Early Life
Thome was born in Peoria, Illinois on August 27, 1970, minutes after twin sister Jenny. The youngest of five children, Thome was born into an athletic family. His grandmother was hired at Caterpillar so she could play for the company softball team. His father also played softball in a circuit known as the Outlaw League, occasionally for pay. Thome's two older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, played baseball at Limestone High School.
Like his brothers, Thome also attended Limestone. He was all-state in both baseball and basketball. While at Limestone, Thome played shortstop. He had hoped to be noticed by scouts, but at his relatively small frame (6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) 175 pounds (79 kg)), he attracted only passing interest. He graduated in 1988. After not being drafted in 1988, Thome enrolled at Illinois Central College and continued both his baseball and basketball careers. He played one season at Illinois Central before being drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1989.
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