Rocket man

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Home run No. 511 for Jim Thome was memorable for several reasons, as the White Sox slugger launched the ball into the C-Ring catwalk hanging from the right field roof of Tropicana Field.

They dont give distances here because, well, they cant. This place is more like the arcade of a carnival than a ballpark, with home run poles hanging from different objects attached to the roofing.

Besides being a tape measure blast, however, it also moved Thome into 21st on the all-time homer list, tying Mel Ott.

Next on the horizon for Thome is No. 512, where Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews reside.