White Sox Legend Frank Thomas Slams Organization for Leaving Him Off Black History Month Graphic
The Chicago White Sox have sparked outrage from one of their most beloved legends, Frank Thomas, after leaving him off a social media graphic celebrating "momentous firsts" to mark the start of Black History Month. The graphic featured notable moments such as Ken Williams and Jerry Manuel becoming the first Black general manager and manager duo in MLB history.
Thomas, a two-time MVP and the franchise's all-time leader in home runs, RBIs, and walks, was noticeably absent from the list. In a scathing tweet on X, Thomas expressed his disappointment, saying "I guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable!" He also hinted at taking down his old team.
Thomas' exclusion from the graphic is particularly egregious given his long history with the White Sox, which dates back to 1990. During his 16-year tenure with the team, Thomas set numerous franchise records, including most home runs, RBIs, and walks in a season. His name is still mentioned frequently throughout the team's record book.
Thomas and the White Sox have had a complicated relationship over the years, marked by public disagreements between the former star and current ownership. In 2005, Thomas clashed with then-GM Ken Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf over how his departure was handled, leading to a heated media war.
The White Sox seemingly attempted to make amends when they retired Thomas' jersey number 35 in 2010. However, this latest snub has reignited feelings of tension between the two parties.
Thomas' exclusion from the graphic has sparked widespread outrage among Sox fans, who are coming to his defense on social media. The team eventually took down the graphic, acknowledging that it was an "unfortunate mistake."
The Chicago White Sox have sparked outrage from one of their most beloved legends, Frank Thomas, after leaving him off a social media graphic celebrating "momentous firsts" to mark the start of Black History Month. The graphic featured notable moments such as Ken Williams and Jerry Manuel becoming the first Black general manager and manager duo in MLB history.
Thomas, a two-time MVP and the franchise's all-time leader in home runs, RBIs, and walks, was noticeably absent from the list. In a scathing tweet on X, Thomas expressed his disappointment, saying "I guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable!" He also hinted at taking down his old team.
Thomas' exclusion from the graphic is particularly egregious given his long history with the White Sox, which dates back to 1990. During his 16-year tenure with the team, Thomas set numerous franchise records, including most home runs, RBIs, and walks in a season. His name is still mentioned frequently throughout the team's record book.
Thomas and the White Sox have had a complicated relationship over the years, marked by public disagreements between the former star and current ownership. In 2005, Thomas clashed with then-GM Ken Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf over how his departure was handled, leading to a heated media war.
The White Sox seemingly attempted to make amends when they retired Thomas' jersey number 35 in 2010. However, this latest snub has reignited feelings of tension between the two parties.
Thomas' exclusion from the graphic has sparked widespread outrage among Sox fans, who are coming to his defense on social media. The team eventually took down the graphic, acknowledging that it was an "unfortunate mistake."
THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER! FRANK THOMAS IS A LEGEND AND A HUGE PART OF THE TEAM'S HISTORY. LEAVING HIM OFF THE GRAPHIC FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS JUST PLAIN INANE. I MEAN, WHO DOES THAT?! 
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO STEAL FROM ONE OF THEIR OWN SUPERSTARS. THOMAS DESERVES WAY MORE RESPECT THAN THIS! 
they literally left frank thomas off their black history month graphic? like, the guy is a 2-time mvp and holds all their records he's basically a legend in chicago sports history. it's not even about being a "black player" it's about recognizing one of the greatest to ever play the game full stop. and now they're just rubbing salt in the wound by taking down the graphic but still trying to pretend like they didn't mess up big time 
and now fans are coming for them on social media... i don't blame them at all.
People often commit trespass in their imaginations, and the worst crimes are those we commit against our own character.
especially since he's basically a part of the team's DNA - 16 yrs with them, countless records, etc... 
it's not like they didn't know about his legacy 
at least they took down the graphic tho 
that's a small consolation, but better than nothing 
. I get that there might have been some tension between them in the past, but this feels really petty and hurtful.
. And now they're trying to distance themselves from him? It just doesn't make sense to me 
. I'm glad the fans are standing up for him on social media though - it's about time someone spoke out against this kind of thing! 
I'm so annoyed when people mess up these kinds of things, especially with Black History Month being celebrated! It's like, come on, Frank Thomas is a legend in his own right and he deserves some love too. 16 years with the Sox, setting records left and right... it's not like he was just a one-hit wonder. 
The fact that they had to take down the graphic after all the backlash says a lot about how tone-deaf the organization can be sometimes. 
. This highlights the importance of representation and acknowledging the contributions of players who have shaped an organization's identity over time.
? Like, come on, Frank Thomas is a legend and a huge part of the team's history. You'd think they'd want to give him some love during Black History Month... but nope, they're good with just ignoring him altogether 
. Anyway, on the bright side, it's nice to see fans standing up for Thomas and defending his legacy. Maybe the White Sox should just stick to giving him a shoutout instead of leaving him off their graphic... but I guess that would've been too easy 
.
. And now they're backtrackin', takin' down the graphic and sayin' it was an "unfortunate mistake"... yeah right 
. I don't believe a word of it. Thomas was always known to speak his mind, and if they're gonna play games like this with him, that's just not cool 
. The Sox should be shakin' in their boots 'cause Frank ain't messin' around anymore 
.
. I'm not surprised they tried to backtrack after the backlash, though - those guys are experts at damage control 
. Still, can't help but wonder what other "unfortunate mistakes" they've made over the years... 
.
and take down the graphic. But it's too little, too late at this point. I mean, who needs a graphic to make amends when you just leave someone off? It's like they're trying to erase history or something.