White Sox great Thomas on Hall of Fame ballot

Frank Thomas, the White Sox’ greatest hitter of all time, is one of 19 new players on the Hall of Fame ballot announced Tuesday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Thomas, who played 16 seasons with the Sox before finishing his 19-year career with the Oakland A’s and Toronto Blue Jays, won consecutive American League MVP Awards with the Sox in 1993 and ’94 and placed in the top three in the voting five times. He finished his career with 2,468 hits, including 521 home runs, and an OPS of .974, which ranks 14th all-time. Thomas had 1,704 RBI, scored 1,494 runs and had more walks (1,667) than strikeouts (1,397).

Thomas, pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Eric Gagne and second baseman Jeff Kent are first-time nominees. Also on the 36-player ballot: Moises Alou, Jeff Bagwell, Armando Benitez, Craig Biggio, Sean Casey, Ray Durham, Luis Gonzalez, Jacque Jones, Todd Jones, Paul Lo Duca, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Mike Mussina, Hideo Nomo, Rafael Palmeiro, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Kenny Rogers, Curt Schilling, Richie Sexson, Lee Smith, J.T. Snow, Mike Timlin, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker.

With the debate over whether players suspected of using performance enhancing drugs looming over the vote, no one was elected last year. Biggio was close with 388 votes, 39 short of election. The Hall of Fame vote will be announced Jan. 8.

Thomas has never been linked to PEDs, which won’t hurt his cause. Voters may choose 10 players. Those named on 75 percent of the ballots will enter the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., next July.

Here are the players who rank ahead of Thomas, a career .301 hitter, in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

1.Babe Ruth 1.1636L

2.Ted Williams 1.1155

3.Lou Gehrig 1.079

4.Barry Bonds 1.0512

5.Jimmie Foxx 1.0376

6.Hank Greenberg 1.0169

7.Rogers Hornsby 1.0103

8.Albert Pujols 1.0085

9.Manny Ramirez .9960

10.Mark McGwire .9823

11.Mickey Mantle .9773