When the Chicago White Sox’s social media accounts released a black history timeline Sunday to celebrate the first day of Black History Month, one player was left out. He was not satisfied with this.
Former White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas expressed his frustration on social media.
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“I guess the black player who made you rich and holds all your records has been forgotten!” he wrote. “Don’t worry, I’ll get the receipt right away!”
Thomas played for the White Sox in 16 of his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, winning the American League MVP Award with the team in back-to-back seasons in 1993 and 1994. Thomas finished in the top 10 in MVP voting every year from 1991-97, during which time he was a five-time All-Star.
“Big Hurt” also won the Silver Slugger Award four times and won the American League batting title in 1997. Thomas ranks first in team history in runs scored, home runs, doubles, RBIs, extra-base hits, walks, total on-base percentage, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. His 448 home runs were more than double the number of White Sox players ranked second at the time. Former White Sox player Paul Koneko has since closed the gap, but Thomas remains the leader. Thomas’ name is only mentioned next to Dick Allen, the first Black and White Sox player to win the MVP.
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Thomas also won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005, but played in only 34 games that season and did not appear in the Championship Series due to injury.
Thomas spent his later years with the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays after feuding with the White Sox and former general manager Ken Williams over contract and medical issues. Williams has also been mentioned several times in Black History Month posts because he is the first black general manager in franchise history.
After sitting out the 2009 season, Thomas signed a one-day contract and retired in 2010 with the White Sox. The White Sox retired his jersey that same year, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. While Thomas did attend the 10th anniversary celebration, he did not attend the 20th anniversary event.
