Jim Thome's 600 Home Runs: Ranking the Top 10 Home Runs of Thome's Career

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

As Jim Thome hit home run No. 600 last night in Detroit, a truly momentous occasion, fans are beginning to look back on the career Jim Thome has had. 

From his skinny years as a third baseman for the Cleveland Indians until his days in Minnesota, Thome has done nothing but rack up numbers in the home run category, and put smiles on the faces of his fans and his teammates alike.

Growing up watching Thome hit many balls into the Jacob's Field seats, Thome's 600th home run brought back many memories of my favorite player and all of the incredible home runs I watched him hit.

In this slideshow, we take a look back and rank Thome's top 10 dingers.  

10. Thome's First Bomb

At the beginning of his career, Thome was a tall, lanky third basemen who made quite the mark by hitting his first major league home run in Yankee stadium. 

Your first home run is momentous enough, but for Thome to hit it in the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, and to put the Indians ahead in the top of the ninth inning, made Thome's first career homer that much more impressive. 

9. Thome Helps Tribe to Game 3 Win in ALCS

In Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees in 1998, Thome helped the Tribe beat the Yankees 6-1, keeping his team in the series. 

Yankee pitcher Andy Pettite couldn't keep Thome inside the walls of Jacob's Field, giving up two homers to Thome and allowing the Indians to get the series back to 2-1.

Thome's wallops left the yard quickly and electrified Cleveland's already piping-hot postseason atmosphere.  

8. Thome's 511-Foot Bomb at the Jake

On what would have been another ordinary night at Jacob's Field, Jim Thome made it just a bit more exciting. 

With a little bit of a breeze going toward the outfield, Thome delivered a 511-foot home run deep into center field. That is still the record for the longest home run at Jacobs/Progressive Field. The ball bounced a couple of times and eventually rolled out of the stadium and onto Eagle Avenue.  

Royals pitcher Don Wengert really wishes he had that pitch back, as the Tribe cruised to a 9-5 victory over the Royals. 

7. Home Run No. 599

David Maxwell/Getty Images

No. 599 may be No. 600's ugly little brother, but in Thome's case, it was much more majestic and meant much more to the outcome of the game.

Thome hit home run No. 599 off of Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello in the top of the sixth inning last night. The game was tied 3-3, and Thome took a ball deep to left-center field to give the Twins a 5-3 lead.

Little did Tigers and Twins fans know what was coming in the top half of the next inning... 

6. Thome's 540th Wins Game for the White Sox

On Sept. 30, 2008, Thome and his White Sox were tied with the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central division race and had to play a one-game tiebreaker to determine who would get the spot in the postseason. 

Thome came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh and hit a moonshot off of Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead, which would remain as the only run of the game.

Thome's blast gave the White Sox the win and a berth in the 2008 playoffs.  

5. Thome Breaks the Indians All-Time Career Home Run Record

On May 29, 2001 in Detroit, Thome became the Indians' all-time leader in home runs, breaking Albert Belle's record of 242 home runs with the Indians. 

Thome's 243rd bomb came against Tigers pitcher Victor Santos and the Indians won the game, 6-4. 

4. Thome Breaks Single-Season Indians Record

On Sept. 27, 2002, Thome set the Indians' record for home runs in a single season when he hit his 51st round-tripper of the season, breaking Albert Belle's record of 50. 

Thome did this against Royals pitcher Wes Obermueller and the Indians went on  to win the game, 8-3. 

3. Thome's Walk-Off Winner at Target Field

Thome's Walk Off

On Aug. 17, 2010, Thome stepped up to the plate against his old team in the bottom of the 10th inning. 

What happened next will forever live on in Target Field history. 

Thome, facing Matt Thornton, hit an absolute moonshot over the right field fence and into the upper deck, giving the Twins a victory and a leg up in the race for the American League Central Division. 

Target Field had never seen a walk-off home run before and Jim Thome was just the person to deliver its first. 

2. Home Run No. 500

Jim Thome's 500th home run couldn't have been scripted any better.

In the bottom of the ninth inning at U.S. Cellular Field, with two men on and 499 career home runs to date, Thome faced Anaheim pitcher Dustin Moseley. 

The White Sox had rallied to tie the game, 7-7, going into the bottom of the ninth. Thome would cap off that comeback and make it so much sweeter. 

Moseley delivered a fastball and Thome drilled it into the bleachers in left-center field, winning the game for the White Sox and solidifying his place in Major League Baseball history.

Thome is the only player to hit a walk-off home run for  No. 500. To top it all off, it was Jim Thome Bobblehead Day at the ballpark. It could be the best 500th home run ever hit. 

1. Home Run No. 600

As only the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 600 Home Runs, I think this video will speak for itself.

His whole family was in attendance, including his father Chuck, who was probably in tears the entire time. 

What an amazing moment for Thome, who deserves nothing but the best.