Blackhawks to honor Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome in March

The Blackhawks will honor White Sox legend Jim Thome prior to their home game Monday, March 18 against the Canucks at the United Center.

There will be a ceremony to celebrate Thome, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last July. The Peoria, Illinois native received 89.8 percent of votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to be inducted into the Hall in Cooperstown, New York.

Thome — a first baseman and designated hitter — played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, including three with the White Sox from 2006-09. He hit 134 of his 612 career home runs while playing for the White Sox, including his 500th. Those 612 homers are the eighth most in MLB history.

The most memorable moment of Thome’s career with the White Sox came in the the famed Blackout Game in 2008, when his solo blast in Game No. 163 was the lone run and sent the team to the playoffs.

Thome made five All-Star teams during his career, including in 2006 with the White Sox. He also played for the Indians (1991-2002, 2011), Phillies (2003-05, 2012), Dodgers (2009), Twins (2010-11) and Orioles (2012).

It’s the second time the Blackhawks will honor Thome before a game against the Canucks. Chicago lost the first time — a 3-2 setback on Dec. 5, 2007.