'This day means everything to me': Auburn baseball's Frank Thomas has statue unveiled

AUBURN — Just before Auburn baseball legend Frank Thomas spoke at his own statue unveiling ceremony Saturday, AU athletics director John Cohen shared an eye-popping stat.

Cohen explained that only four players in MLB history have hit at least 500 home runs, walked 1,600 or more times and finished with a batting average of .300 or higher. Thomas is one of them.

"Four people have reached this lofty position in baseball history," Cohen said. "To put this in further perspective, only 12 people have ever walked on the moon."

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Thomas, who came to Auburn on a football scholarship and remained on it through his collegiate career despite opting to only focus on baseball, played three seasons with the Tigers. He appeared in 178 games from 1987-89, finished with a .382 batting average and smashed 49 home runs.

He also walked 153 times in 597 at-bats and led the SEC in batting average in 1988 and 1989.

He joined Charles Barkley, Cliff Hare, Bo Jackson, Cam Newton and Pat Sullivan as former Auburn athletes to receive statues on campus. Coaches Pat Dye and Ralph "Shug" Jordan have been enshrined, too.

"Frank, we are all proud of you," said Tim Vines, a former teammate of Thomas and a current BOT member. "We are all proud of your accomplishments and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, we cannot be bestowing this honor on anyone more deserving than you. ...

"I know there's been a debate over the years of who's No. 1 and who's No. 2 and who's No. 3. Is Charles No. 1? Is Bo No. 1? But I will say on this day, Frank, in our hearts and on this day, you are the absolute No. 1."

Thomas went on to have a 19-year professional career, with 16 of those seasons coming with the Chicago White Sox. He was a five-time all-star and won back-to-back MVP awards in 1993 and 1994. He also picked up Silver Slugger awards in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 2000.

AU president Chris Roberts revealed during the ceremony that when he was a PhD student at Norte Dame, he would scrape together enough money to purchase a train ticket to watch Thomas at Comiskey Park: "You were the person who put in my mind that Auburn stood for excellence," Roberts told Thomas during the ceremony.

"This day means everything to me," Thomas said. "This is where it all started for me. Walking through that tunnel, it was surreal. This journey started as a football player and ended up being a hall-of-fame baseball player. (I) just never knew this was going to happen, but God has a plan for everyone.

"I’m so proud of what has happened in my life and career. Throughout all the ups and downs, I’ve been a very prideful man, thankful man and a very humble man. This is a very important day for me and my family, and I thank God it happened."

Thomas said he had seen bits and pieces of the statue before it was officially unveiled, but this was the first time he saw it put together.

"To see that statue, man, it really brought a tear to my eye because it is perfect," Thomas said. "Absolutely perfect. They nailed it."

The statue stands in front of Plainsman Park at the corner of South Donahue Drive and Heisman Drive. He's the first Auburn baseball player to be enshrined, just as he was the first − and to this point, the only − SEC player to ever be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

"In my opinion, in so many ways, Frank, you are our Neil Armstrong," Cohen said to end his speech. "Frank, thank you for going to the moon and thank you for taking Auburn University with you."

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Frank Thomas: Auburn baseball legend had statue unveiled on campus