Frank Thomas hit his 500th home run Thursday, routinely putting his head down as he rounded the bases while joining one of baseball’s most elite clubs.
The Toronto slugger became the 21st major-leaguer to reach the career mark, a milestone that has usually meant an eventual spot in the Hall of Fame.
Thankfully for Frank Thomas, he hit the homer early enough for his wife, three children and father-in-law to see him make history. “They had to leave for the airport at 1:45. My daughter said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to do it in the first couple of at-bats,’ ” he said.
Thomas hit a three-run shot in the first inning, connecting against Minnesota’s Carlos Silva and sending a 1-2 pitch an estimated 396 feet into the left-field stands.
Todd Eisenlohr, sitting in the fifth row and wearing a jersey of Twins player Jason Bartlett, caught the ball in his glove.
“I lost it in the roof as it was coming down,” Eisenlohr said. He said he traded the souvenir ball for an autographed ball, bat and jersey.
The Metrodome crowd gave Thomas a standing ovation.
But in the ninth, Thomas was ejected by plate umpire Mark Wegner after being called out on strikes for the second time in the game. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to argue and also got tossed.
“I’m probably the first to get 500 home runs and get thrown out of the ballgame,” Thomas said. “That’s something I didn’t want to happen but the moment just got the best of me.”
