Frank Thomas Sues The Chicago White Sox Over Unauthorized Use Of His Likeness

 Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, known as "The Big Hurt," has filed a civil lawsuit against his former team, the Chicago White Sox, along with Nike and Fanatics. The suit alleges unauthorized use of his name, likeness, and iconic No. 35 on the team's City Connect 2.0 uniforms and related merchandise. 

The complaint in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois, claims the defendants profited from selling jerseys featuring Thomas's name and number without his consent or any compensation. Thomas is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and a jury trial. The lawsuit invokes the Illinois Right of Publicity Act, arguing that companies cannot profit from an individual's identity without permission.

This Is Not The First Time

This is not the first time Thomas has clashed with the White Sox organization. Drafted by Chicago in 1989, Thomas became the face of the franchise, smashing records as a power-hitting first baseman and designated hitter. He spent 16 of his 19 MLB seasons on the South Side, helping lead the team to the 2005 World Series. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 on the first ballot.

Tensions escalated in the mid-2000s. Thomas publicly feuded with then-general manager Kenny Williams, including a memorable 2006 exchange where Williams told the slugger to "stay out of White Sox business." The team invoked a "diminished skills" clause in his contract in 2002, reducing his pay, and later bought out the remainder of his deal after the 2005 season. Thomas finished his career with the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays.

What Happens Next?

The White Sox have not yet issued a public comment on the latest lawsuit. Legal experts note that right-of-publicity cases often hinge on whether the use of a player's name and number qualifies as protected commercial speech or falls under team merchandising rights, especially for historical figures whose numbers are retired or prominently featured in team lore.

Thomas, now 57, has largely stayed away from day-to-day team activities in recent years after ending his role as a pre- and postgame analyst for White Sox broadcasts in 2024. The suit highlights ongoing questions about how MLB teams, apparel partners like Nike and Fanatics, and players' estates handle name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in the modern era, issues amplified by the rise of player empowerment and NIL opportunities in sports.

For White Sox fans, the development is bittersweet. Thomas remains the greatest hitter in franchise history by most measures, holding numerous team records. Yet his relationship with the organization has grown increasingly strained, turning what should be a celebratory legacy into another chapter of acrimony.

As the case proceeds, it could set precedents for how retired athletes' likenesses are used in specialty uniforms and merchandise. For now, "The Big Hurt" appears determined to protect what he built on the field, one lawsuit at a time.