Frank Thomas
I grew up in the Boys & Girls Club. That's where I really started playing all sports, and that's why I'm a big advocate for the work they do.Collection: Sports
Doing something the right way is something I take pride in.
When you're going into a game, you're not expected to hit a home run every game. You're just doing everything proper with proper swings.
I think there is a lot of good in making the All-Star Team. People look at your career a little bit differently.
I got snubbed about eight times for the Mid-Summer Classic, and I know what type of career I had, and I know that I'm a true All-Star. The selection process is not very accurate.
In the South, the food is outstanding. Down south, we eat to get full, and the people up north, they don't do that.
At the Home Run Derby, you're expected to hit home runs. You're up there trying to hit home runs.
A Home Run Derby is fun. It's just like taking batting practice, and you just want to go deep. Guys do it every day. Yes, there's a little more pressure when they pull that cage back, but if you practice properly, it shouldn't affect the second half of your season at all.
I come from good stock. Both of my parents are big - my dad is a big guy; my mom is a big lady.
I'm just happy to be sitting right here in Chicago and right here at U.S. Cellular Field, holding my Hall of Fame press conference. I'm proud of that.
I always try to overachieve. I feel I have something to prove every day.Collection: Trying
The Big Hurt describes me perfectly-not as a person, but as a player. It's what I do to a baseball.Collection: Baseball
I do feel I was overshadowed by some of those guys (who took steroids) . . . I had a diminished-skills clause written in after I hit 29 home runs and drove in 92 RBIs, and I think those (steroid-aided home run hitters) are partly to blame.Collection: Running
I'm not cocky. But I'm very confident.Collection: Cocky
Observe Everything. Communicate Well. Draw, Draw, Draw.Collection: Creativity
I take a lot of pitches. Some guys hate to do that.Collection: Hate
I just have to be myself, and not worry about everyone looking at me and watching.Collection: Worry
As you get old, you live and learn.Collection: Live And Learn
My focus is on a ring, and giving the best individual performance I can.Collection: Giving
My maturity level is rising. I think there are certain situations that I'm handling better than in the past.Collection: Maturity
A lot of guys are free swingers, but I'm up there looking for a specific pitch.Collection: Guy
I always wanted to be the strongest man on the field. Most of the time, they said I was lifting too much but I didn't believe in that at all.Collection: Believe
You just can't wake up out of bed and think you can figure out a gym. You definitely need some personal training.Collection: Thinking
I just don't feel like I'm old. I still feel like I've got a lot of years, a lot to give in this game, and I'm able to do it because I love to work.Collection: Years
As you get older, it gets harder to get rid of that belly but I do a lot of cardio to try to stay in shape.Collection: Trying
I always took my workouts serious because I have a football background. I came from football, so when I got to baseball, I continued my football workouts in the offseason.Collection: Baseball
I think the body responds to more reps better than heavier weight. As long as I got those reps in three or four sets, it didn't bother me and I could come down on the weight. Teams didn't want me to do it as much, but that's just the way it is.Collection: Team