Bridgeport in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Frank Thomas

35

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Frank Thomas Marker

Inscription.

• Designated Hitter/First Baseman
• White Sox (1990-2005)
• American League MVP in 1993 and 1994
• Five-Time All-Star
• Led the AL with a .347 average in 1997
• Ranks first in White Sox history in home runs (448) doubles (447), RBI (1,465), runs scored (1.327), extra-base hits (906), walks (1466), slugging percentage (.568) and on-base percentage (.427)
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014

No. retired: 2010

Erected by Chicago White Sox.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Baseball Hall of Famers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1990.

Location. 41° 49.842′ N, 87° 38.116′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bridgeport. It can be reached from the intersection of 35th Street and Shields Avenue. The marker is one of 12 posted on bollards outside of Gate 4 (behind home plate) at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Billy Pierce (here, next to this marker); Ted Lyons (here, next to this marker); Jackie Robinson (here, next to this marker); Paul Konerko (here, next to this marker); Mark Buehrle (here, next to this marker); Carlton Fisk (here, next to this marker); Luis Aparicio (here, next to this marker); Minnie Miñoso (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. Thomas's marker is one of 12 dedicated to each of the numbers the Chicago White Sox have retired, including the #42 worn by Jackie Robinson and retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

Regarding Frank Thomas. "The Big Hurt" spent 15 years with the White Sox, during

Guaranteed Rate Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 28, 2023

2. Guaranteed Rate Field

which time he established himself as one of the most feared right-handed hitters in baseball history. As a member of the Sox, Thomas led the league in on-base percentage four times, batting average, slugging percentage and doubles once apiece, and bases on balls four times. Thomas appeared in 34 games for the White Sox during their 2005 world championship season, but he did not appear in the postseason due to injury; he threw out the honorary first pitch during the first game of the playoffs. Thomas spent his final three seasons with Oakland and Toronto and ended his career with 521 home runs (which is still tied for 20th all-time as of 2023) and a career average of .301. Thomas was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Also see . . .
1. Frank Thomas career stats (Baseball Reference). (Submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. National Baseball Hall of Fame: Frank Thomas.

Excerpt: "Thomas starred in both baseball and football in high school but went undrafted in his first year eligible for the MLB Draft in 1986. Thomas then enrolled at Auburn University with the intention
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of playing football, and the 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end caught three passes as a freshman that fall.

But Thomas still yearned to play baseball and starred for Auburn in 1987, hitting .359. He played for the United States team in the Pan-Am Games that summer, then was injured playing football in the fall.

From that point on, Thomas was a baseball player."

(Submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. Chicago White Sox; Major League Baseball

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 199 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.