Jim Thome to Get His Own Highway

For Jim Thome…life is a highway.

Literally.

Last month, Illinois state lawmakers voted unanimously (96-0!) to rename a two mile section of US Route 24 after the slugger. Bill HJR0090, as it is now known, has moved on to the state Senate where it is expected to, again, pass with flying colors.

Incidentally, “Jim Thome Highway” will run just a stone’s throw from the house the future Hall of Famer grew up in.

Before being drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1989, Thome graduated from Limestone High School and Illinois Central College, both located in Peoria. The longtime Major Leaguer would end up playing for six teams during his 22-year big league career and his 612 career home runs ranks seventh all-time.