The Chicago White Sox find themselves in a legal showdown with Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, a familiar face both on and off the field. This time, the dispute has moved to the courtroom.
Back in February, Thomas expressed his discontent with the White Sox after he was mentioned only briefly in a Black History Month post. The post highlighted Dick Allen as the first Black player to win a league MVP in 1972, with Thomas's back-to-back MVP wins in 1993 and 1994 mentioned in passing. For a player who spent the majority of his illustrious career with the White Sox, this limited recognition didn’t sit well with him.
Fast forward to March 19th, and Thomas has taken legal action against the White Sox, citing the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. The lawsuit claims that the team, along with Nike and Fanatics Apparel, profited from selling “City Connect 2.0” jerseys bearing his name and number without his consent or compensation. The case doesn't stop there-other major entities like the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Chicago Bulls, and big retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and MLB Shop Fan Services are also named as potential defendants.
Thomas argues that these sales exploited his identity and the goodwill associated with his storied career to boost jersey sales. The lawsuit includes images of jerseys and a mannequin at Guaranteed Rate Field sporting his iconic number 35, though without a name.
This isn’t Thomas's first legal tussle with the White Sox. Back in 2011, he settled a lawsuit related to a misdiagnosis of a foot injury that impacted his play during the 2005 season.
Despite being named a franchise ambassador in 2010 and having his number retired in 2016, his relationship with the team has been rocky. Tensions date back to 2002 when his salary was cut due to a “diminished skills” clause, sparking friction with then-general manager Kenny Williams.
The situation worsened in 2006 when Thomas was replaced by Jim Thome, and he felt slighted by the lack of direct communication from chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Williams’s public remarks, calling Thomas an “idiot” and advising him to “stay out of White Sox business,” only added fuel to the fire.
Whether these wounds can heal is uncertain, but recent events suggest that a reconciliation might be a long way off. As the legal proceedings unfold, it’s clear that the legacy of Frank Thomas with the White Sox remains a complex chapter in the team’s history.