Ex-Toronto Blue Jays slugger blasts former team over Black History month post
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Ex- Toronto Blue Jays slugger Frank Thomas took aim at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, criticizing the organization over a Black History Month post that failed to include him.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent Frank Thomas to a two-year, $18 million deal in 2007 following his 16-year Hall of Fame career with the White Sox. While his time in Toronto was brief, it was still memorable.
Thomas, known as 'The Big Hurt' hit 26 home runs in his first season with the club, received MVP votes, and famously blasted the 500th home run of his career wearing a Blue Jays uniform.
Blue Jays DH Frank Thomas hit a three-run first-inning bomb off Carlos Silva to become the 21st member of the 500 Home Run Club on this date in 2007. (The Twins won the game 8-5.)
Thomas hit more home runs against the Twins than any other team, including the first of his career off Gary Wayne on August 28, 1990.
Thomas hit more home runs against the Twins than any other team, including the first of his career off Gary Wayne on August 28, 1990.
That 2007 campaign marked Thomas’ final season with double-digit home runs. He finished his career with 14 more homers after that stint, all coming with the White Sox earlier in his career.
Despite being one of the most accomplished players in franchise history, Thomas’ relationship with Chicago ended on rocky terms.
After the 2005 season, he publicly clashed with general manager Ken Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
In 2006, Thomas filed a lawsuit against the team, claiming its medical staff misdiagnosed a fractured bone in his foot as a bruise and cleared him to play.
The medical negligence case was eventually settled in 2011, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Following his retirement, Thomas later returned to the organization in a business operations consulting role.
However, recent events suggest lingering tension between the Hall of Famer and the franchise where his career began.
On Sunday, Thomas responded to a Black History Month graphic posted by the White Sox’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing frustration over his omission.
“I guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable!” Thomas wrote in reply. “Don’t worry I’m taking receipts!”
Blue Jays include Frank Thomas in Black History month celebration
Thomas holds multiple franchise records, including most runs, home runs, and RBIs in White Sox history.
The graphic was intended to highlight “momentous firsts” in the organization’s history and only referenced Thomas indirectly in a note about Dick Allen, who became the first Black White Sox player to win the American League MVP Award in 1972.
Meanwhile, Thomas was prominently featured in a Black History Month graphic shared by the Toronto Blue Jays on February 1.
Part of our history. We're proud to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth and those who helped get us here today 👏
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