, he continued at tha NBC Sport’s Chicago as a studio analyst. In 2012 and 2013, Thomas participated in the Pepsi MAX Filed of Dreams game in Columbus, Ohio and in the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams game in Rochester, New York.
Last Modified: Mar 6, 2020
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