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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate Jim Thome on his election 
4to the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Thome grew up on the South Side of Peoria and 
6played baseball in the West Peoria program; he attended 
7Limestone Community High School in Bartonville, where he 
8received All-State honors as a shortstop; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, After his high school graduation, Jim Thome played 
10baseball at Illinois Central College, where he was drafted in 
11the 13th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1989; he rose 
12quickly through the minor leagues and got his first call to the 
13majors in September 1991; he would go onto play 22 seasons, 13 
14with the Indians, before his retirement; a third baseman for 
15his first six seasons, he moved to first base and later became 
16primarily a designated hitter;  in 2014, the Indians erected a 
17statue of him, which greets fans on the plaza just beyond the 
18centerfield gates at Progressive Field in Cleveland; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Jim Thome retired after the 2012 season; during 
20his career, he accumulated a .276 batting average, 2,328 hits, 
211,699 RBI, and 612 home runs, the eighth most in baseball 
22history; he reached the postseason ten times and hit 17 home 
 
 
HR0777- 2 -LRB100 18463 ALS 33678 r

1runs, which tied him for seventh all-time; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, During his career, Jim Thome earned the Silver 
3Slugger Award, American League Comeback Player of the Year, and 
4the Roberto Clemente Award; he was also elected to five 
5all-Star game rosters; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim Thome is one of only 54 first ballot Hall of 
7Fame players; he and his wife, Andrea, live in suburban Chicago 
8with their children, Lila and Landon; therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
10HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
11congratulate Jim Thome on his election to the National Baseball 
12Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility, and we 
13recognize his long, successful career; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to Jim Thome a symbol of our esteem and respect.