Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas officially announced their retirements this week, ending speculation that either one would attempt a comeback in 2010 after not appearing in a big league game last season. Glavine was a great finesse pitcher of his generation, and Thomas was a premiere slugger of the nineties.
The southpaw won 305 games, two Cy Young Awards, and four Silver Sluggers. He was a 10-time All-Star, had five 20-win seasons, and was named the 1995 World Series MVP for leading the Braves to victory. Glavine’s Fall Classic performance included eight innings of one-hit, shutout ball in a decisive Game 6 against the Cleveland Indians. In addition to cleanup man Albert Belle, the Cleveland lineup featured the likes of Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, and then-future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray. Meanwhile, Braves hitters were only able to put a single run on the board in the bottom of the sixth, leaving Glavine with no margin for error. Among his lesser-known achievements, Glavine allowed just one grand slam in 682 games – all starts – over his 22-year major league career. Finally, at the time of his retirement, he was second only to Omar Vizquel in sacrifice bunts among active players, with 216. (The next-closest – pitcher or position player – is longtime teammate John Smoltz, with 136.)
Thomas hit 521 home runs, collected 2,468 hits, and finishes with an impressive line of .301/.419/.555. He won back-to-back MVP awards, four Silver Sluggers, and one batting title. Additionally, he had 11 seasons with 100+ RBI’s and was named to five consecutive All-Star teams (1993-1997) at a very competitive time for American League first basemen. (Mark McGwire, John Olerud, Mo Vaughn, Tino Martinez, Cecil Fielder, Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro were perennial contenders.) The Big Hurt’s best year came in 1994, when he set career highs in batting average (.353), on-base-percentage (.487), and slugging percentage (.729), and despite being limited to 113 games by the players’ strike, hit 38 home runs and drove in 101 runs. Thomas’s monstrous slugging percentage that season puts him in a club with guys named Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Hornsby, and Foxx.
Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas had marvelous careers, and both should be elected to the Hall of Fame when they become eligible in 2014. Along with Greg Maddux and possibly Mike Mussina, it should be quite a class.
O’s Notes
Miguel Tejada is back with the Orioles after a two-year stay in Houston, but things will be different this time around. Rather than play shortstop – the only position he has known in the majors – Tejada will slide over to third base in Baltimore. Though he’s only a stopgap at the hot corner while prospect Josh Bell gains experience at the Triple-A level, Miggy will make fans and management happy if he can replicate his production from 2009 with the Astros (.313/.340/.455, 14 HR and 86 RBI’s). Even if he falls short, he should be a significant upgrade over Melvin Mora’s offensive numbers in his last season with the Birds (.260/.321/.358, eight homers and 48 RBI’s).
How ‘bout that? is recovering from multiple Mid-Atlantic snowstorms, but is getting ready for Spring Training and will return soon.
Keywords: Albert Belle, Babe Ruth, Baltimore Orioles, Cecil Fielder, Cleveland Indians, Cy Young, Eddie Murray, Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Hall of Fame, Houston Astros, Jim Thome, Jimmie Foxx, John Olerud, John Smoltz, Josh Bell, Kenny Lofton, Lou Gehrig, Manny Ramirez, Mark McGwire, Melvin Mora, Miguel Tejada, Mike Mussina, Mo Vaughn, Omar Vizquel, Rafael Palmeiro, retirement, Rogers Hornsby, Silver Slugger, Ted Williams, The Big Hurt, Tino Martinez, Tom Glavine, Will Clark, World Series MVP
