Frank Thomas is one American sportsman who achieved a lot in his heydays. As a designated hitter and first baseman, he spent the last three years of his active career with the Chicago White Sox. Some of his notable achievements include being named unanimously as the AL’s most valuable player in 1993 and being the first White Sox player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, this was in 2014.
He also achieved a few laudable career records and ranking including; a .301 average, 500 home runs, over 7,000 at-bats in the AL among others. 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. is also known as Frank Thomas “The Big Hurt” was born in Columbus, Georgia on the 27th of May 1968. As a young boy, he studied at the Columbus High School and it was there that his talents for baseball and football were honed. As a junior in school, he was so exceptional in the school’s baseball team and even helped them to attain a state championship win.
In his senior year, he joined the basketball team where he played the forward position. In the same period, he has named an All-State tight end in football. On the completion of his high school education, Frank was desperate to get a deal to play baseball at a professional level. However, he was left undrafted during the amateur draft of 1986. That same year nonetheless, he received a scholarship from Auburn University to play football and he embraced the offer.
But then, on getting to college, his love for the game of baseball inspired him to also join the school’s baseball team, and soon, his personality and skills made him a highly valued member of the team. In his junior year, he got considered for the U.S National Team for the Summer Olympics in 1988 but he was unfortunately cut from the final squad. By the time he graduated from college, he had bagged a slugging percentage of .801, a .403 bat, 19 doubles, and 19 home runs. He also received the Southeastern Conference MVP honor.
His Professional Career
After completing college, Frank Thomas was chosen in the first round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. At the County Stadium on the 2nd of August, Frank Thomas made his debut as a professional baseball player against the Milwaukee Brewers. Though he went without a hit, 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 the 28th of August. His improved games and skills would later put him in the top 10 MVP category from 1991 to 1997. Also in the year 1997, he earned himself a batting title.
On the 26th of January 2006, a one-year pact worth $500,000 was made between him and the Oakland Athletics. He ended up becoming the team leader in on-base percentage, home runs RBI, and slugging percentage. Frank then reached a milestone in his career on the 17th of June 2007 after he recorded his 244th home run 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 the 12th of February 2010.
At the end of his career, he held the record for being the sole player to have seven consecutive seasons of at least 100 runs, 100 walks, 100 runs batted in, a .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 company that brews the “Big Hurt Beer”.
Frank Thomas’ Wife
Frank Thomas has a marital story similar to that of most sportsmen and celebrities of this generation. He has been married twice. His first marriage was to Elise Silver in the year 1992. The Jewish woman is the niece of one of the pioneers of baseball in Rochester New York, Maury Silver. As a couple, they became parents to three amazing children; Frank Thomas III, Sloan Thomas, and Sydney Thomas. Their union, unfortunately, ended in 2001 after the pair filed for a divorce.
He is currently married to Megan Thomas and they share two lovely children together. So far, his marriage to Megan has been going smoothly and there has been no hint of an impending divorce. Together, they are usually seen at the sporting events of their kids.
Height and Weight
Athletes need a good body structure in order to perform at a peak level while playing the game against other equally tough opponents. Frank Thomas wasn’t lacking in this regard. His height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.95 m) boasts of a muscle mass and general weight of 275 lb (124.7 kg).
