CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First came the statue. Then came the franchise Hall of Fame selection.
Will Cooperstown come calling in two years for Jim Thome? The slugger spent 22 years in the big leagues. He totaled 612 home runs, including 337 in a Cleveland Indians uniform. He and former teammate Omar Vizquel will join the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2018. Will Thome earn entry on his first try?
Thome was a five-time All-Star. He never finished in the top three in the balloting for Most Valuable Player, but he did club 40 or more home runs in six different seasons, and 30 or more in 12.