In 2007, Thomas hit #500 and became the 21st player to join one of the game's elite groups.
He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan