Frank Thomas treasures Auburn statue: 'I didn't get there alone'

AUBURN, Ala. – Frank Thomas will bring a tissue Saturday morning when Auburn unveils his statue outside Plainsman Park, remembering the emotions he experienced 12 years ago when he first saw a bronze image of himself at the Chicago White Sox stadium.

“It put tears in your eyes,” Thomas recalled. “Thinking when you’re dead and gone, you’ll still be here in a ballpark and people will be able to remember you.”

For 19 MLB seasons from 1990-2008, Thomas terrorized pitchers, blasting 521 home runs among 2,468 hits while batting .301.

“I’ve been blessed to have a career that people always remember,” said Thomas, the American League MVP in 1993 and 1994.

Before he starred in the big leagues, Thomas became a legend on the Plains. A two-sport athlete, Thomas signed a football scholarship to play for Pat Dye in 1986 with plans to play baseball for Hal Baird in 1987.

“Coach Dye had the biggest affinity for my baseball game,” Thomas said. “He helped me make that decision. He told me straight up, ‘Frank, we’re four deep at every position in football. I know you can play at the next level in football but I think you have something really special in baseball that you can make it a career.’ That stood out to me. He was such a good man. That’s why I went to Auburn.”

A two-time state baseball champion at Columbus High School in Georgia, Thomas arrived on the Plains with something to prove.

“Coach Dye told me he wasn’t going to let me walk on (to the baseball team) until I proved myself on the football field,” Thomas said. “That really got me going before I got to Auburn. That summer I worked out like I never had before because I knew I had to make an impression on the football field.

“I wanted to play baseball and I wanted to play football, but I knew I had to show up and be something special to have the ability to play baseball in the spring.”

The rest is SEC history. After catching three passes for 45 yards for Coach Dye’s 10-2 Tigers in 1986, Thomas led the conference with 21 homers as a freshman in 1987. He won SEC batting titles in 1988 and 1989, hitting .403 as a junior and concluding his Auburn career with 49 homers. The White Sox drafted him No. 7 overall in 1989.

Thomas remains the only player in the 90-year history of the Southeastern Conference to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, elected on his first ballot in 2014.

“It’s really shocking because we’ve had some great players come through,” said Thomas of that distinction. “I’m honored and I’m proud of it.”

On Saturday, 40 miles from his hometown, Thomas will see for the first time the statue commemorating his Auburn career.

“It was a double whammy,” he said. “I just wanted to play football and baseball when I grew up and be the best I possibly could be. Never thought it would end up being in Cooperstown and with statues in two ballparks.”

After he retired in 2008, Thomas transitioned seamlessly, achieving success in broadcasting and business.

“I always stayed busy,” he said. “When I was playing, I always had the mic in my face so there was no need to be shy on camera because it was in my face every night win or lose. I always had to talk so I got used to that and it made me stronger. When I got to TV, it was like second nature.

“I was always interested in business and how to take them to the next step. Marketing was something that came naturally because I was a great player and next thing you know I started doing sponsorship deals with companies. I’ve been blessed to be able to hook up with so many companies over my 30 years in Major League Baseball.”

Thomas looks forward to sharing the moment with the teammates and coaches who helped him achieve greatness.

“I’m so proud and so honored. I’m so happy this has happened,” he said. “But I’m also proud and honored of all the players who helped me get there. I didn’t do it on my own.

“I had great teammates who got on base for me to drive them in. I had good coaching in Hal Baird, Steve Renfroe and Ed Thayer. Those guys really helped me through some tough times. I want to give everybody their praise. I didn’t get there alone. They all worked with me, and I respect all of them.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer