Thome reaches milestone in fashion

Sep 17, 2007 - 12:07 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) - Jim Thome made his own bobblehead day a memorable one.

The Chicago White Sox designated hitter became the 23rd player in major league history to reach 500 homers when he hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to provide a 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.

Thome belted a 3-2 fastball from Dustin Moseley over the fence in center field to cap a rally from a 7-1 deficit.

"It was a great feeling for everyone," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "If somebody deserved to have something like this, it is Jim Thome. On the field and off the field he is a great man.

"I called it, I was sitting next to (Jermaine Dye) and said, 'Watch this, this kid is going to hit a home run to walk off to win the game.' And he did."

The 37-year-old became the 10th lefthanded hitter in history to reach the milestone, the seventh active player and third this season, joining Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and Frank Thomas of the Toronto Blue Jays - a former White Sox.

"This is awesome, something I will cherish forever," Thome said. "To see your teammates waiting for you at home plate, it's a great thing.

"To get to this point of my career and accomplish this is amazing. ... I don't think it will sink in until I'm home this winter."

Thome needed 6,809 at-bats to reach 500 home runs, the fourth-fastest pace in major league history behind Mark McGwire (5,487), Babe Ruth (5,800) and Harmon Killebrew (6,671).

With 334 homers, Thome is Cleveland's all-time leader. He also has 96 with the Philadelphia Phillies and 70 with the White Sox. He has homered off 335 different pitchers, vs. 29 teams and at 37 ballparks.