Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Lesson From Frank Thomas' Hall of Fame Speech: Keep Your Head Down, Finish

By Mark Konkol | July 28, 2014 7:10am
 White Sox legend Frank Thomas gives his speech during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y. Thomas hit 521 home runs and won two American League Most Valuable Player awards during his 19-year career.
White Sox legend Frank Thomas gives his speech during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y. Thomas hit 521 home runs and won two American League Most Valuable Player awards during his 19-year career.
View Full Caption
Getty Images/Jim McIsaac

CHICAGO — White Sox slugger Frank Thomas’s emotional Major League Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech tugged on the ol’ heartstrings, that’s for sure.

It was a delight to see our beloved “Big Hurt” all teary-eyed and humble as he thanked his mother and late father, brothers and sisters, coaches and doctors, every teammate with a nickname he could remember and “the greatest sports town in America.”

But there’s one little tidbit in Thomas’ speech, words of wisdom from Walt Hriniak, his first big-league hitting coach with the White Sox, that particularly hit home for me.

Hriniak would tell the White Sox slugger, “Keep your effing head down and finish,” Thomas said during his induction speech.

That, of course, was advice for Thomas’ iconic swing — which started with a high leg kick followed by a powerful hip thrust, his chin tucked to his chest to keep both eyes on the ball, ending elegantly with a one-handed follow through — that made hitting a homer look so easy.

It seemed like a throwaway line from Thomas’ memory — a tip of the hat to the hitting guru who helped the slugger from Georgia become a baseball legend.

But it was more than that, at least for me.

I grew up watching Big Frank hit bombs for the White Sox. At one time or another, more than a few of my pals on the Dolton Boys Baseball League tried (and failed) to mimic his swing.

And as we stood in the batters' box, our fathers and coaches would yell out instructions that, as things turned out, doubled as great life advice:

“Keep your eye on the ball.” (Pay attention to what you’re doing.)

“Get your elbow up.” (Do things the right way.)

“Don’t step in the bucket.” (Fear not.)

“Never swing at pitches in the dirt” (Always have discipline.)

As I’ve gotten older, baseball has became more about the lessons learned than how many home runs my favorite slugger hits or strikeouts my favorite pitcher rings up.

And on Sunday, Thomas reminded me of that again with one throwaway line from the coach who helped him define his Hall of Fame swing.

“Keep your effing head down and finish.” (Focus and don't give up.)

When Thomas uttered those seven words, he said so much about what it takes to turn all you ever dreamed of into your greatest success.

And so little about how to hit a home run.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: