Frank Thomas Walk-off HR July 2, 2003 Minnesota Twins @ Chicago White Sox

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Frank Thomas Walk-off HR July 2, 2003 Minnesota Twins @ Chicago White Sox

Рет қаралды 172,797

Күн бұрын

Not sure why this video blew up but thanks! I'm a diehard Sox fan who had a partial season ticket plan 2004-2008. You can see some of my favorite moments from those seasons across this channel. And if you love history, make sure to check out my video tours of American Civil War and Vietnam War battlefield sites. smithsthoughts...
In front of a rowdy 19,555 at the blue seat Cell, The Big Hurt fouls off pitch after pitch in an 11 pitch AB that absurdly ends in a trademark Frank Thomas-walk-off just inside the left field foul pole.
This game was especially ridiculous because Paul Konerko hit a 2-out solo HR to tie the game the previous inning. It was only Guardado's second blown save of the season.
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Пікірлер: 248

@thisguy8106 2 жыл бұрын

The Pitcher did literally everything he could. He threw some great pitches that would've punched out lesser hitters.. The Big Hurt was just different..

@medguy12 2 жыл бұрын

Kind of surprised they kept a lefty in to face Big Frank

@Musictherapistjn Жыл бұрын

Foul them off until the pitcher makes a mistake. Frank was the best at that. That's why he was able to hit for power and average.

@KingGorillaWarrior 4 жыл бұрын

This is the best at bat I've ever seen. Pitcher did everything correctly. Got big hurt in 0-2 hole. Went high outside, tight inside, outside outside, inside, breaking ball inside, outside, breaking inside, inside outside.... Just amazing job. People have no idea what this takes...

@avidsiman 2 жыл бұрын

AJ Pierzynski was the Minnesota catcher calling the pitches.

@guyincognito320 2 жыл бұрын

Thomas was on none of those too. He waved at one, then defensively fouled off a few. Was way in front of the long foul. With a normal hitter you'd never expect this AB to result in a homer.

@nigelio3 2 жыл бұрын

Frank Thomas had one of the best eyes of any power hitter ever. Only player ever with 7 straight seasons of .300/100/100/100/20. Only 3 other players have even done it for 3 straight seasons. This man is a legend.

@willg3011 2 жыл бұрын

100% agree Frank knew once he got to 2-2 and seen the cutter that his timing was on you can literally see him say I'm on time now he is in trouble if we go to 3-2 , epic at bat

@jonmolina948 2 жыл бұрын

Just stay inside with Frank Thomas. He never liked the ball inside, pitcher were too afraid to throw it there because he’s like 6’6” 270lbs.

@poindexterflex3528 4 жыл бұрын

My Frank Thomas story... I got his Topps Rookie card of him at Auburn when I was just a kid.. I didn't look carefully at the stats on the back (I should have!) but for some reason I just had a feeling he was going to be something. So he got called up and every time I caught a Sox game on WGN, EVERY time, he went yard. One of my favorite things back then was when he'd come up and Hawk would say, "Here's Big Frank!" So he was my favorite baseball player even though I was (and still am) an A's fan. The one birthday, I got home from school. My dad left one of those plastic White Sox MLB helmets on my bed with a note inside. It said that it was also Frank Thomas' birthday. We shared the same birthday! My fandom for him was just destined! And of course, he later signed with my A's. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. He started off slow but had a fantastic season and tore it up in the playoffs. He is, and will always be, my all-time favorite baseball player. He will never be replaced.

@zacharytasker1753 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing

@KingGorillaWarrior 4 жыл бұрын

You sound just like me in so many ways. Nice to see there's other fans out there been following since Auburn.

@KingGorillaWarrior 4 жыл бұрын

Ps when he signed with your As, I was the first one on my feet when he returned to Chicago and hit back-to-back HRs... Standing ovation on his first HR. Sox fans boo'd when came up second time. Not me, I was on my feet and lost my mind when he went yard AGAIN. I felt so bad he missed the 2005 WS. Sox still won even though he had 2 HR that day so perfection, for me at least. Big HURT 4 Life

@PatrickMullenix 4 жыл бұрын

He's my all time favorite hitter and White Sox (maybe Crede- who I know Frank was also a big fan of). I was at that first game he was back with the A's. If I recall he hit 2 HR's! Got cheered for the first one and the second one was more of a murmur like Ok Frank enough is enough. .

@jakestanley52 3 жыл бұрын

That's an awesome story, man. I remember that first game when he was back in Chicago and hit one a mile to left off Jon Garland, I was going nuts in the car. My mom decided to go to Jewel's before the game started and I was so mad I couldn't watch. Frank was--is--my favorite White Sox player.

@JustinDeFiblander 5 жыл бұрын

We miss you on the Southside Frankie. So glad no one will ever dom the no. 35.

@tricatmeows 4 жыл бұрын

Blows my mind that he worked the count from 1-2 to full count while fouling off so many pitches on route to a walk off HR. Frank Thomas was incredible to watch growing up. Big Hurt was such a smart hitter in his time.

@GhostPandaStorm 2 жыл бұрын

His vision at the plate was insane. Was about as great a contact hitter as he was a power hitter. Just a master with the bat.

@TheMarcusramsey 2 жыл бұрын

When I was a kid in the 90s I loved Griffey but as I've gotten older I have found this massive appreciation for Frank Thomas.

@vaughnmild4467 4 жыл бұрын

Frank Thomas had one of the greatest eyes in baseball history

@jdeloatch64 2 жыл бұрын

I'd go so far as to say he had two of them

@coachcarter8238 5 жыл бұрын

I was at this game! I went nuts in the stands!

@voiceguy3635 2 жыл бұрын

I was the UMPIRE!!!(not).

@westside4life77 5 жыл бұрын

The most patient Hitter for a Big Man in the Big Leagues!

@winstoncannady4224 3 жыл бұрын

More patient than Bonds?

@blu3collar949 3 жыл бұрын

@@winstoncannady4224 LOL. Bonds walked more then anything late in his career. He waited for the pitcher to come in with one. Otherwise he just watched the ball go way outside most of the time.

@dougbrowne9890 2 жыл бұрын

@@blu3collar949 Yeah, Bonds would take a walk over swinging at anything close enough to hit.

@jonabrams2373 2 жыл бұрын

Tony Gwynn had fewer strikeouts in his career than most guys have in a season nowadays

@brettunderwood7291 2 жыл бұрын

@@jonabrams2373 Tony was a legitimate player that will never be witnessed again. He could spread the ball all over the field and went for average not power.

@backpages9885 5 жыл бұрын

classic big hurt moment

@jeffha4057 5 жыл бұрын

I remember watching this live. Epic at bat that I'll never forget.

@stevevandien310 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful to watch this great hitter remaining calm and patient, protecting the plate, until he gets the pitch he can launch --

@Pensfan5919 Жыл бұрын

Big Hurt with the perfect at-bat! Waits for his pitch, but literally any pitch he knows he can foul off to get to that pitch, he'll knock foul instead of blindly wave at or just get mesmerized by. Incredible to watch.

@gcschultheis 4 жыл бұрын

My favorite player when I was kid. What a legendary player!

@stephenwalton1752 5 жыл бұрын

Should've just walked hin Big Hurt one of those ppl you don't test

@bigchungosack8269 3 жыл бұрын

@@bernieburns3404 shut up

@ericnelson1620 3 жыл бұрын

Once it went full....100% agree

@robertvasels9312 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely not. You put a man in scoring position and Magglio was on deck (at the time, an amazing hitter). You had to pitch to Frank.

@avidsiman 2 жыл бұрын

@@robertvasels9312 Yep. And don't forget, Paul Konerko followed Magglio, and Carlos Lee followed Paul.

@willg3011 2 жыл бұрын

The Big Hurt at bats like this are why the man is in the Hall Of Fame , his circular bat waggle timing mechanism before the each pitch is thrown is one of my favorites of all time.

@Here2There.246 Жыл бұрын

Big Hurt was also on the Auburn football team as a TE. I had a friend that had an uncle with ABC sports and we got in to watch Auburn workout the day before they played Alabama. Auburn had award winners, All Americans and numerous guys make the NFL off that team. The most impressive guy to me was Frank running go routes and catching the 30-40 yard throws over his head sometimes only using one hand! What a special athlete !

@PEANUTBUTTERNINJA 2 жыл бұрын

Frank Thomas was the best hitter in the 90's! A true legend and my favorite player!

@TheLegalEconNerd 2 жыл бұрын

Eddie came off a 45 save season and frank had an MVP year. It definitely shows here

@Champwsox05 4 жыл бұрын

I love those cut-off whites...

@shawngregory1429 3 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing at-bat. Classic Big Hurt. He could hit for power and average and took lots of walks due to being very selective at the plate. He also hit good pitchers well. The only player in my generation that compares is Albert Belle.

@voiceguy3635 2 жыл бұрын

The Hawk--miss his announcing just as much.

@DaVictonator 2 ай бұрын

The Big Hurt’s eye was insane. It’s like he saw what pitch was coming like in slow motion, even though it is like .20 seconds to see the pitch

@paulnettles9109 2 жыл бұрын

One of the most well rounded hitters ever. Great power, hit for avg, could work a count, and could take a walk.

@terrencethompson4006 3 жыл бұрын

He worked that pitch count.... he earned it

@TheMW2informer 5 жыл бұрын

I've been looking for this FOREVER

@fivegum1221 5 жыл бұрын

SAME

@sethtate2079 2 жыл бұрын

Eddie sure was a good pitcher .. just too tough to get the big hurt out sometimes.

@sethtate2079 2 жыл бұрын

@Lighthouse in the Storm he was an all star reliever, got mvp votes one year and led the AL in saves I think for a couple years. In his prime, most teams would have loved to have him.

@igraham125 3 жыл бұрын

He looks up... You can put it on the boardddd YES I miss those days

@adamturner8732 2 жыл бұрын

Hes one of the best right hand hitters ever.

@williamhermann6635 2 жыл бұрын

This man was a hero to me during my childhood. Had his shoes, cleats, mitt, you name it. What a treat it was to watch him play. Thank you for all the wonderful memories Frank. The one and only Big Hurt.

@Crush_Tiggrr 8 ай бұрын

Same 👍

@richardmaska1818 3 ай бұрын

Watched this live with my dad, I'll never forget it. Vintage Big Hurt, spoiling great pitches before launching one. I remember Konerko hit a blast the previous inning to re-tie the game. He was in a year long slump, hence why Hawk played it up as a big deal for him. I wonder about the alternate universe where the Sox let Konerko go but keep Ordonez and am happy we had Paulie. I was baptized a Sox fan at birth, but 2003 was the first year I really started following the team closely and what a frustrating doozy of an introduction it was! They were pretty good, but ultimately just mid. Loaiza won 21 games, Frank hit 42hrs, one of four to hit at least 28. They won 86 games and battled the Twins all summer but dropped 3 games at the Dome that put an end to our season in agonizing fashion. I'll never forget that either! Now, I look back at 2003 as an essential experience for a baseball fan.. a near year long committment to ups and downs, joys and sorrows, hope and reality, followed by a long reckoning of what it all meant. In that moment of loosing to the Twins, it was all heartbreak; now I look at it as a character building scarring 😂

@jchuck8932 2 жыл бұрын

One of my childhood heroes growing up. It's a pleasure to watch this man bat again so many years later. Thank you for this.

@LaMostraVia 2 жыл бұрын

Love the Hawks call on this

@williamfisher2427 2 жыл бұрын

The best hitter I have seen in my 65 years watching baseball.

@sj4632 3 жыл бұрын

It's from 2003 but sounds like a 1970s game.

@themaskedman6489 5 жыл бұрын

Eddie just wasn't retiring him.....Didnt have an out pitch for frank

@boscopit 2 жыл бұрын

I saw Frank hit a gigantic homer at Camden Yards in 1992. I'd never seen anything like it before.

@comiskey2005 5 жыл бұрын

3-2 count...NOBODY wants Frank to walk. Great at bat. Classic.

@membersonlydave 3 жыл бұрын

and somehow i knew that was freaking guardado from the thumbnail. man, havent even thought about that dude in about 15+ years lol

@neroameealucard945 4 жыл бұрын

Now batting for the White Sox, number 35... FRAAANNNK THOMAS!

@blkdank1 4 жыл бұрын

One of the most scariest batters to face ever in a full count . Should've just walked the Big Hurt!!

@avidsiman 2 жыл бұрын

Couldn't do that. Magglio Ordonez was on deck and was competing for AL MVP that year. After Magglio was Paul Konerko then Carlos Lee. Being extra innings and a runner already on base, you have to face the music some time. Facing Frank Thomas with 1 man on base is a safer at-bat to defend than Magglio Ordonez with 2 men on base. Magglio would drill a line drive into the gap and it would be game over from the runner on 2nd scoring. If Frank hits, it's often a ground rule double and the runner on 1st only advances to 3rd. AJ Pierzynski was the Minnesota catcher for that at-bat.

@blkdank1 2 жыл бұрын

@@avidsiman that was a very scary lineup then. Wish they would've had pitching.

@avidsiman 2 жыл бұрын

@@blkdank1 They did have pitching. They had Jon Garland, Mark Buerhle, Bartolo Colon, ... The problem with that team is they lacked speed on the base paths, and didn't have a 2nd baseman. Although Roberto Alomar came to the team via mid-season trade, he wasn't the same Roberto Alomar that played for the Cleveland Indians, and batted poorly most of the rest of the season. Kenny Williams openly complained the team relied too much on the home run and played station-to-station baseball. He also had a tendency to stock the roster with flame throwers instead of pitchers who understood the art of pitching and framing. Yet what does he do after the team goes small and wins the world series? He trades for Jim Thome and gets the likes of Mike MacDougal for the bullpen.

@blkdank1 2 жыл бұрын

@@avidsiman yes I never liked the Thome trade. The 05 team had chemistry which you cant copy. They could've won back to back had they kept the same squad.

@JesusSaves3-16 2 жыл бұрын

Man, I miss wimpy and the hawk. I'm a Yankees fan but loved the big hurt.

@voiceguy3635 2 жыл бұрын

That's Darren Jackson--unfortunately.

@joesno6081 2 жыл бұрын

love the follow through !!!! 🥰😱

@greatestnitemare6626 2 жыл бұрын

Frank Thomas career lifetime against Guerdado...6-11 2 HR 6 RBI .545 Genius idea to have him facing Big Hurt lmao

@ericbeverly5336 4 жыл бұрын

Home run @ 4:40

@JacobShaputis 4 жыл бұрын

The entire at bat makes it so satisfying though... Coming back from being down in the count, staying alive by getting just enough to foul it off, the discipline and collectiveness, and then....the full count showdown that lasted 1 pitch.

@benjamindion7221 2 жыл бұрын

He had the sweetest swing for a right hander. Lefties normally have a sweeter looking swing. Ken Griffey had the sweetest swing I have ever seen, moves like liquid. But for a rightie Franks swing was so , so sweet!

@igraham125 3 жыл бұрын

Good ol us cellular field I miss the big hurt

@goofy_xf6223 2 жыл бұрын

When a power hitter has this kind of patience there is nothing more dangerous. Speed kills but power gets the job done!

@dalefaccio5666 2 жыл бұрын

Omg this came up on my suggestions and this is the day I was born Illuminati confirmed!

@Lemonhead86 4 жыл бұрын

WHen it goes on that long, walk him. Are you insane? It's Frank!

@ninjanunch2769 2 жыл бұрын

I remember this game. Also the all star game was fun and home run derby. Was in the bleachers for that.

@Shinobi33 2 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful technical inside out swing

@coachcarter8238 3 жыл бұрын

I was at this game. I went nuts.

@OlinKreutzRules 2 жыл бұрын

Damn. I miss this team and I really, really, really miss Frank absolutely crushing pitches like this.

@jasonwood8023 2 жыл бұрын

It's Big Frank and Griffey Jr from the 90s. Nobody else, they were clean!

@johnnyfootball8846 4 жыл бұрын

1:40 “you can put it on the board...yes” if only they knew what was to come

@DoomWar1 4 жыл бұрын

No. 35 Frank Thomas What a slugger he was.

@chrisnewman2896 3 жыл бұрын

That ball hit deep way back you can put it on the board yesss

@johnrieck1846 3 жыл бұрын

He was a beast

@JiovanniDaMatrix 3 жыл бұрын

They should have Frank Thomas as a hidden character on Mortal Kombat! Lol

@Josh-tr3ld Жыл бұрын

Couldn't beat half price night at Comiskey. Upper deck seats were like $10 bucks! Good times!

@Anthonygarcia-dr7oi 2 жыл бұрын

sad movie don’t get me emotional and neither to puppy’s but walk off homers bring a tear to my eye every time 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@rage.against.the.regime1913 4 жыл бұрын

I just found Frank's rookie card in some childhood belongings I've been looking for. What a clutch at bat. I know it goes without saying, but he should've been walked. Hindsight is always 20 20 but this was obvious, lol.

@sominboy2757 4 жыл бұрын

Eddie would have walked him too but you know baseball code, you never walk a man when theres a runner at first

@jkilla3651 2 жыл бұрын

Than lil front door slider was super tough to lay off there. Props to him for taking that pitch.

@boogernights1 2 жыл бұрын

God he had a really beautiful swing for such a giant right-handed batter.

@raulgreen8369 4 жыл бұрын

This was at the time FOX Sports Chicago before it was CSN/NBC SPORTS CHICAGO

@prayingmantis6777 Жыл бұрын

I guess if he was on a winning team he would have so much more recognition!

@richhughes2225 Жыл бұрын

Loved watching Frank Thomas. Sorry he's long gone, but happy Harrelson's not there anymore.

@mrmacross Ай бұрын

Frank wasn't a bat flipper or a guy who'd admire his blasts, so this was about as demonstrative as you'd ever see him after hitting a homer. A slight hold of pose after the swing, and trot.

@smithsthoughts Ай бұрын

@@mrmacross Frank was all business as a player. Didn’t even react when he hit 2 bombs off Garland in his return to the Cell in ‘06. It’s nice to see him relax & enjoy himself more in his post-playing career as a commentator.

@asabovesobelow8680 4 жыл бұрын

And she'll like it too 😉

@JiovanniDaMatrix 3 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂

@tidedownoutdoors5411 5 жыл бұрын

Geeze what an at bat!

@addie28784 3 жыл бұрын

Remember being at this game! We just traded for Carl Everett and Roberto Alomar!

@chisicilian 2 жыл бұрын

Valentins stache was epic

@pauliecopez2683 3 жыл бұрын

What an at bat. Fouled off how many? Then takes 3 pitches jeez. Patience pays off

@jrbrennan8246 2 жыл бұрын

This would make a great short film cinematic

@Will-fk2dk Жыл бұрын

I miss 90s MLB.

@herzeliedstein573 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine having a team that could sweep a series *cries Marinerly*

@24tommyst 2 жыл бұрын

What a battle!

@74SD455TA 3 жыл бұрын

Soooooo Gooooood! Nothing better!

@rupaabhi 2 жыл бұрын

10 great pitches and one horrible pitch. Patience paid off.

@mariopalos9238 4 жыл бұрын

I had forgotten that Robbie Alomar was once on the Sox.

@robertgriffin5703 4 жыл бұрын

@@smithsthoughts I still remember going to like 3 Griffey games just cause and I made sure I sat in right where he was playing.

@vaughnmild4467 4 жыл бұрын

@@smithsthoughts Everett twice as well. He's somewhere in that dug out as they are ready to spill on to the field. I remeber fishing and hearing the Sox got Alomar and Everett. That tried sticking him in Centet Field with Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez in Right & Left Field's respectively. Going for a power line up at that time. Paul Konerko and Jose Valentine both hit a lot of bombs along with the above mentioned players. They also had Sandy Alomar Jr. for a season or 2.

@vaughnmild4467 4 жыл бұрын

@@smithsthoughts I remember that game. One of Sandy's stints was a trade deadline pick up if im not mistaken. But dude said it. We pick up guys that we wanted when they still had gas in the tank, but got em later when they were down to fumes. Its not just Ken Willams, this has gone on from the 70s through the 2000s

@realeyesrealizereallies1194 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing

@Fazillah 2 жыл бұрын

And that was against Eddie Guardado who it was one of the best relievers in the early 2000s.

@thetruefistofthenort 3 жыл бұрын

No bat flip.🍺 4:38 Bat drop.

@rickylopez4736 3 жыл бұрын

My favorite player!!!!!

@TDoggKeepItReal 4 жыл бұрын

My man!

@ksauce1718 2 жыл бұрын

Always loved the Big Hurt. I grew up during his prime, and as a pitcher, ALWAYS threw to the 9big guy(#4batter)

@jessicafischer6683 Жыл бұрын

@smithsthoughts do you have any other footage of this game? My husband was a navy recruit sworn in with his whole unit at this game and I am trying to find a clip of that to show our kids 😊 thanks!

@AlbertScar 2 жыл бұрын

Greatest Chicago baseball player ever

@NerdPowah 3 жыл бұрын

Steady Eddie...

@thelonious-dx9vi 2 жыл бұрын

There's a picture of a man going to work and doing his job. If Frank had been a running back or wide receiver, he wouldn't have carried on like a fool every time he got in the end zone.

@silentassassin7175 2 жыл бұрын

Miss the greats of mlb

@mikewazowski398 2 жыл бұрын

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD......YES! Let's Go Sox! SouthSide.

@jamesobanion5559 2 жыл бұрын

The pitcher knew it upon release

@johndevenney7144 3 жыл бұрын

Best ever

@buddmannable 4 жыл бұрын

The BIIIIIIIIG HURT!

@john.john.johnny 2 жыл бұрын

Truly an awesome at bat and also a great pitching performance put in by Eddie Guardado who used to basically silence us. Both Frank and him did everything great Frank just beat him here. Baseball is and always will be the shit.