Halloween: 5 of the scariest Cleveland Guardians since 1994
By Chad Porto
Jim Thome
Jim Thome may be every bit as scary as Albert Belle on the field, but off the field, he’s anything but. The all-time leader in home runs in Cleveland Guardians history, Thome is seen by many as a sweetheart of a man off the field. He’s known for charity, denoting money to his hometown of Peoria, IL in 2013 after tornadoes ravaged the town, while he and his wife work a lot with Children’s Home + Aid, and the family tries to stay in constant contact with a few charities from each of the cities Thome has played in.
He’s also well-loved by his constituents, as he’s the current President of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. So clearly, Thome is a good guy. In fact, that’s whatever one sees him as, a good guy. While sports can sometimes vilify people for just making decisions that are best for their families, Thome was never vilified in Cleveland. When he left, he thanked the town, shed some tears, and celebrated for all he’s done.
The terror of Thome is exclusively on the field. He’s one of the most prolific home run hitters of all time, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility mostly due to his home run-hitting prowess. He wasn’t just good but he was good for a long time, playing for nearly 21 seasons, starting in 1991, though not really getting regular reps in the Majors until he was 24.
Thome is the nicest terror you will ever see in sports. He may make you sweat when he steps into the batter’s box, but hell gives you a towel to wipe yourself down after. He’s just that kind of guy.