Jim Thome could flat out hit the ball. One of the most consistent home run hitters in MLB history he ended his career with 612 home runs, some of the 500 foot variety. There was no doubt about his place in Cooperstown as 89.8% of the voters agreed on his first ballot. If there was a Hall of Fame for quality of man the vote would have been unanimous. He was perpetually positive, would sign autographs for kids as long as they were lined up, was very generous with philanthropy, and was described by a teammate as, "The nicest, gentlest, kindest guy you will ever meet...to everyone but the baseball, he still hits that really hard".
Jim Thome
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