Closing in 500

In this summer of milestones, one is in danger of being overshadowed by the playoff chase.

Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome has ridden a recent hot streak to the doorstep of the 500 Home Run Club. As of this post, the left-hander with the powerful uppercut stroke is within two homers of the milestone.

Thome should get it soon and join Craig Biggio in the group of nice guys who also finished first.

Thome seems like one of the classiest acts in baseball. He is almost always up for the Roberto Clemente Award and helped to take care of his nephew who was paralyzed after breaking his neck in a diving accident.

With two more home runs, Thome will earn himself a piece of baseball immortality. Off the field, he already has.