#4: Jim Thome’s 500th Home Run – September 16, 2007
Jim Thome was the last great left-handed power hitter for the Sox. In the bottom of the 9th in a 7-7 game with the Philadelphia Philles, Thome took a 3-2 pitch yard. Not only was it a walk-off home run, but it was the 500th of his career.
Thome has always been one of the good guys in baseball. He hit a lot of home runs and did it the right way. The Peoria, Ill. native has 612 home runs and 1699 RBIs for his career. His .276 batting average isn’t bad either. He will definitely go down as one of the best players in Cleveland Indians history and one of the best left-handed hitters, possibly of all time.
Many questioned why the Sox would bring in a guy who was at the end of his career. But surprisingly, Thome was a very productive player in his four seasons on the south side. He even hit 30+ home runs in three of those four seasons. Since his departure in 2009, this team has been searching for a lefty who can hit.