"Big Papi has a fan, and his name is The Big Hurt.

Honored before yesterday's series finale with the unveiling of his statue at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox great Frank Thomas took a few moments to discuss Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and the place of the designated hitter in the game's history.

"He's right there," Thomas said when asked if Ortiz belonged among the all-time greatest DHs. "He's had an incredible career. I saw him come from Minnesota, and now he's in Boston. He's a much better player in Boston than he was in Minnesota. He's put up incredible numbers. He's having a monster year again, and he's a free agent again, so good for him."

During Thomas's 19-year career, the first 16 of which came with the White Sox, the two-time MVP blasted 521 homers and batted .301. Like Ortiz, he was unafraid to take a walk, as his lifetime on-base percentage of .419 attests.

Thomas spent a bit more than a third of his career at first base but was otherwise a full-time DH.

"I played the field for 12 years," Thomas said. "(Ortiz) came in a little different fashion. He's always been a great left-handed hitter. He used to be more of a pull guy, but he found some things and he's doing well."

Thomas knows how hard it is to DH. While the assumption is that any position player can become a DH, the New York Yankees' Jorge Posada and the White Sox' Adam Dunn prove otherwise."