The Time Has Come To Let Go and Forgive Jim Thome

Homecomings, in the realm of professional sports, can incite temporary insanity – even among the most reserved fans.  The Cleveland faithful, as passionate as any fan base, took it personally when Jim Thome, a city icon and adopted son, spurned the little-big-city-that-could for greener pastures.

Ignoring the smattering of applause Thome received for moving past Frank Robinson on the homerun leader board the inevitable, and undeserving, boo birds again reared their ugly heads this weekend.

It has been almost eight years, and four teams, since the farm boy from Peoria, Il., with a big smile and even bigger ears left his adopted home to sign an $85 million, six-year contract but, the remaining Cleveland fans have not forgotten, or forgiven, Jim Thome.

Thome, as quiet a superstar baseball has ever seen, is having, perhaps, one final hurrah in what has become an unquestionable Hall of Fame resume.  Adorned atop Thome’s head in his future Cooperstown plaque will not be a Philadelphia hat.  Nor will it be a Chicago, Los Angeles, or Minnesota hat.

Jim Thome will be bronzed, and forever remembered, wearing a hat he was instrumental in reviving – a Cleveland Indians hat. 

It is time for Tribe fans to recognize what Thome meant to the organization, and more importantly, that he left at the right time for both his career, and the organization.

During his time in Cleveland Thome became a juggernaut by leading one of baseball’s most consistently potent offenses.  He currently ranks in the top ten in most offensive categories in team history, including 1^st in homeruns and 2^nd in RBIs. 

Fans forgot how fun he was to watch.  Thome always seemed to swing from the heels, generating towering homeruns and cooling the upper deck with the breeze caused by his frequent misses.  When defenses lapses at third caused the team to move him across the diamond Thome just smiled and switched gloves. He always had a smile on his face, or so it seemed.   

Jim Thome was Cleveland baseball.

The team took a hard stance following the disappointing 2002 season and allowed him to leave via free agency.    

What should have been an amicable split suddenly turned into a bitter divorce.  The fans felt scorned.  Thome turned his back on Cleveland, or so they thought.  Another high priced baseball player leaving for more money much in the same way as Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez.

The fans were wrong. 

Jim Thome was no longer the future of Cleveland baseball.  He did not fit the club’s rebuilding plans, and the team’s direction was not suited for big dollar contracts.  Signing him to a deal similar to the one he received in Philadelphia would have bogged down a rebuilding team, much like Alfonso Soriano in Chicago. 

If time truly heals wounds, then the hour has come for Tribe fans to welcome home Thome, not as an enemy, but as one of their own. 

After providing so many reasons to cheer the time has come for fans to remember why they all fell in love with Jim Thome.  Not for any singular feat but, for the collection of memories. 

He deserves to be cheered in Progressive Field, whether it is as member of the Minnesota Twins, or as a Hall of Famer.  Jim Thome was Cleveland baseball, and will always be Cleveland baseball.