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    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher
    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher
    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher
    Ebook75 pages29 minutes

    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher

    By Amy Rosewater

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    About this ebook

    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher is the first book ever written about the man who has hit 30 or more home runs for four-consecutive seasons, the first left-handed hitter in franchise history to accomplish that feat. Thome also ranks sixth on Clevelands all-time list for career home runs. "Lefty Launcher" details the life of the fan favorite, and how he is very active in the community, distributing toys to area youths at Christmas the last three years. The 29-year-old is a native of Peoria, Illinois, who now resides in Aurora, Ohio. Few major leaguers are more popular than Jim Thome, and his young fans will enjoy reading about his rise to fame in the great American game. "Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher" is another title in the SuperStar Series from Sports Publishing Inc., books designed to appeal to younger readers. Athletes selected for this series are determined not only by their statistics, but also by their character.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSports Publishing
    Release dateApr 24, 2000
    ISBN9781613215104
    Jim Thome: Lefty Launcher

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      Book preview

      Jim Thome - Amy Rosewater

      When Jim Thome turned 27, his Cleveland Indians teammates gave him a celebration he would never forget.

      That night, August 27, 1997, the Indians played the Anaheim Angels. One by one, the Indians walked onto the field to their respective positions just as they always did. Jim, meanwhile, remained on the bench. A left-handed hitter, Jim sometimes would sit against left-handed pitchers.

      As Jim looked out to the field from the dugout, he noticed something wasn’t quite right. Everyone was at their usual positions: Omar Vizquel at shortstop, Matt Williams at third base and Sandy Alomar Jr. was crouched behind the plate. But they all looked a little bit different.

      Virtually all of his teammates were dressed like him, with their red socks hiked up to the knees. On most days, Jim is the only member of the Indians who wears his socks knee-high in games. Jim began wearing them that way in the minors, as a tribute to old-time baseball and to his dad and grandfather, who also wore their socks high.

      Now the tables had turned; his teammates were saluting him. Maybe those socks would help them hit 40 home runs, as Jim ultimately did that season.

      They looked good, Jim said, smiling.

      Jim approved of the way his teammates looked, but he liked the way they played even more. They hit like Jim that night, scoring 10 runs in the fourth inning against the Angels and winning, 10-4. Leading up to that game, the Indians had been in a funk. Indians manager Mike Hargrove was under fire and few in Cleveland were optimistic about the team’s chances of returning to the World Series.

      After that game, everything turned in Cleveland’s favor. The victory pushed the Indians to a three-game lead in the American League Central Division standings. Cleveland closed with an 18-14 record and upset the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles to reach the World Series.

      Who knew what an impact those socks would have?

      I was the ringleader, Indians outfielder David Justice told Paul Hoynes of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, It was something for Thome’s birthday. Something for the team, something to show a little unity.

      A one-day spoof turned into a season-long battle cry The next game, Hargrove and the coaching staff wore their socks high. When the Indians returned home for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, the grounds crew sported knee-high socks, too.

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