Frank Thomas is an American sportsman who accomplished a lot in his heyday. As a designated hitter and first baseman, he spent the last three years of his active career with the Chicago White Sox. Among his notable accomplishments, he was unanimously named the AL’s Most Valuable Player in 1993 and as the first White Sox player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, it was in 2014.
He has also achieved some commendable career records and rankings including; a .301 average, 500 home runs, over 7,000 at-bats in the AL among others. This Thomas is known for his advocacy against the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Here are more interesting facts about his career and personal details.
Frank Thomas Biography (Age)
Frank Edward Thomas Jr. also known as Frank Thomas “The Big Hurt” was born in Columbus, Georgia on May 27, 1968. As a young boy, he attended Columbus High School and it was there that his talents as a baseball and football have been refined. As a junior in school, he was so exceptional on the school baseball team and even helped them win a state championship.
In his senior year, he joined the basketball team where he played the forward position. During the same period, he was named a state finisher in football. Upon graduating from high school, Frank was desperate to get a deal to play baseball on a professional level. However, he was not drafted in the 1986 entry draft. That same year, however, he received a scholarship from Auburn University to play football and he accepted the offer.
But then, upon arriving at college, his love for the game of baseball inspired him to join the school baseball team as well and soon his personality and skills made him a highly valued member of the team. In his junior year, he was considered for the United States National Team for the Summer Olympics in 1988, but was unfortunately dropped from the final squad. By the time he graduated from college, he had recorded a .801 hitting percentage, a .403 at-bat, 19 doubles, and 19 homers. He also received the Southeastern Conference MVP honor.
His professional career
After graduating from college, Frank Thomas was selected in the first round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox. At County Stadium on August 2, Frank Thomas made his debut as a professional baseball player against the Milwaukee Brewers. Although it went no hits, the team still won the game 4-3. The first home run of his career was recorded in the game against the Minnesota Twins on August 28. His improved games and skills would later put him in the top 10 MVP category from 1991 to 1997. Also in 1997, he earned himself a batting title.
On January 26, 2006, a one-year pact worth $500,000 was made between him and the Oakland Athletics. He eventually became the team leader for on-base percentage, home run RBI, and slugging percentage. Frank then reached a career milestone on June 17, 2007 when he recorded his 244th homer and 496th hit to break Edgar Martinez’s record. He then signed a new contract with his former team the White Sox before announcing his retirement from baseball on February 12, 2010.
At the end of his career, he held the record of being the only player to have seven consecutive seasons of at least 100 runs, 100 walks, 100 batted runs, .300 average, and 20 home runs. He is currently the founder and CEO of two major record labels, W2W and Liger Enterprises. He also has a beer brewing business that brews ‘Big Hurt Beer’.
Wife of Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas has a marital history similar to that of most sportsmen and celebrities of this generation. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Elise Silver in 1992. The Jewish woman is the niece of one of Rochester New York’s baseball pioneers, Maury Silver. As a couple, they became parents to three extraordinary children; Frank Thomas III, Sloan Thomas and Sydney Thomas. Their union unfortunately ended in 2001 after the couple filed for divorce.
He is currently married to Megan Thomas and they share two beautiful children together. So far, his marriage to Megan has gone well with no impending divorce reported. Together they are usually seen at their children’s sporting events.
Height and width
Athletes need good body structure to perform at peak level while playing against other equally tough opponents. Frank Thomas was not lacking in this regard. His height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 m) boasts of muscle mass and an overall weight of 275 lbs (124.7 kg).