Baseball Legend Frank Thomas Responds To FOX News' False Death Report
By Jason Hall
December 29, 2023
Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas blasted FOX News for falsely reporting his death Friday (December 29) morning.
Thomas, 55, who had previously worked for FOX Sports as a Major League Baseball analyst, called the report "irresponsible" while confirming he was "alive and doing well."
"Ladies and Gentlemen I’m very sorry my ex employer Fox would be this irresponsible on National TV this morning. Yes I’m alive and doing well. This blows my mind also," Thomas wrote on his X account along with a photo of himself smiling.
Thomas, known affectionately as 'The Big Hurt,' was included in FOX News' 'In Memoriam' segment during a live broadcast of 'The Faulkner Focus.'
Ladies and Gentlemen I’m very sorry my ex employer Fox would be this irresponsible on National TV this morning. Yes I’m alive and doing well. This blows my mind also. pic.twitter.com/FWGlVwOIFS
— Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) December 29, 2023
FOX News apparently confused Thomas, a Black man and one of the most recognizable players of the 1990s, with another former baseball player named Frank Thomas, a White man who played in the 1950s and died at the age of 93 in January.
Ummmm, apparently Fox News believes Frank Thomas died this year.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 29, 2023
The Big Hurt is very much still alive. However, another former major leaguer named Frank Thomas who played in the 50s and 60s -- did pass away in January at the age of 93. pic.twitter.com/nckHPLRdvb
FOX News anchor Julie Banderas issued a correction for "misidentifying the late Frank Thomas" during the 'In Memoriam' segment.
Towards the end of The Faulkner Focus this morning, anchor Julie Banderas issued a correction, noting the network included the wrong Frank Thomas in its In Memoriam and that The Big Hurt is "very much alive." pic.twitter.com/EeXXApkJPO
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 29, 2023
"The Frank Thomas we showed you, unfortunately, was also a former pro baseball player. He is very much alive. We apologize for that mistake," Banderas said.
Thomas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame following a decorated 19-year MLB career spent mostly with the Chicago White Sox (1990-05), as well as the Oakland Athletics (2006, 2008) and Toronto Blue Jays (2007-08). 'The Big Hurt' won two AL MVP (1993-94) and four Silver Slugger Awards (1991, 1993-94, 2000), as well as making five All-Star appearances (1993-97) and leading the AL in batting average (.347) in 1997.