Jim Thome, Thin Thome
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians | Comments: 18It was somewhat hinted in the comments here. And while I’m still bitter that his solo shot put Chicago in the playoffs, I could not pass up this gem that Mister Irrelevant produced yesterday afternoon. Make sure you check out the height and weight of Mr. Thome back in 1992.
Players of equal-or-less height that currently weigh at least as much as the 1992 Jim Thome:
Shin-Soo Choo (5′11″, 200 lbs)
Josh Cribbs (6′1″, 215 lbs)
Phil Dawson (5′11″, 200 lbs)
David Dellucci (5′11″, 205 lbs)
Braylon Edwards (6′3″, 215 lbs)
Ryan Garko (6′2″, 225 lbs)
Daniel Gibson (6′2″, 194 lbs)*
Travis Hafner (6′3″, 240 lbs)
Jensen Lewis (6′3″, 210 lbs)
Andy Marte (6′1″, 205 lbs)
Jhonny Peralta (6′1″, 210)
Brodney Pool (6′2″, 205 lbs)
Grady Sizemore (6′2″, 200 lbs)
Donte Stallworth (6′0″, 200 lbs)
Syndric Steptoe (5′9″, 200 lbs)
Now do any of the guys above look like the type that will eventually be designated hitters? Hafner included!
*I know that it isn’t techincally more than Thome, but the measurements are shockingly close.
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Just because someone is thin doesn’t mean that they can’t hit for power. Ken Griffey Jr. sure wasn’t stocky, or even ripped when he came in the league.
I would have to see pretty substantial proof that Thome was on performance enhancers. His numbers have been very consistent throughout his career (when healthy), and looking at him now compared to 16 years ago??? How many of US have seen significant changes in physique over the last 16 years? We aren’t seeing the typical steriod type body changes with Thome, nor has he been able to heal quicker than normal from injury to suggest HGH.
I know many Cleveland fans don’t like Thome, but he should be given the benefit of the doubt on the PE issue imo.
Oh, I agree. I’m just saying that the dude grew considerably while he was with the Tribe. Just comparing the fact that in 1992, he was a third baseman the size of Danny Gibson.
yeah i’m with rick on this.
and if youre dedicated a whole post just to bring up the point that jim thome gained a lot of mass while he was with the tribe, it would appear that youre insinuating that he had a little extra help.
no offense.
dedicated=dedicating.
yeah i corrected myself.
Soriano is the guy whose power continues to amaze me.
Scott, does that mean that by the end of his career, Gibson will be Tractor Traylor?
@buu: I’ve never been one to group Jimmy in with the PEDs. I just thought the picture was pretty crazy given how big he is at this point in his career. He used to be a 200 lb. third baseman at 22-years of age. Just looking at Thome now, it’s hard to believe he was ever the same size as Boobie
from somewhitesoxwebsite dot something.
Jim Thome
James Howard Thome Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 6′ 4″, Weight 255 lb.
so… in 17 years he’s grown an inch and gained 55 lbs. and by the looks of it, 40 or so is around his midsection.
in the last 17 years i’ve grown 3.5 feet and gained nearly 100 lbs… but i’m 26.
so in the last 5 years (Thome is 21 in the card) I’ve not grown at all (up) and gained a good 15-20 lbs. (beer) If Thome is as country as he looks/sounds, the boy likes his BBQ and brewskis.
going back to 1994, his HR/AB ratio is:
1994 – .0623
1995 – .0553
1996 – .0752
1997 – .0806
1998 – .0682
1999 – .0668
2000 – .0664
2001 – .0932
2002 – .1083
2003 – .0813
2004 – .0827 (traitor!)
2005 – .0362 (injury)
2006 – .0857
2007 – .0810
2008 – .0676
consistency is key.
Now do any of the guys above look like the type that will eventually be designated hitters? Hafner included!
-Probably only Steptoe has that potential, in my opinion at least.
With all due respect to everyone, I don’t think anyone, and I mean anyone, from the Steroid Era deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to PEDs. Do I think Thome took steroids? Not really. But in no way would I be surprised to find out he had.
Hafner is skinny and he can still mash
dan – i’m not sure if the whole “double negatives make a positive” works in that case
For the record, I look like a designated hitter. That’s all.
…Just because someone is thin doesn’t mean that they can’t hit for power…
See rookie Mark McGwire’s 49 HRs.
you mean the same mcgwire who used steroids?
Did anyone notice that Thome is already double-chinned at 40? At least in some photos, like one of his home run swing the other day, he seems to be packing a hefty gullet.
Can’t these superstar athletes at least keep in shape?
People just love to defend Thome about PE’s. The whole lot of them are guilty by association b/c none of the clean guys had the balls to confront the union and do what was right. Sorry Jim, but given the facts – that you were among the elite power hitters in an era when a majority of power hitters were juiced, it is LOGIC to assume you juiced as well.
I am sure Jim hit the weights to gain that mass, but c’mon. If Jim had a bad attitude and treated people like crap, more than 90% of his supporters would be in the other side of the arguement. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, and I think he cheated like the bulk of the players of his prime.
@Bridge-
Hey buddy:)
The whole lot of them are guility? Seriously? What exactly where they supposed to say to the union? I’m genuinely curious what you think.
Also, the MAJORITY of power hitters were juiced? Some were. Some weren’t. How is that the majority? Do you have any numbers or statistics that show this “majority”? Of course you don’t because they weren’t drug testing. We will never know the truth, and it doesn’t matter anymore. Personally I doubt he juiced, but he might have. It’s certainly not outrageous to assume that. I just don’t think he NEEDED to juice to achieve what he did. He was a decent sized guy with good bat speed that swung for the fences.
However, I will agree with your last point and it’s a good one. It’s amazing how being a good guy gives you a free pass and being a total dick like Bonds makes them chase you years and years after the fact. What a joke.
We’re using trading cards and media guides as accurate determinations of a guy’s size? We know those things are about as accurate as drivers licenses (and when was the last time you were *really* 190 lbs?).
Interesting to consider, but not nearly accurate enough to draw any conclusions.