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Cleveland Indians: Jim Thome’s top 5 most memorable moments ranked

By Nick Dudukovich

26 Oct 1995: Jim Thome of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his sixth inning home run during the game five of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves at the Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Braves 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport
26 Oct 1995: Jim Thome of the Cleveland Indians celebrates his sixth inning home run during the game five of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves at the Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Braves 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 25: Jim Thome
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 25: Jim Thome /

Jim Thome had a lot of memorable moments throughout his Cleveland Indians career. Here’s the top 5 of all time!

Ranking the top five memorable moments of Jim Thome’s Cleveland Indians career wasn’t easy, but considering he’s the most prolific power in Indians history, and that just so-happened to coincide with my childhood, I’m the perfect man for the job.

Thome was a natural fit fro the City of Cleveland. He was a small-town midwestern kid with a blue collar background. When his career took off, Indians fans couldn’t embrace him fast enough.

So here’s Thome’s top five memorable moments, ranked. Enjoy!

1. The defense that stalled the Yankees

Game 5 of the 1997 ALDS was one of the most tense, and exciting games an Indians fan has ever  witnessed.

With the Tribe clinging to a 4-3 lead with one out in the bottom of the seventh, manager Mike Hargrove called for Paul Assenmacher to face Paul O’Neill.

From Did the Tribe Win Last Night:

"“O’Neill smashed Assenmacher’s second toward Thome at first, who dove and knocked the ball down to the Earth.  Thome picked up the ball and, on his knees, threw out Jeter at second by a step.  The crowd erupted at Thome’s fine defensive play.”"

Defense was never Thome’s calling card, and while I’ve had trouble recovering any photos and videos of the play, fans watching that game will never forget. Thome’s gritty defense altered the course of that inning.

Assenmacher went on to get Bernie Williams to ground out to Omar Vizquel for an inning ending double play.

The rest would soon be history.

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