Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
When people think of the all-time home run leaders, they can easily rattle off people like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, and Willie Mays. After some thinking, they might come up with Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr., above and below Mays, respectively. They might be shocked to learn that Jim Thome is next. Yes, the guy with the easy smile and hard swing is ninth all-time in career roundtrippers. He had a lot of impressive moments en route to Cooperstown. Here are ten of them:
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Thome’s 500th Home Run: A Walk-Off for the History Books
Talk about memorable. Thome came to the plate in the ninth with the Chicago White Sox trailing. What happened next was like something out of “The Natural,” a movie that actually influenced him, since he pointed his bat before each pitch just like Roy Hobbs would. He then smashed a walk-off blast, and while he rounded the bases, the South Side faithful cheered, while two staff members changed the HR tally display from 499 to 500. His teammates gathered at home plate to celebrate both the win and his milestone. The only thing missing from all of this was Robert Redford.
Joining the 600 Home Run Club—And Tipping His Cap to Legends
It was quite a day for Thome. He hit career homers 599 and 600 in the same game. By doing this, he joined rarified air, and even the Detroit Tigers fans gave him a loud ovation while he celebrated with teammates and family.
The 1996 Silver Slugger Season: Thome’s Bat Runs Wild
Jim Thome was a slugger through and through, and his 1996 campaign saw him swat 38 homers and slug .612— thus earning his first Silver Slugger. Indian fans still reminisce about seeing him hit in person.
Cleveland’s Postseason HR King: 17 Playoff Blasts
Some superstars wilt in the postseason. Not Thome. He delivered, setting the Cleveland franchise record with 17 postseason home runs. Hometown fans were thrilled to see him come to the plate — they knew he had a chance of doing damage.
Passing Mickey Mantle—Homer No. 537 Leaves an Icon Behind
When Thome’s 537th bomb sailed over the fence, he leapfrogged the legendary Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. That had to have made the slugger realize that he truly deserved to be considered for enshrinement in Cooperstown himself.”
Becoming the Indians’ All-Time Home Run King
The day Thome passed Albert Belle to become Cleveland’s all-time home run leader, eventually finishing with a franchise-record 337 blasts for the Tribe, it was a study in opposites. Belle was so surly that he scared his own shadow. Thome was warm and gregarious when he wasn’t in the batter’s box. It’s no wonder the hometown crowd warmed to Thome.
The Day Thome Belted His 40th Homer in Four Straight Seasons
Consistency is king, and from 2001 to 2004, Thome’s 40+ home runs per season made him must-see TV. Fans didn’t go to the bathroom if they knew he was due to hit that inning. They’d run the risk of missing another moonshot.
Blasting Career Home Run No. 400—And Making It Look Easy
How beloved was Thome? Even the Phillie Phanatic liked him. See how happy he is here holding that 400 sign? Well, you can sense that the guy is smiling under that mask, right?
52 Homers. Yup. That Many.
When people think of the all-time home run leaders, they can easily rattle off people like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, and Willie Mays. After some thinking, they might come up with Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr., above and below Mays, respectively. They might be shocked to learn that Jim Thome is next. Yes, the guy with the easy smile and hard swing is ninth all-time in career roundtrippers. He had a lot of impressive moments en route to Cooperstown. Here are ten of them:
Thome’s 500th Home Run: A Walk-Off for the History Books
Talk about memorable. Thome came to the plate in the ninth with the Chicago White Sox trailing. What happened next was like something out of “The Natural,” a movie that actually influenced him, since he pointed his bat before each pitch just like Roy Hobbs would. He then smashed a walk-off blast, and while he rounded the bases, the South Side faithful cheered, while two staff members changed the HR tally display from 499 to 500. His teammates gathered at home plate to celebrate both the win and his milestone. The only thing missing from all of this was Robert Redford.
Joining the 600 Home Run Club—And Tipping His Cap to Legends
It was quite a day for Thome. He hit career homers 599 and 600 in the same game. By doing this, he joined rarified air, and even the Detroit Tigers fans gave him a loud ovation while he celebrated with teammates and family.
The 1996 Silver Slugger Season: Thome’s Bat Runs Wild
Jim Thome was a slugger through and through, and his 1996 campaign saw him swat 38 homers and slug .612— thus earning his first Silver Slugger. Indians fans still reminisce about seeing him hit in person.
Cleveland’s Postseason HR King: 17 Playoff Blasts
Some superstars wilt in the postseason. Not Thome. He delivered, setting the Cleveland franchise record with 17 postseason home runs. Hometown fans were thrilled to see him come to the plate — they knew he had a chance of doing damage.
Passing Mickey Mantle—Homer No. 537 Leaves an Icon Behind
When Thome’s 537th bomb sailed over the fence, he leapfrogged the legendary Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. That had to have made the slugger realize that he truly deserved to be considered for enshrinement in Cooperstown himself.”
Becoming the Indians’ All-Time Home Run King
The day Thome passed Albert Belle to become Cleveland’s all-time home run leader, eventually finishing with a franchise-record 337 blasts for the Tribe, it was a study in opposites. Belle was so surly that he scared his own shadow. Thome was warm and gregarious when he wasn’t in the batter’s box. It’s no wonder the hometown crowd warmed to Thome.
The Day Thome Belted His 40th Homer in Four Straight Seasons
Consistency is king, and from 2001 to 2004, Thome’s 40+ home runs per season made him must-see TV. Fans didn’t go to the bathroom if they knew he was due to hit that inning. They’d run the risk of missing another moonshot.
Blasting Career Home Run No. 400—And Making It Look Easy
How beloved was Thome? Even the Phillie Phanatic liked him. See how happy he is here holding that 400 sign? Well, you can sense that the guy is smiling under that mask, right?
52 Homers. Yup. That Many.
Forget 40 homers. Thome went WAY beyond that in 2002. It turned out to be his last season in Cleveland, and he left fans with a lot of memories. 52 of them. After that, he signed a free-agent contract with the Phillies.
Hall of Fame Induction: Thome’s Stats Immortalized in Cooperstown
Jim Thome spent his career letting his bat talk for him. Then he proceeded to knock his Cooperstown speech out of the park. When he was finished, everyone knew that a good man had just been immortalized.
Forget 40 homers. Thome went WAY beyond that in 2002. It turned out to be his last season in Cleveland, and he left fans with a lot of memories. 52 of them. After that, he signed a free-agent contract with the Phillies.
Hall of Fame Induction: Thome’s Stats Immortalized in Cooperstown
When people think of the all-time home run leaders, they can easily rattle off people like Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, and Willie Mays. After some thinking, they might come up with Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr., above and below Mays, respectively. They might be shocked to learn that Jim Thome is next. Yes, the guy with the easy smile and hard swing is ninth all-time in career roundtrippers. He had a lot of impressive moments en route to Cooperstown. Here are ten of them:
Thome’s 500th Home Run: A Walk-Off for the History Books
Talk about memorable. Thome came to the plate in the ninth with the Chicago White Sox trailing. What happened next was like something out of “The Natural,” a movie that actually influenced him, since he pointed his bat before each pitch just like Roy Hobbs would. He then smashed a walk-off blast, and while he rounded the bases, the South Side faithful cheered, while two staff members changed the HR tally display from 499 to 500. His teammates gathered at home plate to celebrate both the win and his milestone. The only thing missing from all of this was Robert Redford.
Joining the 600 Home Run Club—And Tipping His Cap to Legends
It was quite a day for Thome. He hit career homers 599 and 600 in the same game. By doing this, he joined rarified air, and even the Detroit Tigers fans gave him a loud ovation while he celebrated with teammates and family.
The 1996 Silver Slugger Season: Thome’s Bat Runs Wild
Jim Thome was a slugger through and through, and his 1996 campaign saw him swat 38 homers and slug .612— thus earning his first Silver Slugger. Indians fans still reminisce about seeing him hit in person.
Cleveland’s Postseason HR King: 17 Playoff Blasts
Some superstars wilt in the postseason. Not Thome. He delivered, setting the Cleveland franchise record with 17 postseason home runs. Hometown fans were thrilled to see him come to the plate — they knew he had a chance of doing damage.
Passing Mickey Mantle—Homer No. 537 Leaves an Icon Behind
When Thome’s 537th bomb sailed over the fence, he leapfrogged the legendary Mickey Mantle on the all-time list. That had to have made the slugger realize that he truly deserved to be considered for enshrinement in Cooperstown himself.”
Becoming the Indians’ All-Time Home Run King
The day Thome passed Albert Belle to become Cleveland’s all-time home run leader, eventually finishing with a franchise-record 337 blasts for the Tribe, it was a study in opposites. Belle was so surly that he scared his own shadow. Thome was warm and gregarious when he wasn’t in the batter’s box. It’s no wonder the hometown crowd warmed to Thome.
The Day Thome Belted His 40th Homer in Four Straight Seasons
Consistency is king, and from 2001 to 2004, Thome’s 40+ home runs per season made him must-see TV. Fans didn’t go to the bathroom if they knew he was due to hit that inning. They’d run the risk of missing another moonshot.
Blasting Career Home Run No. 400—And Making It Look Easy
How beloved was Thome? Even the Phillie Phanatic liked him. See how happy he is here holding that 400 sign? Well, you can sense that the guy is smiling under that mask, right?
52 Homers. Yup. That Many.
Forget 40 homers. Thome went WAY beyond that in 2002. It turned out to be his last season in Cleveland, and he left fans with a lot of memories. 52 of them. After that, he signed a free-agent contract with the Phillies.
Hall of Fame Induction: Thome’s Stats Immortalized in Cooperstown
Jim Thome spent his career letting his bat talk for him. Then he proceeded to knock his Cooperstown speech out of the park. When he was finished, everyone knew that a good man had just been immortalized.
Jim Thome spent his career letting his bat talk for him. Then he proceeded to knock his Cooperstown speech out of the park. When he was finished, everyone knew that a good man had just been immortalized.