ANAHEIM, Calif. - Jim Thome is no longer tied with Mike Schmidt on the all-time home run list, as Thome hit career homer No. 549 in the third inning to move him into sole possession of 13th place, and third on the active list.
"It was a big game,'' Thome said after the 17-3 win over the Angels. "Offensively, we broke loose there and swung the bats well. We almost kind of needed a game like this, after what Minnesota did to us (in a 20-1 loss) and yesterday we lost that tough game and to bounce back and score runs, especially against [Ervin] Santana and do that against him, he's a quality starter, to jump out like that was great.''
Thome did get the ball, and has collected every ball since he hit the 500-homer milestone. He also used the night to reflect on meeting Schmidt from his days with the Phillies.
"Mike, getting the opportunity to meet him was very special,'' Thome said. "Any time you can associate your name with the greats of a Mike Schmidt and the guys so on, it's a true honor. It's very humbling because you know what they've done for the game and to be a part of that is very special.''
Paul Konerko, however, may have had the best perspective on it.
"It's unbelievable when you hear the names he's starting to pass,'' Konerko said. "You have to sit back some times and realize you are playing with a legend. He's such a normal guy and humble guy that's just like any other teammate. But you have to realize his place in history keeps climbing.
"With Jim, I think he has good perspective on everything. He knows it's a cool thing but it doesn't make him any better of a person. He's as humble.. He's as good of a guy as any one on that top 10 or 20 list, I promise you that.''