Summer of inductions illustrate Thome’s reach

CHICAGO — If Jim Thome had to write a “What I did this summer” essay, similar to what many young kids are penning as they return to school, his tale would feature more than a few cool vacations.

Thome was inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame, along with Albert Belle, Frank Robinson and Charlie Jamieson, on July 30, and then was inducted as the 38th member of the Phillies Wall of Fame on Aug. 12. Thome served as an integral part of the amazing late-’90s run by the Indians, and while he hit 101 homers over a mere four years with the Phillies, his honor alongside Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Darren Daulton, to name a few, illustrates the impact Thome has wherever he goes.

“It’s been fabulous. I guess ‘overwhelming’ has been the great term,” Thome said during a recent interview with MLB.com. “Just humbling to have two organizations recognize you in that honor with the history of both, how long they have been in baseball.

“Then to go back and see all the teammates you played with and the managers, it was almost like it all happened yesterday that you were just there. It was very exciting and just a pleasure and honor to go back.”

These Cleveland and Philadelphia inductions naturally moved into a question about Thome’s first time on the National Baseaball Hall of Fame ballot in 2018. With …

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