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Thome’s legacy closely tied to Manuel
- Updated: August 11, 2016
The day in August 2014 when the Indians unveiled a bigger-than-life statue of Jim Thome at Progressive Field, the slugger said another should be erected next to his: Charlie Manuel.
It’s not a statue, but when Thome is inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame this weekend during ceremonies at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, his bronze plaque will be close to Manuel’s.
Manuel, 72, is the most successful manager in Phillies history, and if it weren’t for him, Thome would not have hit 612 home runs or have joined Hall of Famer Bob Feller as the only Cleveland players honored with a statue.
And, oh yes. Thome is a cinch to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he’s eligible for election in 2018. His 612 homers rank seventh on the all-time list.
“Charlie meant everything to me — everything,” said Thome, inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame last month. “He gave me confidence, taught me how to hit — everything about baseball.”
Manuel, now a Phillies adviser, was the Indians’ hitting coach when a shy, skinny 19-year-old Thome met him for the first time.
“He made me feel comfortable from the start,” said Thome. “He has a special knack for that.”
Manuel, who guided the Phillies to five consecutive division titles, two World Series and the championship in 2008, was in Cleveland when Thome’s statue was unveiled.
“When he said if he had his way, he’d have a statue of me standing beside his, that was probably one of the greatest compliments ever given me,” Manuel said.
Thome was not drafted until the 13th round in the 1989 Draft.
And Thome’s dad, Chuck, is convinced if it were not for Manuel, Jim would never have made it to the Major Leagues.
“He’s the reason,” Chuck Thome he …
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