Phillies’ Thome Hits 400th Home Run
PHILADELPHIA – Jim Thome’s shot sailed high over the left-center field wall, sending the crowd into a frenzy as he pumped his fist to celebrate his apparent 400th career home run.
It was the most memorable moment in the brief history of Philadelphia’s new ballpark – and there was a chance it wouldn’t count.
Rain nearly wiped out Thome’s first-inning homer. A rain delay in the third inning left the lefty slugger staring at the Doppler radar inside the clubhouse wondering if the rain would pass and the homer would stand.
“In my mind, I was trying to think positive that the rain was going to get out of there,” he said.
Well, the rain never really did go away. The game was stopped three times, with delays totaling 3 hours, 54 minutes, and ended at 2:06 on Tuesday morning.
Still, the Phillies won 10-7 in eight innings and Thome officially became the 37th player to hit 400 homers.
He dreaded having to possibly replicate the moment.
“You don’t ever imagine ever doing anything like this,” he said. “It’s special.”
Ryan Madson (4-1) earned the win and John Riedling (4-1) lost – both in relief. The Phillies used seven pitchers, the Reds six. There were 13 hits by each team, and Sean Casey and Jason LaRue each hit two homers for the Reds.
The Reds gave Ken Griffey Jr. the game off. They decided to wait at least another day to try for his 500th homer.
The sellout crowd of 44,710, the largest ever at Philadelphia’s new ballpark, erupted when Thome homered. There couldn’t have been any other reaction by the fans who have embraced Thome like few others.
“I think it was great how the fans have treated me here,” Thome said. “To give that back to them is a special, special thing for sure.”
Then one fan gave back to Thome. Todd Stark of Glenmont, N.Y. ended up with Thome’s homer. The two met after the game and Stark received an autographed hat, bat and jersey from Thome.
“It’s Christmas,” Thome said, laughing.
Stark thanked Thome and posed for a picture with a wide smile.
Thome has made a knack for hitting dramatic homers since he signed with the Phillies as a free agent in 2002 after 12 years in Cleveland.
He became an instant fan favorite with his down-home charm and mammoth homers, making the biggest impact on the notoriously prickly fans since Philadelphia signed Pete Rose.
The night started with plenty of buzz over the chance for Thome and Griffey to both hit milestone homers. Griffey, however, was out of the lineup, giving him a better chance to hit his 500th home run at home in Cincinnati.
The crowd booed when they heard Ryan Freel introduced as Cincinnati’s starting center fielder.
Their disappointment didn’t last long.
Flashbulbs popped all over the park on every pitch as Thome dug in against starter Jose Acevedo. Fans gasped on several foul balls, thinking each swing would be the one.
Thome battled back from an 0-2 count to get it to 3-2, then send the ball over the fence.
“He does rise to the occasion, doesn’t he?” manager Larry Bowa said.
Thome pumped his right fist as he rounded first base and pointed to the crowd. He was mobbed by teammates when he reached home plate on the two-run shot. The fans gave Thome a standing ovation and he emerged from the dugout for a curtain call shortly before Pat Burrell followed with a solo homer.
Thome’s wife, Andrea, jumped up and down in a luxury box while holding daughter Lila Grace.
He said he barely noticed the flashes or the noise as he circled the bases. Later in the game, when Reds left fielder Adam Dunn reached first, he told Thome the ovation was the loudest he ever heard in a stadium.
“I thought to myself I didn’t even hear anything,” Thome said.
Thome expects Griffey to get a similar reaction when he returns to Cincinnati. The Reds start a three-game series at Great American Ball Park against Texas on Tuesday night.
“I’m sure that’s kind of the plan why he didn’t play,” Thome said.
Thome is signed to a six-year contract, so Bowa expects to see more momentous homers.
“Hopefully you’ll see the 500th and 600th in a Phillies uniform,” Bowa said.