Pitch & Hit Club to honor Sox slugger Thome

Jim Thome of the Chicago White Sox will be inducted into the "Lou Boudreau Hall of Fame" at the Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago's 63rd annual awards banquet on Jan. 25, 2009, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

The Pitch & Hit Club, founded in 1942 by a group of Chicago area professional baseball scouts, has held the event for more than six decades to honor baseball people at all levels, including scouts and players.

Thome will become the 29th member of the elite group of baseball players, personalities and sports media, most with Chicago ties, who have been honored by the club.

The 38 year-old Thome is currently 14th on the all-time home run list with 541 round-trippers. His 34 homers for the 2008 White Sox moved him past some of the greatest sluggers of all-time on the career home run list, including Ernie Banks and Mickey Mantle.

Additional honorees during the star-studded evening will be announced, as they are confirmed, throughout December. They will include the Pitch & Hit Club's Players of the Year for both the Cubs and White Sox as well as the annual Nick Kamzic Scout of the Year, Bill Gleason Sportswriter of the Year, Major League Executive of the Year, and Chicago area Minor League Player of the Year among others.

As always, a contingent of current and former major league players and celebrities will be on hand for the pre-dinner autograph session. The evening also includes pre-dinner cocktail party with music by White Sox organist Nancy Faust, special baseball vendor exhibits as well as a memorabilia show and silent auction. Tickets for the dinner are $60 each or $600 for a table of 10 and can be purchased by phone at (847) 781-8039.

For more details, pitchandhitclub.org.