Jim Thome, upon hitting his 599th and 600th home run for the Minnesota Twins against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night in a 9-6 victory, thanked one of his former hitting coaches for the milestone.
Charlie Manuel.
"Charlie stood by all of us. Charlie built confidence in us. Charlie pounded his fist on the table and (said) 'I believe in these guys. I want these guys on our club.
"He instilled confidence.... 'When you go to home plate, you're the man, YOU'RE the guy.'
"Charlie has been very, very special to me throughout my career. I dedicate a lot of those home runs to him because he's been there with a lot of confidence. And in times of struggle he built us up and pep talked us."
Manuel has an 842-659 record over a 10-year managing career with the Cleveland Indians and the Phillies.
He won the World Series with the Phillies in 2008, but it is his relationship with the players that will stand the test of time.
When Charlie M...
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