Fansided

Best all-time player for each MLB team

By Joshua Sadlock

Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. (R) is congratulated by teammate Alex Rodriguez (L) after Griffey hit his 16th home run of the year in the fourth inning at Toronto's Skydome 18 May against the Blue Jays. The three-run shot ties him at the top of the American League with Rodriguez. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI / AFP) (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. (R) is congratulated by teammate Alex Rodriguez (L) after Griffey hit his 16th home run of the year in the fourth inning at Toronto's Skydome 18 May against the Blue Jays. The three-run shot ties him at the top of the American League with Rodriguez. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI / AFP) (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY 27: Inductee Frank Thomas gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, New York. Thomas hit 521 home runs and won two American League Most Valuable Player awards during his 19 year career. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY 27: Inductee Frank Thomas gives his speech at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown, New York. Thomas hit 521 home runs and won two American League Most Valuable Player awards during his 19 year career. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Chicago White Sox: Frank Thomas

The White Sox have long been the overlooked ugly stepsister in the Windy City, never quite able to outshine the Cubs and their jewel of a ballpark on the north side of Chicago. For a brief time in the 1990s, Frank Thomas changed all that. The Big Hurt was the number-one attraction for baseball fans in Chicago at the height of his powers.

Thomas hit 521 home runs over the course of his 19-year career that ended in Cooperstown. For the White Sox, he batted .307/.427/.568 in 16 years with 448 of his home runs and 1,465 RBI. Thomas made the All-Star team five times for the Sox, won two MVP awards, and took home four Silver Sluggers. From 1991 to 1997, his peak, the Big Hurt batted .330/.452/.604 with 250 home runs and 823 RBI.

Injuries eventually took their toll on the big fella in the second half of his career. His raw power and keen batting eye remained, but he lost the ability to contend for batting titles. At his best, Thomas was a rare combination of contact ability and power. His career hit total of 2,468 looks low for a Hall of Famer, but he drew nearly 1,700 walks in his time in the big leagues. For a time, Thomas gave the White Sox the biggest star their franchise had seen since the Dead Ball Era.

Honorable Mention: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Paul Konerko, Luke Appling, Eddie Collins

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