All is forgiven for Big Hurt, White Sox

In a sign that all is forgiven between Frank Thomas, best known as the "Big Hurt", and the Chicago White Sox after a bitter parting, the team announced it would retire his #35 in August. It's a smart, classy move.

"When you become an icon in a city, there's never a sweet way to say goodbye," Thomas said in an interview on MLB Network's Hot Stove show. "There are no hard feelings. We patched things up, we really have."

Thomas will undoubtedly enter the Baseball Hall of Fame with a White Sox cap when he becomes eligible for the first time in 2014. "I would love to be part of that elite class, God willing," Thomas said. "I think my resume speaks for itself."

He's absolutely right. He's a sure-fire, first-ballot inductee and we don't have very many of those anymore. It's going to be a great summer in 2014 with him and Tom Glavine heading the class.

Thanks to BCS National Championship via Wikipedia for the photo.