Has Jim Thome Punched His Hall Of Fame Ticket?

…because as much as voters want to make a statement about suspected (or proven) PED users, they’ll want to make a statement about guys who “played the right way.” Might take him 2-3 years, but he’ll get in with a lot of puffery and kudos that he probably doesn’t deserve. (He deserves getting in, but let’s face it, we don’t know about him any more than we know about Mike Piazza or Jeff Bagwell….except that writers like Thome as a person).

* Voters are usually overly impressed by sluggers who drive in a lot of runs. But in Thome’s case, not so much. Maybe an actual voter can tell you why they’ve given so little love to Jim Thome over the years, and so much to Ryan Howard. But I can’t.

A lot of it’s probably because Thome really hasn’t driven in a lot of runs, at least not to the level where the average voter would notice. Surprisingly to me, Thome’s only finished in the league’s top ten in RBIs three times, topping out at third in 2003—which is, not coincidentally, the year he had his best MVP finish. (Howard, on the other hand, is working on his fourth RBI title, and has two other years in the top four.)

I think you’re way off here, Rob. Thome will go in first ballot. And he deserves it. He’s not quite as good as Frank Thomas, actually, but he’ll go in more easily than Thomas despite that fact.

Rob, you are way off base. You are forgetting Thome’s Clubhouse Guyness. He is beloved by sportswriters. He did it THE RIGHT WAY. And he hit 600 bombs. You’re problem is you see Bagwell getting stopped at the door and think there’s no way Thome’s getting in. But Bags didn’t get 3000 hits or even 500 home runs. I mean, how can you MUSCLES (wink, wink) like Bags and not even hit 500 home runs? You are blinded by your fealty to meaningless numbers (WAR, what is it good for? Nothin! Say it again!) and lack of a moral compass. Next you’ll be suggesting Bonds and Clemons should get it—HA!

WordUpThome: HEY THIS IS JI
WordUpThome: JIM THOME

Reggie Jackson was elected with 93% of the votes his first year eligible. Thome has a better career batting average, on-base percentage and slugging average. Thome has more runs scored and home runs. Jackson has only 40 more RBI’s in over 1000 more plate appearences.

No question. Six hundred without PEDs was Aaron, Ruth, Mays for so long. Five hundred was a magical number. Six hundred was legendary. Has it been tainted? Yes. In Thome’s case, it makes the difference between a first ballot guy and a few years of build-up. I wouldn’t expect 90% of ballots, but I think he is pretty secure. He’s a good guy with an incredibly gaudy statistic on his resume, isn’t that exactly what hall voters like?

I’d slot Thome just ahead — probably a dead heat — of Hank Greenburg and just behind Johnny Mize …this easily puts him in the top ten firstbasemen of all time; he’s a slam dunk for th HOF

He isn’t as good a hitter — overall — as Thomas, but better than Murray.

And he’s aged well.

1. The comparisons to Jeter are completely irrelevant. Fielding or not, Jeter is widely recognized as an historically top-tier shortstop, even without his postseason and persona issues included. I’m not a Jeter groupie, but he is a no-brainer first ballot.

2. I agree Thome will get in more easily than Rob says. Not sure it will be a slam dunk first ballot, but probably first ballot, at most second or third.

3. Is there any indication Thome retires soon? He’s 40 and hitting well. What’s to keep him from finishing with 640 HRs and another 100 RBIs? That puts him #6 all time (Assuming ARod stays ahead of him). Even lacking star-power and MVP votes, I find it totally inconceivable that the BBWAA would make a drug-free #6 wait.