Hall Watch 2004-The First Basemen-Frank Thomas

Sunday, November 07 2004 @ 09:30 AM EST

Contributed by: Mike Green

Big Frank is headed to the Hall of Fame. That much we know. His standing among the great first basemen still is not known, after a .271/.434/.563 half-season in 2004 at age 36.

Frank Thomas was drafted in the 1st round of the 1989 draft by the White Sox after a fabulous college career at Auburn. He spent a few months in 1989 in rookie ball and then 4 months in double A in 1990 before making his debut in the Show in the late summer. He went .323/.454/.529 during 60 games that year, and continued in that vein until 1997. His best year, unfortunately, was the strike year when he hit .350 with tremendous power and strike zone judgment. After the year, Bill James described him, perhaps hyperbolically, as one of the 3 greatest hitters of all time, with Ted Williams and Babe Ruth. He has been much less consistent in his 30s, with off-seasons in 1998, 2001 and 2002.

Thomas was an indifferent defensive first baseman before being converted to DH at age 30. He has participated in two post-season series, both losing, and hit .231/.346/.500.

Here's where he stands against the great first basemen at age 36:

Player    G     AB     H     HR    W     BA    OBP   SLUG   OPS+
Thomas    1925  6851   2113  436   1450  .308  .429  .567     162  
McCovey   1970  6263   1736  435   1112  .277  .388  .543     159
Foxx      2228  7910   2586  527   1429  .327  .431  .615     164
Gehrig    2164  8001   2721  493   1429  .340  .447  .632     179
Mize      1522  5596   1787  316   768   .319  .405  .577     164

He obviously stands behind Gehrig. It will take a superb end-of-career rush for him to equal or pass Foxx offensively, but he's a little ahead of McCovey at this stage.

I mentioned in the Palmeiro piece that great first basemen are showing much greater longevity than they used to. Here's the evidence:

Player     Seasons(37+)   AB      BA    OBP    SLIG    OPS+
Sisler       1            116   .308   .346   .397    81
Terry        1            229   .310   .363   .424    112
Greenberg    0            0           
Mize         4            847   .264   .341   .469    117
Foxx         1            224   .268   .336   .420    112
Gehrig       0            0
Ott          2            72    .069   .162   .125    -18

McCovey      6            1934  .246   .327   .424    110
Murray       5            2212  .275   .327   .444    100
McGriff      4            1405  .275   .354   .493    122
Palmeiro     3            1657  .264   .370   .505    120

To keep ahead of McCovey, Thomas will have to do pretty well towards the end of his career. Will he? He's a big man, and he's been inconsistent in his 30s. Somehow, I don't think he will. Not that it's an embarrassment to slide in behind Gehrig, Foxx and McCovey among the great first basemen.

For the Green projection method today, we'll go Hungarian. A little sauteed onion, a few tablespoons of paprika and 1/4 cup of sour cream. Inhale and pronounce:

Frank Thomas' final career statistics- 482 homers, .303/.415/.550

Other first basemen in this series: Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro

Next up: Jeff Bagwell

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