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MLB

Frank Thomas Named to Alabama Sports HOF

By
December 15, 2010

Hoover, Alabama - Former Birmingham Barons first baseman, Frank Thomas, was named to the eight-member Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2011 on Wednesday, December 15 by the Board of Directors of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The octet of inductees includes; the Columbus, Ga. native, former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Shaun Alexander, former UAB track star Vonetta Flowers, Henry Hart, David Hill, Jeff Rutledge and Al Worthington. The 2011 Induction Banquet to honor the eight-member class will take place at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel's Birmingham Ballroom on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Since the hall of fame's inception in 1969, there have been 298 member enshrined.

Thomas was named Minor League Baseball's player-of-the-year and a Southern League all-star after he batted .323 (114-for-353) with 27 doubles, 5 triples, 18 home runs, 71 RBI and 85 runs in 109 games for the Birmingham Barons during the 1990 season. After leading the minor's with a .487 on-base percentage Thomas was promoted to the Chicago White Sox and went on to enjoy a 19-year major-league career with three organizations (Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays) from 1990-2008.

The "Big Hurt" is one of four major-league players to finish their career with a .300 batting average, 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,000 runs and 1,500 walks. The two-time American League Most Valuable Player (1993-94) and five-time all-star (1993-97) retired as the all-time leader in home runs by a designated hitter with 269. A four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1991, 1993-94, 2000), he is the only player in major league history to win two Silver Slugger awards at two different positions (first base and designated hitter).

During his collegiate career at Auburn University, Thomas left the Tigers program with a school-record 49 home runs. Named the Southeastern Conference's Most Valuable Player and all-tournament selection in 1989, Thomas was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first-round (seventh overall) in the 1989 draft.

The 2011 Birmingham Barons season begins on Thursday, April 7th against the Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, with the home opener set for Wednesday, April 14th versus the Chattanooga Lookouts, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For ticket information, game schedule, or promotions calendar, call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com.