Jim Thome Is On His Way to 600 Home Runs

Jim Thome hit career home run #550 Monday night, smoking a go-ahead three-run shot in the eighth inning of the Chicago White Sox' 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Clutch.

This particular long ball, a 1-2 pitch to left-center off lefty reliever Craig Breslow, marks Thome's ninth of 2009 and puts the corn-fed designated hitter at 13th on the all-time homer list. He also lifted the Sox to .500 on the season, bringing their record to 25-25 for a 3.5-game deficit behind the Detroit Tigers for second in the American League Central.

If Thome can manage a couple more 20-home run seasons in his illustrious 19-year career, he'll join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Sammy Sosa in the elite 600 Club.

Good company...for the most part.

Sooze is a Sports Jabber contributor. You can view more of her work at Babes Love Baseball

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