Frank Thomas always grabbed a roll of athletic tape, regardless of where or when Auburn was playing.
It was pregame routine, as his coaches and teammates remember it. Thomas mashed pieces of tape into five or six bunches that were no smaller than a marble but no bigger than a golf ball. Then, he’d grab whoever was willing to throw them and head down the foul line closest to Auburn’s dugout for his own version of batting practice.
He was an undeniable talent coming out of Columbus High School in 1986, starring in football pads, on the basketball court and with a bat in his hands. He came to Auburn a two-sport athlete, on a football scholarship and playing baseball, before an injury shifted his focus to the diamond entirely. “He was the most refined hitter, as a true freshman, that I've ever seen,” Baird said. “He wasn't raw. He wasn't unpolished. He was totally refined, totally polished. He had a professional knowledge of the strike zone when he was, like, 18 or 19. Never had seen that in any young man before.”
The prowess at the plate showed up in the box scores. Thomas never had a season with more strikeouts than walks as a Tiger. His 153 career walks are second all-time in Auburn history, and his 73 walks in 1989 are a single-season program record. It was a testament to his patience as a hitter.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Auburn basketball headed to Maui Invitational in 2024Auburn men's basketball has made it official: the program will return to the Aloha State in 2024, taking part in that year's Maui Invitational.
Read more »
Auburn University gymnast announces retirementSuni Lee, the Auburn University gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, announced the end of her gymnastics career as an Auburn Tiger.
Read more »
Auburn's Hugh Freeze receives support for scrimmage game to end spring practiceAuburn head coach Hugh Freeze received support from the head coaches at Troy and UAB for his idea to end spring practice with a scrimmage against another program.
Read more »
Several stolen vehicles recovered after FBI search warrant in AuburnThe FBI arrested several people in Auburn last month, and recovered multiple stolen vehicles. FOX13
Read more »
1 killed, 3 critically injured after car crashes into Auburn homeAuburn police are investigating after a car crashed into a home and left one person dead and multiple people critically injured Wednesday morning. FOX13
Read more »