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    White Sox Name Frank Thomas Team Ambassador, To Retire No. 35 Thomas Honored
    Frank Thomas

    Frank Thomas

    July 27, 2010

    Courtesy Chicago Daily Herald

    Thomas' bio/stats

    The White Sox today announced that Frank Thomas, two-time American League Most Valuable Player and one of baseball's greatest offensive players, will re-join the White Sox as a team ambassador.

    Thomas, whose uniform No. 35 will be officially retired by the organization on "Frank Thomas Day," Aug. 29, at U.S. Cellular Field, joins the White Sox Speakers Bureau, which includes former Sox stars Carlton Fisk, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton, Minnie Minoso and Bill "Moose" Skowron.

    As a White Sox team ambassador, Frank Thomas will make appearances on behalf of the organization and serve as a team representative in the community and throughout baseball. Thomas also currently serves as studio analyst for White Sox Pre- and Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

    "Frank Thomas is one of the greatest offensive players in Major League Baseball history and, without question, one of the greatest players in our franchise's long history," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. "It is with great pleasure that we formally welcome Frank back to the White Sox family."

    This summer, Frank Thomas' No. 35 will become the 10th uniform number to be retired by the White Sox. He will join No. 2 (Nellie Fox), No. 3 (Harold Baines), No. 4 (Luke Appling), No. 9 (Minnie Minoso), No. 11 (Luis Aparicio, currently un-retired for the 2010 season), No. 16 (Ted Lyons), No. 19 (Billy Pierce), No. 42 (Jackie Robinson) and No. 72 (Carlton Fisk).

    Thomas played 18 major-league seasons with the White Sox (1990-2005), Oakland (2006, '08) and Toronto (2007-08). He was a career .301 (2,468-8,199) hitter with 495 doubles, 521 home runs, 1,704 RBI, 1,494 runs scored and 1,667 walks in 2,322 games.

    A five-time American League All-Star, Thomas became just the 11th player in major-league history to win consecutive MVP awards. He was a unanimous selection in 1993 after hitting .317 (174-549) with 36 doubles, 41 home runs and 128 RBI in 153 games when he led the White Sox to the AL Western Division championship and the team's first postseason appearance since 1983. In 1994, Thomas captured his second straight league honor by batting .353 (141-399) with 34 doubles, 38 home runs and 101 RBI over 113 games.

     

     

    Thomas is the club's franchise leader in numerous offensive categories, including home runs (448), doubles (447), RBI (1,465), runs scored (1,327), extra-base hits (906), walks (1,466), total bases (3,949), slugging percentage (.568) and on-base percentage (.427). He also ranks among the franchise leaders in hits (3rd, 2,136), games played (3rd, 1,959), at-bats (3rd, 6,956) and batting average (7th, .307).

    Along with Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, Thomas is one of just four players in baseball history to have a .300 average with 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,000 runs scored and 1,500 walks in his career. He is a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1991, '93-94, 2000) and was named the 2000 AL Comeback Player of the Year.

    Thomas was selected in the first round (seventh overall) by the White Sox in the 1989 Major League Baseball Free Agent Draft. He made his major-league debut with the Sox on August 2, 1990 at Milwaukee.

    Tickets for "Frank Thomas Day" on Sunday, August 29 (vs. the New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.) are available at whitesox.com, by calling 1-866-SOX-GAME or by visiting the U.S. Cellular Field ticket office. The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and broadcast on The Score 670 AM.

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