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Quinn Proclaims Frank Thomas Day In Illinois

(STMW) -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a proclamation making Sunday Frank Thomas Day as the former Chicago White Sox slugger is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The "Big Hurt" played 16 of his 19 seasons in the major leagues on the South Side, winning MVP awards in 1993 and '94 and setting club records with 448 home runs and 1,465 runs batted in while wearing a White Sox uniform.

"Every time Frank Thomas stepped into the box you knew something special might happen," Quinn said in a statement.

Thomas retired in 2008 after stints with the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays. The White Sox have previously honored Thomas by retiring his number, 35, and placing a statue of him in U.S. Cellular Field.

He will be inducted to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, Sunday afternoon along with former White Sox manager Tony La Russa and former pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

Thomas now works as a commentator for Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Fox Sports.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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