Family and perseverance were recurring themes of Jim Thome's induction speech Sunday at the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y.
In a heartfelt speech on a career in which he rose from 13th-round draft pick to Hall of Fame first baseman/designated hitter, Thome said he grew up in Peoria with a dream that "did not live in my head, it lived in my heart."
"I still can't believe this has happened to me, a 13th-round draft pick out of central Illinois," he said. "To every kid that is dreaming of standing here one day, take it one moment at a time. Don't sail too high or sink too low. Learn to be good at handling failure. Be the first one to the ballpark. Be the last one to leave. Work hard, don't complain, be a great teammate.
"Ask other people about themselves. You never know what you might learn. And above all, treat people with respect. The best compliment any baseball player can receive is that he is a good teammate. It's the reflection of all the things not listed on the back of the baseball card. It's the focus, the attitude, the openness and the way an individual picks you up on Monday but will call you out on Tuesday. In short, it's about accountability, reliability and commitment.
"Baseball is all about family, and I'm so glad to celebrate this great day with (those) closest to me."
Thome spent most of his 22-year career in Cleveland and then Philadelphia but said he came "home to Illinois" with the White Sox after his mother died.
"I can't help but think that she was watching over us all and that maybe she helped bring us back to Illinois to be closer to Dad and the rest of our family," he said. "I'm still fortunate to continue to work now for the White Sox alongside general manager Rick Hahn, President Kenny Williams, and working for the best boss in the world, my good friend and mentor, Jerry Reinsdorf. It's been a thrill to have the opportunity to see the game from the other side."
