Jim Thome is going into the Hall of Fame on Sunday and, as Thome’s dad once explained, Charlie Manuel might be the biggest reason why.
Thome wasn’t a Phillie for very long, but his impact here was substantial. He didn’t play on the teams that won five consecutive NL East titles, but he did influence the core that did.
Here then are 25 things to know about Gentleman Jim, one of the most approachable sluggers of all-time.
1. In his first minor-league stop, after he was drafted in the 13th round by the Indians in 1989, Thome had 213 plate appearances for the club’s Gulf Coast League team and hit zero home runs.