In honour of Mel Allen, the late great baseball announcer, I’d like to start a new feature on ‘The 500 Level’. Allen coined the phrase, "How about that?", well before I was introduced to the world of baseball, but he was still hosting my favourite program, ‘This Week in Baseball’, during the Blue Jays’ glory years when my young eyes were constantly glued to the TV. So, without further adieu …

Jim Abbott, who threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1993, and enjoyed a 10-year major-league career, was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. "How about that?".

Yep, Abbott, famous for making the Major Leagues despite being born without a right hand, was taken by the Blue Jays in the 36th round of the 1985 draft. A seventeen-year-old at the time, he opted to go to college at the University of Michigan, where — in 1987 — he became the first pitcher ever to be named the top amateur athlete in the United States. He was then drafted eighth overall by the California Angels in 1988, and went straight to the Major Leagues without playing a single minor-league contest.

Perhaps his best season came in 1991, when he posted an 18-11 record along with a 2.89 ERA for the Angels, finishing third in AL Cy Young voting. But perhaps his greatest performance came on September 4, 1993, at Yankee Stadium. That day, Abbott became the seventh Yankee pitcher to toss a no-hitter, and the fifth to do so in the Bronx. And it came against the Cleveland Indians, certainly no pushover. Though they finished below .500 in ’93, the Tribe’s lineup already featured several key members of the 1995 squad that won 100 games. Included in the lineup that day were: Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez.

Remarkably, Abbott was known as a good fielder too, despite having to catch with the same left hand that he used to pitch. Wearing a glove on the stump of his right arm, Abbott would quickly transfer the glove to his left hand to field the ball or take throws back from the catcher. Often, he would simply knock the ball down on a comebacker, before picking it up and making the throw to first.

Abbott was certainly an inspiration to me growing up, and as we now find ourselves in the performance-enhancing (aka cheating) era, it’s important to remember stories like Jim Abbott. To me, he exemplifies what baseball is all about. Or at least, what it can and should be all about.   

Courtesy of Baseball Almanac …

Whether we want to witness it or not, Barry Bonds will, of course, surpass Hank Aaron and become the all-time home run king in the major leagues in the very near future. This comes just six years after the San Francisco slugger smacked 73 home runs in 2001 to become the single-season record-holder. There’s no denying that both of these accomplishments are quite impressive. However, neither were considered unattainable. Especially after Mark McGwire showed the world that we had entered the ster … err, home run era back in 1998.

And, if we’re lucky, Bonds’ new mark will be broken by Alex Rodriguez down the road. Again, certainly not out of the question. But what about those records that truly seem unbreakable? I’m talking about Joe Dimaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, set in 1941. I’m talking about a player hitting .400, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since the great Ted Williams managed the mark (.406) during that same season.

Though it didn’t last the entire season, John Olerud‘s run at .400 during the 1993 campaign had every Toronto Blue Jay fan watching intently. That season, Olerud had a .400 average as late as August 2, and finished with a franchise-record .363 mark to win the American League batting crown. Perhaps even more impressive was his .473 on-base percentage, which — to put into perspective — is 97 points higher than the current Blue Jay leader in that category (Troy Glaus, .376). Prior to the ’93 campaign, Roberto Alomar held the franchise record with a .405 on-base percentage, which he posted in 1992.

Again, just how impressive was Olerud’s .473? Aside from tainted sluggers Bonds and Jason Giambi, only Edgar Martinez (.479, 1995) and Wade Boggs (.476, 1988) have managed a higher mark over the last 46 years.

No Blue Jay came close to that mark until 2000, when Carlos Delgado enjoyed an MVP-calibre season for Toronto, and finished with an on-base percentage of .470. Among active players, that is the highest single-season mark ever (again, aside from the juicers). Of course, Delgado was a unique slugger who boasted much more power than Olerud. Still, he was walked intentionally just 18 times in 2000 compared to the 33 times that Olerud received in 1993.

After Delgado, the next-highest OBP ever posted by a Blue Jay is .427, accomplished by Tony Fernandez in 1999. So I ask: Will Olerud’s record ever be broken? 

There has been a lot of talk about the Toronto Blue Jays’ stagnant offense in recent weeks. However, that certainly hasn’t been the case over the last few games. And it especially wasn’t the case during the sixth inning on Wednesday afternoon. Toronto put up a remarkable 11 runs in that frame against the Minnesota Twins, matching the highest run total in one inning in franchise history.

The first occasion in which the Blue Jays plated 11 runs in a single frame occurred on July 20, 1984 during a contest against the Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome. Toronto entered the top of the ninth trailing 3-1. They were also without their manager, Bobby Cox, who had been ejected by Durwood Merrill in the bottom of the seventh. Coaches Jimy Williams and Al Widmar were also gone from the game, as Merrill ejected the pair of Blue Jay coaches in the top of the eighth.

Not to worry, as Toronto hitting coach Cito Gaston assumed the managing duties for the ninth, and the Blue Jays responded with an impressive display of offense. Lloyd Moseby led off the inning with a triple, and scored on a one-out single by Willie Aikens. Gaston didn’t waste any time before making lineup changes, as he summoned Alfredo Griffin to run for Aikens, and Cliff Johnson to bat for Rance Mulliniks. Johnson singled and was replaced on the basepaths by Garth Iorg. George Bell then batted for Ernie Whitt, singling Griffin to third. However, third baseman Jim Presley was called for obstruction, allowing Griffin to come home with the tying run.

After Jesse Barfield singled to load the bases, Tony Fernandez followed suit with a two-run single to put the Jays ahead 5-3. Damaso Garcia singled to score Barfield and, after a walk to Dave Collins, Moseby knocked home two more runs with a single, his second hit of the inning. Upshaw and Griffin then managed back-to-back run-scoring singles to give Toronto a 10-3 lead. Before Iorg grounded into a fielder’s choice, 10 straight Blue Jay batters had reached safely.

After Bell walked to load the bases, Barfield plated two more runs with a single, making it a 12-3 ballgame. The Mariners finally stopped the bleeding by striking out Tony Fernandez for the final out of the inning. 

It pains me to say this, but the Toronto Blue Jays’ chances at making the playoffs this year are essentially zero. I know, I know … save for B.J. Ryan, the team is as healthy as its been all season (finally), which means we will get the chance to see what could have been if Toronto had not been hit with so many injuries in 2007. Still, the deficit is simply too big to overcome. At 44-45 entering action Saturday night, the Blue Jays would need to win roughly 51 of their remaining 73 games to put themselves in contention for the AL wild card.

History has shown that an American League team likely needs to reach 95 wins to compete for the final playoff berth. Thus, the Jays would need to finish 51-22 (.699). Last year, Toronto closed out the year going 38-35 over its last 73 contests. In 2005, it was 36-37. The sad reality is that the Blue Jays have never even come close to recording 51 wins in their last 73 games.

The best mark? 46-27. That’s how Toronto closed out the 1985, 1989 and 1993 campaigns. Therefore, the Blue Jays would need to record their best finish in franchise history if they hope to make the playoffs in ’07. Put another way, the Jays would need to do the exact opposite of what they did in 1977, the club’s first year of existence. That team posted a 22-51 record over their final 73 games, the worst such mark in team history. Will the Jays turn the tables and post their best mark ever 30 years later? No, but we’re still going to watch just in case.

Best records over final 73 games:

46-27 – 1985, 1989, 1993
44-29 – 1987, 1988
42-31 – 1992, 1998, 2002    

Friday the 13th has not been kind to the Toronto Blue Jays over the years. In fact, entering tonight’s action, the Jays had posted an overall record of 10-16 in games played on this infamous of days. 

It all started during the Jays’ second month as a franchise. On May 13, 1977, Toronto took their 14-17 record into Minnesota to open a three-game series against the Twins. Trailing 3-1 in the eighth, the Blue Jays scored twice in the inning, knotting the score at three runs apiece. The game would remain tied until the bottom of the 11th when, fittingly, Toronto would get hit with some bad luck. After a Roy Smalley walk and a Rod Carew single, pitcher Mike Willis committed an error on Butch Wynegar’s sacrifice bunt, which loaded the bases. Jerry Johnson came on in relief and promptly got Craig Kusick to ground into the 1-2-3 double play, leaving runners on second and third with two out. Unfortunately, Johnson followed up his nifty double play with a wild pitch, which scored Carew from third to give the Twins a 4-3 win.

The Blue Jays’ worst streak of Friday the 13th games occurred between 1991-2001, as Toronto lost all five games during that span. Here are some other highlights from over the years … 

• The Jays’ second ever Friday the 13th game — April 13, 1979 — was shortened after a 1:11 rain delay at Exhibition Stadium. Toronto won that contest, 4-1, in six innings over the visiting Kansas City Royals.
• On September 13, 1985, knuckleballer Phil Niekro tosses a complete game for New York at Yankee Stadium, but the Blue Jays win the game 3-2.
• Melido Perez tosses a complete-game three-hitter, as the White Sox down the Blue Jays, 3-1, at Comiskey Park on May 13, 1988.
• On Friday 13, 1990, Jim Abbott and Todd Stottlemyre both hurl complete-game four hitters. However, Abbott’s is a shutout, and the California Angels earn a 2-0 home victory over the Jays.
• Toronto drops identical 5-3 contests against the Red Sox in back-to-back Friday the 13th contests at Fenway Park (August 13, 1993 & May 13, 1994)
• Chris Michalak, the feel-good story of 2001, makes his second career Major League start on April 13, and earns a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals at SkyDome.
• With the Jays ahead 2-1 in the seventh (July 13, 2001) against the Phillies, Bob File comes on to pitch and promptly gives up a pair of singles that give Philadelphia a 3-2 lead. Then in the eighth, File serves up a two-run homer to Scott Rolen, making it 5-2. File immediately plunks Travis Lee, and gets ejected along with Toronto manager Buck Martinez.
• In the first ever game between the Blue Jays and Chicago CUbs (June 13, 2003), Kelvim Escobar picks up the win (and strikes out 10 batters) in a 5-1 Toronto victory.
• On April 13, 2007, Roy Halladay tosses 10 innings to record a complete-game victory, as the Blue Jays down the Tigers by a 2-1 margin.

May 13, 1977 @ Metropolitan Stadium
L 4-3 (11) against Minnesota

April 13, 1979 @ Exhibition Stadium
W 4-1 against Kansas City

July 13, 1979 @ Exhibition Stadium
L 6-4 against Minnesota

June 13, 1980 @ Exhibition Stadium
L 6-3 against Texas

August 13, 1982 @ County Stadium
L 3-1 against Milwaukee

May 13, 1983 @ Cleveland Stadium
L 5-1 against Cleveland

April 13, 1984 @ Arlington Stadium
W 3-2 against Texas

July 13, 1984 @ Oakland-Alameda County Stadium
W 6-3 against Oakland

September 13, 1985 @ Yankee Stadium
W 3-2 against New York

June 13, 1986 @ Exhibition Stadium
L 10-5 against Detroit

May 13, 1988 @ Comiskey Park
L 4-1 against White Sox

April 13, 1990 @ Royals Stadium
W 3-1 against Kansas City

July 13, 1990 @ Anaheim Stadium
L 2-0 against California

September 13, 1991 @ SkyDome
W 7-6 against Oakland

August 13, 1993 @ Fenway Park
L 5-3 against Boston

May 13, 1994 @ Fenway Park
L 5-3 against Boston

September 13, 1996 @ SkyDome
L 4-1 against New York

June 13, 1997 @ Veterans Stadium
L 4-3 against Philadelphia

August 13, 1999 @ SkyDome
L 9-8 against Oakland

April 13, 2001 @ Skydome
W 2-1 against Kansas City

July 13, 2001 @ Veterans Stadium
L 5-2 against Philadelphia

September 13, 2002 @ SkyDome
W 5-2 against Tampa Bay

June 13, 2003 @ SkyDome
W 5-1 against Chicago Cubs

August 13, 2004 @ SKyDome
L 4-0 against Baltimore

May 13, 2005 @ Jacobs Field
L 6-4 against Cleveland

April 13, 2007 @ Rogers Centre
W 2-1 against Detroit

When he was chosen to participate in Major League Baseball’s Midsummer Classic this year, Alex Rios became the 67th all-star in Blue Jays history. Dave Stieb has earned the most all-star selections, having been named seven times — including five in six seasons (1980-85). He was also named the starting pitcher in two of those contests (1983 & 1984).

Among position players, Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter lead the way, having been named All-Stars five times each while with the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, Alomar was voted in as a starter from 1991-94. Carter joined his teammate on the AL starting squad during the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

Overall, only five different players have been chosen by the fans to be in the starting lineup for the Midsummer Classic. George Bell became the first in 1987, and Carlos Delgado was the last in 2003. The only other Blue Jay to be voted in as a starter is John Olerud, who did so in 1993.

Here’s a list of those players who have received more than one all-star selection as a Blue Jay …   

7 – Dave Stieb (1980-81, 1983-85, 1988 & 1990)
5 – Roberto Alomar (1991-95)
   - Joe Carter (1991-94 & 1996)
4 – Tony Fernandez (1986-87, 1989 & 1999)
   - Roy Halladay (2002-03, 2005-06)
3 – Pat Hentgen (1993-94 & 1997)
2 – Damaso Garcia (1984-1985)
   - Jimmy Key (1985 & 1991)
   - George Bell (1987 & 1990)
   - Kelly Gruber (1989-90)
   - Paul Molitor (1993-94)
   - Roger Clemens (1997-98)
   - Carlos Delgado (2000 & 2003)
   - Vernon Wells (2003 & 2006)
   - Alex Rios (2006-07)

As a member of the rival Oakland Athletics, Dave Stewart was quite familiar with the Blue Jays before he joined the club prior to the 1993 season. Not only did he throw a no-hitter against Toronto, he also faced the Jays in the playoffs on two separate occasions (1989 & 1992).

However, Blue Jays fans welcomed Stewart — and his notorious stare — with open arms in 1993, and on October 23 of that season, the veteran right-hander took the mound in the biggest game of the year — Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

I recently caught up with Stewart, who was more than happy to reminisce about his experiences with the Toronto Blue Jays. Here’s what he had to say …

Q: On June 29, 1990, you tossed the first — and still only — no-hitter against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Was that the best game of your career? If not, what was?

Stewart: Without a doubt that was the best game of my career. It’s tough to top a no-hitter. I can’t even begin to describe the feelings you experience after throwing a no-hitter, but I can tell you that you are dead tired when it’s over. I was absolutely wiped out.

Q: With the rivalry between the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays in the late 80′s/early 90′s, it was very intriguing when you joined Toronto from Oakland. What was it that made you decide to sign with the Blue Jays during the 1992 offseason?

Stewart: I felt they were the closest to winning the World Series of all the teams that were pursuing me. I had the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers pursuing me, but I liked everything about Toronto and I felt they were in the best shape to win the World Series.

Q: Often, players late in their careers sign with a team that they think can win a championship. Things couldn’t have worked out better for you in that respect in 1993, as you played a big role (ALCS MVP) in bringing Toronto its second straight World Series title that season. Could you sum up your performance that season and how you feel you contributed to that ’93 team?

Stewart: The worst thing that could have happened to me was to start the season on the disabled list. That was really difficult. When I did come back I believe I was able to win 12 or 13 games and I pitched well in the playoffs so in the end I was able to do what they signed me to do. The down point was definitely starting the season on the DL and not knowing if I was going to be able to help. The best part was making the playoffs and pitching well throughout the postseason and of course winning the World Series.

Q: You left Game 6 of the World Series with a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning, but quickly watched that turn into a 6-5 deficit. With the game now out of your hands, describe your thoughts as you watched the remainder of the game from the bench.

Stewart: The best I can remember is that I pitched into the seventh and then gave up a home run to Lenny Dykstra that made it 5-4. Danny Cox came in and he had done a good job all year. Had I done my job Danny would not have been in the game and I could have just turned it over to Duane Ward. I was disappointed that I didn’t finish the game or at least didn’t go deep enough into the game so that we wouldn’t have to worry about giving up the lead.

Q: What was the first thing you did when Joe Carter cleared the fence for the World Series-winning homer? Who did you hug first?

Stewart: When we won it the first person I hugged was Moli, Paul Molitor. Moli was a great teammate, I mean a great teammate and he had never won a World Series before. We came in the same year and I was just really happy for him.

Q: Could you describe overall how your experience was as a Toronto Blue Jay?

Stewart: Toronto is a great city, just an outstanding city to play in. I had a great time playing for Cito Gaston and that ownership and management team was great. It was a great place to play. I don’t think I had that kind of experience in any other place.

Q: One thing that I’ve always wanted to know more about was your involvement in helping the homeless in Toronto. It was reported that on the night before you took the mound in Game 6 of the ALCS — a series in which you won the MVP award — that you were at a homeless shelter helping serve dinners. Is that true? Could you elaborate on the work you did for the homeless in Toronto? Are you still involved in that?

Stewart: That is a true story. I was there serving Thanksgiving dinner the night before our game. It was something I had scheduled to do and the Blue Jays understood that and allowed me to do it. I have been committed to working with the homeless and underprivileged children since my playing days and I continue to work in those areas.

Some numbers on the first half of the Blue Jays’ 2007 season …

• For the first time since 2004, Toronto heads into the All-Star break with a losing record (43-44 — .494). In 2006, the club posted a mark of 49-39 (.557) prior to the Midsummer Classic. The Jays managed a franchise-best 53-34 (.609) record in the first half during the 1992 season.
• Through action Sunday, the Blue Jays’ season attendance mark at Rogers Centre is 1,194,980, an average of 26,555 fans per game (45 home contests). In 2006, the Jays drew 1,186,106 prior to the All-Star break (46 home games), for an average of 25,785 per contest. The highest attendance the Jays have drawn prior to the break was 2,416,036 during the ’92 campaign. That averaged out to a ******** 49,307 fans per game.
• At .294, Alex Rios currently owns the highest batting average on the Blue Jays. This marks the first time since 2002 that Toronto has not had a player (minimum 250 at-bats) with a .300-plus batting average in the first half of the season. In 2006, Rios (.330), Vernon Wells (.311) and Shea Hillenbrand (.305) all managed the feat. The highest average ever posted by a Blue Jay in the first half was .395, accomplished by John Olerud in 1993.
• Roy Halladay‘s 10 first-half wins rank 10th all-time. The current Blue Jay ace had 12 prior to the break last season. David Wells, meanwhile, is the franchise record-holder, having won 15 games before the Midsummer Classic in 2000.
• A.J. Burnett‘s 106 first-half strikeouts place him eighth on the all-time list, which is headed by Roger Clemens, who struck out 140 batters prior to the All-Star break in 1997.
• Rios also leads the current club with 53 RBIs. Wells had 66 RBIs in the first half last season to lead the club. Neither of these marks falls in the Top 10 all-time. Carlos Delgado set the franchise record with 97 RBIs prior to the All-Star game in 2003.

It has been eight days since my last post on ‘The 500 Level’. Apologies are obviously in order. I will spare the details behind my absence, and instead simply say: Let’s get back to it … 

The Blue Jays entered Saturday’s contest with a record of 18-8 (.692) in their last 26 games in the friendly confines of Rogers Centre. That marked the highest home winning percentage — since May 11 — of any team in the American League. Including Saturday’s loss to the Indians, Toronto now owns a home record of 25-19 this season, good for sixth-best in the AL.

The franchise’s best overall home record came during the 1985 season, in which the Jays posted a mark of 54-26 at Exhibition Stadium en route to capturing their first ever AL East title. Meanwhile, the ’85 team also set a franchise mark by winning 10 straight home contests from July 21 – August 3.

The streak started during the finale of a four-game set with the Oakland Athletics, which Toronto won 11-4. Following that, the Blue Jays completed three and four game sweeps, respectively, against the Seattle Mariners and California Angels. During those first eight wins, Toronto outscored its opponent by a ******** 49-15 margin.

Having already earned two victories during the Jays’ home winning streak, Doyle Alexander made it three when the club returned home following a short four-game road trip. Alexander allowed three runs over eight innings against the Texas Rangers before giving way to the bullpen. In just his third game with Toronto, closer Tom Henke shut the door on his former team to record his first career save as a Blue Jay, as the home team claimed a 5-3 win.

Two games later the streak was finally snapped, as Toronto fell 8-4 in the finale of that series against the Rangers. Dave Stieb took the loss, allowing seven runs in seven innings.

With a three-run homer off Carlos Silva in the first-inning Thursday afternoon, Frank Thomas became the 21st player to reach 500 home runs. It was somewhat fitting that he reached the milestone in Minnesota, as the Metrodome was the site of his first career homer 17 years ago. Of his 500 career long balls, exactly 10% (50) have come against Minnesota, the most he has hit against any opponent.

Before joining the Blue Jays prior to the 2007 season, Thomas had homered 21 times against Toronto, accounting for 4.2% of his total. Here’s a look at his home runs as a Blue Jay opponent …

May 10, 1991: In his first full season in the majors, Thomas belts his first career homer against the Blue Jays and career homer No. 12 off Denis Boucher during a 5-3 White Sox victory at SkyDome.

July 29, 1991: During a 12-4 White Sox rout over the Jays, Thomas hits career homer No. 25 off left-hander David Wells at SkyDome.

July 30, 1991: The following day, Thomas belts No. 26, a two-run shot off Bob Macdonald that turns out to be the winning run in an 8-7 Chicago win at SkyDome.

April 30, 1993: Thomas hits a third-inning grand slam off right-hander Todd Stottlemyre for career homer No. 66. Playing at Comiskey Park, the White Sox cruise to a 10-2 victory and Thomas finishes with 5 RBIs.

July 5, 1993: A solo shot off righty Pat Hentgen marks career homer No. 81 for Thomas, whose White Sox go on to win 4-3 at SkyDome.

July 19, 1993: Dave Stewart serves up career home run No. 84 for Thomas, a solo blast in the first inning. The Blue Jays dominate the game, however, winning 15-7 at Comiskey Park.

July 20, 1993: Thomas’s two-run homer in the sixth inning off Juan Guzman accounts for the winning runs in a 2-1 Chicago win. It marks career home run No. 85 and 22nd of the season for Thomas, who is well on his way to winning the AL MVP award.

August 27, 1995: Thomas belts a solo homer, his 33rd of the season, off lefty Al Leiter during a 2-1 Blue Jays win at SkyDome. The homer is career No. 175.

August 30, 1996: During an 11-2 Chicago rout at SkyDome, Thomas belts a two-run homer off Woody Williams for career home run No. 211.

August 21, 1997: Exactly one week after blasting his 250th career homer, Thomas hits No. 251, a two-run shot off Pat Hentgen in the first inning of a 6-3 White Sox victory at Comiskey Park.

August 26, 1997: Thomas hits career homer No. 252 off Marty Janzen during an 8-5 Chicago win at SkyDome.

April 18, 1998 – Both of Thomas’s home runs against the Blue Jays in ’98 come in the same game, as the ‘Big Hurt’ belts career homer No. 259 off Pat Hentgen (a solo shot in the first), and No. 260 off Carlos Almanzar (another solo in the eighth). The Blue Jays win the game though, 9-4.

July 23, 1999: Thomas enters a four-game series against the Blue Jays at Comiskey Park with 298 career homers. He gets No. 299, a solo blast off Joey Hamilton in Game 1, but the Jays win the game 2-1 and hold Thomas homerless over the next three contests.

May 3, 2000: Career homer No. 307 comes against John Frascatore in the sixth inning of a 7-3 Chicago victory at Comiskey Park.

May 19, 2000: Thomas hits No. 308 off Kelvim Escobar during a 5-3 White Sox win at SkyDome. The homer, a three-run blast in the third inning, accounts for the winning runs.

August 26, 2002: Thomas’s lone homer against the Blue Jays in 2002 comes against Michael Smith in the third inning of an 8-4 Toronto win at Comiskey Park. The solo homer marks No. 370 of his career.

May 2, 2004: Thomas launches career homer No. 423 off Miguel Batista in the fourth inning of a 3-2 Chicago win at U.S. Cellular Field. The long ball serves as the winning run in the contest.

May 10, 2006: In his first series against the Blue Jays since joining the Oakland, Thomas belts career homer No. 455 off Gustavo Chacin (a two-run shot) at Rogers Centre. However, Toronto goes on to win 9-7.

July 28, 2006: During a 4-3 Blue Jays win in Oakland, Thomas manages a solo homer off Scott Downs, marking career blast No. 471.

August 23, 2006: Thomas hits a two-run shot off Gustavo Chacin in the top of the first inning, and the A’s go on to win 6-0. For Thomas, the homer marks career No. 475.

Home run notes:

- 12 of the 21 homers were hit at SkyDome/Rogers Centre
- 8 were hit at Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field
- 1 was hit at Network Associates Coliseum

Toronto’s record in games that Thomas homered (20): 7-13
Number of different pitchers: 18
Pitchers who gave up more than one: Pat Hentgen (3), Gustavo Chacin (2)

Thomas’s career stats against the Blue Jays:
.283 (137-for-484) batting average, .416 on-base percentage, 21 HR, 81 RBI, 81 runs scored, 106 BB, 82 K.