Indians set to unveil Jim Thome statue in August

Jim Thome is the Indians' all-time home run leader and will have a statue erected in his honor.

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CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Indians will unveil a statue of slugger Jim Thome at Progressive Field on Aug. 2.

Thome, the team's career leader in home runs, is being immortalized with the statue of him in his signature pose pointing his bat toward the pitcher. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is the only other Cleveland player to receive such an honor.

Thome said he never could have dreamed of such a tribute.

One of Cleveland's most popular players, Thome hit 337 of his 612 career homers with the Indians. He broke in with the club as a slender third baseman in 1991 and developed into of baseball's most feared hitters.

Thome had two stints with the Indians. He played with the club from 1991-2002 before signing as a free agent with Philadelphia. He also played for the White Sox, Dodgers, Twins and Orioles before retiring in 2012.

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