Phillies Newcomers: Jim Thome

Height: 6-3.
Weight: 250.

Bats: Left.
Throws: Right.

Role: Expected mostly to pinch-hit. Hasn't played first base regularly since 2005 but could be used there at times at the start of the season while Ryan Howard recovers.

Acquired: Signed a 1-year, $1.25 million contract on Nov. 4.

BIG SHOT

Thome has batted .233 in his career as a pinch-hitter with just four homers in 144 plate appearances. In 2011, he was 3-for-13 (.231) with no homers.

FAST FACTS

* Oddly, Thome's middle name is Howard - as in the guy who replaced him with the Phillies in 2006. Ryan Howard's middle name, by the way, is James.

* Thome is one of five children to his father Chuck and late mother Joyce. The family is enshrined in the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame for various accomplishments.

* One of the few sluggers of the recent era without a link to steroids. "My father would beat me if I ever did that," he once said.

* He is so respected in the game that Detroit fans gave him a standing ovation after hitting his 600th home run and Tigers manager Jim Leyland sent him a bottle of Dom Perignon.

* Thome is the all-time leader with 12 walk-off home runs.

* Thome's 604 home runs by club: Indians, 337; White Sox, 134; Phillies, 96; Twins, 37; Dodgers, 0.

* Credits Charlie Manuel with essentially saving his career. Thome was a struggling minor leaguer before Manuel, then the Indians' hitting coach, suggested Thome change his stance and shift his weight.

* In a September interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Thome called Manuel a "mentor and father."

* Biggest pet peeve is players who show up opponents, teammates or umpires.

* His only home run crown came in 2003 when he hit 47 for the Phillies.

* "Most guys that are really great players aren't the best teammates," said Paul Konerko, who played alongside Thome with the White Sox. "Jimmy, he's both sides of it. Not only is he great and a Hall of Famer, but he's a great teammate. Those other guys have respect, too. But they are not loved."

FAN CLUB

It's often all or nothing with Thome, who is eighth in career homers and second only to Reggie Jackson in career strikeouts. Here are the top home run hitters with each player's career whiffs:

Other Notables

STATS

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Each day this week, the Daily News will take a look at a newcomer to the Phillies heading into spring training.

Yesterday: Laynce Nix

Today: Jim Thome

Tomorrow: Dontrelle Willis

Thursday: Ty Wigginton

Friday: Jonathan Papelbon