Full Court Press

Frank was always my favorite player but the world series is bigger than Frank could ever be.
Now that he is gone maybe we won't have to hear his selfish side any longer.He has great talent and a big mouth.All I can say is good luck and thanks for the 90's.

Thomas spent much of his career with the Sox being a petulant jerk.

Then, upon seeing the Sox were actually going places, despite minumal contributions from him, Thomas changed his turn and joined the bandwagon. Suddenly, he became much more accessible to the fans and the media.

The Sox learned they don't need Frank Thomas, and that any conviviality Thomas exuded during the Series run would undoubtedly be replaced by more petulant behavior as soon as the Series buzz wore off.

Goodbye and good riddance, Frank.

I will miss Big Frank. he will go down as the greatest White Sox player in history I beleave. but I also see the logic in getting Thome. he's a left handed bat which they need, he's 2-3 yrs younger than Frank and plays better 1st base if called upon. Frank your great, but your time to leave after the last 2 seasons of injury has come. face it, it's a bussiness.

I was really disappointed with Franks comments. It has to hurt when you are replaced by your long time employer but, there was just no need to flame on Jim Thome and say you wouldn't have participated in world series activities if you were told you weren't coming back. Good luck Frank. We'll beat you in the playoffs.

If we were the Big Hurt, we'd be hurting too. Unfortunately Baseball is a business, not a family. Let's forget the trash talk and move on. Hopefully Frank will get a standing ovation at his new first at-bat in Chicago and I hope he'll go into the Hall as a White Sox star.

The more "Costly" move wasn't losing Frank Thomas, at this stage of his career, it was sacrificing Aaron Rowand in the Thome Trade. Granted the SOX are way deep in "Potential" Centerfielders, but I rmember a time when the SOX gave away guys named, Callison, Cash, Romano and Battey, and they were never the same for 46 years. I hope Jim puts up the numbers that will make the move a good one. It's all a calculated risk. I like the fact that the SOX are trying to do it all again! For once, winning isn't everythings - it's the only thing!

Frant "The Big Hurt" Thomas is the greatest talent the Sox has ever had. It will be extemely difficult for me to watch the Sox without Big Frank.

It was a race thing. I know and Frank knows it.

Frank: my bet is that you probably did not rehab as you were supposed to after the first injury. Thus, a repeat affair. I know a few of your former neighbors in Oak Brook, and they did not like you either. I will miss you though, because I cannot picture anyone else wearing number 35, but I will never forget the time, when, the fall/winter of 1993, at age 16, I was on a first date with a girl and we sat at the table next to yours at Planet Hollywood downtown (you were there with Stan Thomas of the Bears) and I said "Hi" and you blew me off entirely - Thanks, Frank! SEE YA, PUNK!

RE Bob Mack: a "race thing?" even Frank Thomas said it was Kenny Williams who pulled the plug on his returning. why call race into this? Is Kenny Williams prejudiced against his own race? look around at the racial make up of the team, The White Sox are one the most--if not THE most diversly mixed team. a venezualian Manager, a Black GM- many hispanic players mixed with White and African Americans and an Asian. please don't use the race card! that is so over used!

After Thome launches home run number 50 halfway up Section 106 in next season's final homestand, it will be easy to forget about Frank.

Will Oakland even have Frank available more than a few weeks this year? They are paying him $400,000 a year? I can remember Frank whinning when he made a embarrassing
8 million a year. The Sox may or may not make it to the World Series this year but, one things for sure. Frank will be watching from the sidelines.

It a shame that Frank had to go out making comments like he did. In his time Frank was one of the best baseball player for the Sox and the league, but by all accounts he wasn't the best person given his fame and fortune. Believe me when I say, there was no race issue with Frank's departure, all Frank has to do is look in the mirror and he'll know why he's gone ask Sammy Sosa why he can't get a major league job these days, bad attitude man and very little real humanity. Your baseball gift was beautiful to watch but ultimately it's your humanity that people remember, you have none right now.

Everyone needs to cool it. The people ripping on Big Frank are either too young to remember the talent, heart, and dedication he brought to the Sox or too drunk to really get it. It always hurts when changes are made IF YOU CARE!!! Obviously Frank cared a lot and his comments, though uncharacteristic of him, are totally understood and a sign of a man that had loyalty to his team. If he just left without reaction, I would be more pissed off! Thanks Frank! You and Slammin' Sammy are, always have been, and always will be my favorite players. I do not have a short-term memory. Best wishes. -Pete

Frank Thomas was the greatest player in White Sox history. His leaving had NOTHING to do with race. Williams is Black, Guillen is Hispanic. Thome bats left, the best protection they could get for Konerko. Let's forget race and all races try to get along and enjoy the White Sox success.

Thomas has always been and will always be a whinny prima donna...good riddance!!

This is why he never rose to superstar status in Chicago like Payton & Jordan!!

I can't believe people are talking trash about the single greatest player in white sox history. He is frustrated because he wanted to remain with the sox and end his career with the sox. Isn't this called loyalty to the only team he ever played for? He also opposed steriods more than any player in the majors. We know what he did in his career was done by talent and talent alone. To bad we can't say that about Sosa or Big Mac. Look at the yankees they remained loyal to Bernie Williams. He is only half the player he used to be. Ozzie isn't saying anything bad about Frank because they did the same thing to him. Does anyone remember Carlton Fisk? The White Sox have history with not being loyal to their great players. I'm sure this will blow over and Frank will get over it Ozzie did. For now everyone should give him a break all he ever wanted was to be a Chicago White Sox.

Shoeless Joe Jackson is the greatest player in White Sox History -- not Frank Thomas.

Great players often end their careers away from 'home'. John Unitas closed out his career with the Chargers. Babe Ruth closed out with the Pirates.

That the Sox chose to pass on Frank in no way diminshes his contribution to the White Sox and baseball.

Finish 2nd or 3rd with a whiney Big Skirt hitting 40 hr's and 335 avg. or winning WORLD SERIES WITHOUT Frank using the "team" method of winning. Easy choice. You were a great hitter and you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame but you were an ass for a lot of years. Good things happen to good people. Frank is not good people!

WHO COULD A TRUE WHITE SOX FAN SAY ALL THOSE MEAN THINGS ABOUT FRANK? YES HE WAS OUTSPOKEN, BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE WHAT HE DID FOR THIS TEAM AND WHAT HE DID FOR THIS CITY YOU WOULD SEE THAT HE WAS A TRUE WHITE SOX. HE DESERVED THAT RING MORE THAN ANYBODY AND THAT TEAM.
SO FRANK FROM ALL THE TRUE WHITE SOX FANS WE WILL MISS YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK WHEN WE RETIRE YOUR NUMBER AND YOU GO INTO THE HALL OF FAME AS A WHITE SOX. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT YEARS RICHARD LINDSAY. P.S. FOR ALL OF YOU UNTURE WHITE SOX FANS (AKA CUBS FANS) YOUR ALL JAG BAGS.

Well I guess I'll throw my two cents worth in. I was ashamed of the way the White Sox treated Carlton Fisk and I am ashamed of the way they treated The Big Hurt ! Sure it's a business but it should have been handled differently. Now with that said let's go win another World Series !

I think the guy that said
race was an issue was joking
because that is complete horse feces. Unless he is talking about a race between
thome and thomas, which Thome would win. I wish frank well but as that moron Ditka once said "This too shall pass."

Frank was mistreated. You just don't give a team 16 years and they close it by not even giving you a phone call. His tenure was longer than Joe Jackson and even the Great Michael Jordan. It would have only cost Kenny Williams a half-million to keep the guy around. I know this is a business, but ALL of the Sox success last year was due to NOT doing things like other teams. Folks are trying to make Frank look like T.O., and that is not fair. Frank was there when the Whitesox were a JOKE and a second class citizen to the Cubs. He paid his dues and deserved better treatment than Barry Bonds is getting and folks like Many Ramirez. Kenny is the man, but he dropped the ball on this one. I think Sammy got better treatment than big Frank on his way out - who's shadow Frank had to live in all those years. Frank got paid less and toiled in obscurity. He was good enough then, but NOW the Champs are just too good to have someone like that around. Taint right I tell ya...Taint right.

Frank was just being Frank. I wonder if he will receive cheers or boos after his caustic remarks if or when he returns to Chicago. He is only about one notch below Barry Bonds as far as his selfish attitude is concerned - he just can't help himself. If he keeps it up, will he deface his image and perception in Chicago White Sox history. by both fans and writers. He can only hope to have a very successful injury-free season as an Oakland A, or else he could possibly sit on the bubble as a Hall of Famer - and it shouldn't come down to that.

Frank Thomas may have been the best hitter in Sox history, but not the best player...After the first few years he stopped stealing bases. In the field he was a liability.

Frank, Frank! It's a shame after all of the good will he established during the Series he would revert back to the brooding, whining Frank we all used to know. I'm a huge Frank Thomas fan but I don't judge him on his personality, I only look at his performance on the field. I think it's a shame because he could have owned Chicago along with Michael and Sammy in the 90's. In my mind, he is nothing more than Terrell Owens. Great, but flawed and it's a shame.

Frank Thomas was the Mike Jordan for White Sox baseball. Something happened to make Frank not want to talk to reporters and make him distance himself from the fans, but if he did not appreciate the fans, Thomas could have left the White Sox in the 80's. Remember, Robin Ventura was traded away. I am sure that Frank could have asked for the same thing when the White Sox distmanted the team in the 90's with that big trade with the Giants. Get off the guys back and just appreciate him for what he did for the team when he was here. You people are too critical. How would you feel if someone came to your job every day and complained about your performance every day to the world?

I'll miss having Frank Thomas on the WhiteSox. We were fortunate to have a superstar on a team for 16 years, folks! I'll miss seeing one of the best hitters of all time as I recall the way he consistently intimidated pitchers due to the damage he could do to a baseball- which is why he walked so often. I'm upset at how another star on the WhiteSox was mishandled (see: McDowell, Fisk, Guillen - by the way, notice how Guillen doesn't say much about this; it happened to him). Bottom line is, Frank cared. He wanted to retire with one uniform, that's all. He publicly told everyone late last year that he'd be healthy enough to play in the playoffs. The next day, Kenny placed him on the 60-Day DL (by doing so, he wasn't interacting with teammates, too)- a move that was a little strange in retrospect. Weeks later, has to watch & painfully endure the only team he's ever played for go to AND win a World Series, yet for the all the contributions he made to his only team, ironically it was a year that he unfortunately, made none. Weeks later, he received a message from his boss deciding his fate. He has crossed the line by making comments about Thome, however, I'm not surprised our former star wasn't upset, and glad he has spoken up for himself. Hope you stay healthy this year Frank and have a great year. Go Sox.

Frank was a very talented hitter, but he was a miserable, cantankerous, divisive player, who repeatedly put a strain any kind of team chemistry the Sox had in years past. Every spring, it was the same thing: Frank coming into spring training with "a new attitude" and in no time reverting back to his brooding, moody self. He did contribute a lot on the field (well, actually just in the batter's box since he basically refused to play the field), but he came across as a selfish, egocentric person off the field. His comments about Thome just sum up the fact that he "just doesn't get it" - it's not about your bat, Frank, it's also about your crappy attitude.

I hope Frank and the A's come here and kick our rear ends. Where's the love?, the loyalty?, the due payback for 15 years of "hall of fame caliber" service. I am a White Sox fan because I like following the team, and watching our players come through the farm system and contribute for years to come. Let's leave the no loyalty, buy/sell people management style to New York and Boston.

Frank could have helped the White Sox this year. The fact is he was the greatest contact hitter ever to wear a Sox uniform.

Frank is the biggest loser in baseball and for sure the White Sox organization. He led the team in the 90's, but once he started to get hurt and the team started improving the Big Hurt started his "everyone's against me" tirade. The guy can't stay healthy, is at the tail end of his career (Some say he's the best White Sox ever, I think not) and wants to know why they shipped him out. Let him go. The team will be better without his ego attitude and his overpaid salary. Go Cubs.

He's going to fail with the A's and ensure that they do not make it to the World Series. I hope their clubhouse can handle a primadonna of his caliber.

I have read most of the comment about Frank and I am a true Cub fan but the sox fans nor do most sport fans get it. Frank started being a loud mouth because he felt like he wasn't getting fair treatment from the managemant team.In order for anybody to speak bad about Frank that need to walk in his shoe!!!!!

SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT FRANK WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE SAME MONEY TO STAY WITH THE SOX. THAT'S A LIE. FRANK ALWAYS FELT THAT THE SOX OWED HIM SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH THE TEAM PAiD HIM MILLIONS FOR THREE YEARS THAT HE RARELY EVEN PLAYED. LIKE ALL GOOD PLAYERS, HE SHOULD KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN AND RETIRE. HIS LEG CAN'T HOLD THAT 400 LBS BODY FOR TOO LONG

They should of traded Frank 10 years ago when he was worth something. I hate Frank, and have hated him for quite sometime. He is not a team player, never was, and never will be. And when he does come back to Chicago, I will do the same thing I have been doing for the last 5 years when they say his name.... BOOING!!!!!!!!!!
It was not a coincidence the Sox win the Series with Frank not even around. He is a disease that the Sox finally had find a cure for.

I really don't care what people are saying about Frank Thomas, look at his stats and you will realize that he is the best hitter the White Sox ever had. As for him being outspoken, so what. At least he has enough guts to say what he feels. I wish him the best of luck with the Oakland A's and hope he gets into the "Hall of Fame" as a White Sox. And has for the White Sox winning a World Series without him, that is just teamwork and talent....everybody clicked as a family and team and I am sure Frank would have been clicking with everyone else. I just think people are mad that he is gone and know they are talking trash about him....but do they remember when he won back to back MVP's ? All I can say is let it go and wish him the best of luck. And this was written by a lifelong Sox fan.

Not only is Frank the best player in White Sox history, he is the best player, not highly suspected of steroid use, over the last couple of decades. Ever since becoming GM, Williams has looked for an excuse to send Frank packing, maybe Williams is jealous because when they played together Williams was barely MLB caliber not even close to Frank's caliber. Furthermore, for the couple of weeks he played he carried the Sox offense. As close as the season ended, if you take away those games, the Sox don't even make the playoffs. So Frank comes back too soon, carries the team, and as a result gets rehurt. His reward, a kick in the rear, thanks Kenny! Lastly, he is not dogging Thome, he is stating, accuratley, that at no point in his career is Thome as good as the Big Hurt, so payed Rowand for a decrease in production. P.S. in half the games last year Frank out produced Thome in just about every offensive stat.

I would bet anyone on this board any amount of money on the following...when Frank hangs it up in 2 years, he'll come crawling back to the Sox looking for some kind of job with his tail between his legs. Frank had a hall of fame career for his first 7 years or so. Unfortunately for us Sox fans, we had to ensure him for the last 5. Unfortunately for the stat monster Frank, they don't induct players into the Hall for half a career.

I have enjoyed reading all these fresh perspectives, ranging from true sox fan to obvious cubs fan. Frank Thomas WAS the greatest white sox BATTER of all time. However, it is a fact that after he refused to play the field, his production declined. As much of a stat-hound as he was, he never seemed to realize it. I believe it was a humorous sports columnist from a biased, not-to-be-named-here newspaper that pointed this out first. My love for baseball grew watching the budding stars, Ventura and Thomas, playing amongst savy, positive veterans, Guillen and Fisk (who left the other sox to play for us, and was enshrined as a Beantowner). We paid Frank an ungodly amount of money, and he wanted every last stinkin penny of it, even if it restricted the payroll. I was more upset seeing Rowand leave. Good luck Frank, hope you can one day just be happy being yourself.

Frank Thomas will always be a Chicago White Sox in my eyes. Yes his 16 years here were filled with ups and downs. But I am sad to see him go and will miss watching him at the ballpark. All true Sox fans know there was nothing like watching Frank hit.

Frank is and always has been a self centered jerk.Great physical ability, but truly a mental strikeout!

I think Frank and Kenny should get the boxing gloves on and spare the rest of us. The drama went on for 5 years.

I can't believe all these ridiculous and innaccurate
postings about Frank. This will be choppy because of all the BS I have to correct.
First: Aside from Konerko calling out Frank for not showing up on time for ONE game several years ago, no teammate of his has ever questioned his attitude, contributions or effort....I don't know about you people, but I've been late to work too many times to remember.
2. Frank didn't say anything bad about Thome, he spoke the truth. What has Thome ever done on a baseball field that Frank hasn't? Nothing. Historically, Frank is a better hitter and neither one is either a great or terrible defensive player.
3. It wasn't Frank's idea (or preference) to DH, it was Schueler. In the late '90s, when Frank was negotiating a new contract with the Sox, they asked him to DH so they could pay him less, then they came back and portrayed him as someone who didn't want to play in the field. The rationale for them paying him less to DH is simple; There's a much smaller chance of injury if you're only on the field for a few at bats a game than if you're playing first base. In insurance terms, the Sox wanted "collision" coverage, but only wanted to pay the "liability" premiums. Pretty sweet deal for them and a no-win situation for Frank (either do more than you're paid for and accept the fact that you were duped by your boss, or stand up for yourself and be portrayed as selfish). Unfortunately, Frank's rep has never recovered from this.
4. A lot of you are saying that he isn't the best hitter or player in Sox history. OK, then who is?
5. Why is Frank saying he wouldn't have done the parade/first pitch in the WS? Would you like to be a groomsman in your ex-fiance's wedding? Didn't think so.

All this said, I'm a huge Sox fan and hope they win it again next year, but I'd love to see them do it with Thome on the DL, while Frank wins his 3rd MVP. Good luck #35. You're not the best Chicago White Sox of all time, you're the best Chicago baseball player of all time.

Frank has been a tremendous player for the SOX, but his comments were childish,foolish,and immature. Thome showed class by not making a comment on the matter. Class, a word always mentioned when talking of Thome, but seldom mentioned when talking about Frank. I rest my case. We'll leave it to the jury to decide. I think I know what the verdict will be.

David - I think you're delusional. You are right saying he was the best hitter in Sox history - at least for his first 8 or 9 years. Over the last 5 years (other than last years when both he and Thome were hurt), Thomas' stats are nowhere near Thomes. Thomas playing 1B??? Are you kidding - HE was the one who no longer wanted to play 1B...did you ever see him try to throw? Looks like he's throwing a shotput. Over the last 5 years, thanks to the Sox generosity, he was paid like a superstar and he never earned it (funny, he never mentioned that in his A's press conference). One of the traits of devoted fans is they have short memories...I guess David must be a true fanatic. Frankie, don't let the door hit your fat butt on the way out!!