Why No Magnifying Glass on Jim Thome?

As a Twins fan, I was surprised in July when I found out that legendary Twin Harmon Killebrew had been passed on the all time home runs list by new Twin and decorated power hitter Jim Thome. Thome moved into the #10 spot of all time great home run sluggers and it occurred to me that not much has ever been speculated as to the legitimacy with which he has accumulated those numbers.

Jim Thome's rookie card. Anything look like it's been inflated since then?

Has any other player from the steroid era soared so high into the all time power hitting ranks without raising significant suspicion?

Thome’s numbers follow the same trend that most confirmed steroid users have. He had excellent power early in his career, but his average home run per seasons numbers skyrocketed around 2001, the same time that Barry Bonds was doing his most damage.

Thome has the power figures to place him as a potential Hall of Famer, but with great sluggers like Mark McGwire looking at Cooperstown from the outside in, why hasn’t more fuss been raised over Thome’s success?

The slugger averaged 32 HRs a year over his first six seasons, but at age 31 he went on a tear over his next four seasons accumulating 190 HRs, more than 47 per season. While Thome may have just mastered his powerful swing in the later years of his career through practice and weight training, I’m left watching my Twins this season with a bit of suspicion every time Thome steps up to the plate.

When all is said and done, I hope that steroid era players are allowed into the Hall of Fame as they are an important part of the history of the game. Steroids marked a turning point in baseball and it cannot be ignored. If baseball purists are too disgusted to see the steroid era players enshrined right next to the greats of yesteryear(who only used amphetamines, hypocrisy much?) then the HOF should create a special “shameful” wing for these players. Heck, you could let Pete Rose in then too, and I’d suggest moving Ty Cobb into the section as well.

Ultimately I believe in innocent until proven guilty and will continue to cheer for Thome as he slugs for my Twins, but isn’t it a shame that I can’t watch a game of baseball without having a shadow of doubt hanging over an entire generation of now older sluggers forcing me to think “Did he shoot up or didn’t he?” instead of thinking “Will he get the clutch hit we need and help us win the game?”