Forget Barry Bonds, let’s talk about Jim Thome.

It’s Friday afternoon and I’m sitting in my boss’s office. Do I want to go to Chicago for the weekend? Peoria native Jim Thome, designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox, is nearing his 500th career home run. Only 22 other baseball players have reached this mark, several with an infamous asterisk due to steroid allegations. But most sports writers consider Thome clean and the “real deal,” a true gentlemen of the sport. He stays at 499 Friday night as I watch from work. Time to book a hotel.

Saturday night I’m ready. I’ve checked in at a cheap hotel next to Midway, picked up all credentials and I’m anxious at U.S. Cellular Field. I recognize several of the Chicago photographers, killing time with them until Thome comes to bat. This happens four times with no success. I send back several photos of him frustrated and call it a night.

The plan for Sunday is to cover the home opener of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. But that’s been nixed, putting me back at the Sox at noon. We all go through the motions again, intensely concentrating as a photographic collective every time Thome steps to the plate. And again he does absolutely nothing. The game against the Angles is tied, 7-7 in the 9th inning. Someone jokes about the absurdity of him actually winning the game with a homer. We all make fun of this prediction.

Somehow, he makes it to bat one last time. He arcs the bat all the way around and lets it fly over the left-center wall. It.. happened. Already, we’ve each taken 20+ frames before he’s left the plate. Add another 30 as he lifts his hands above his head and trots around the bases. Machine gun fire as he is mobbed by teammates at home. No bullets, just pictures.

It ends up being probably 10 minutes total, from home run swing to him leaving for the clubhouse. But it’s frantic as he smiles and gets a boost onto the shoulders of his teammates. He eventually walks back toward the dugout, where his enormous family awaits. Tears are shed, hugs are abundant and we circle the scene like a pack of dogs. I transmit 23 photos back to Peoria and it’s over.

PHOTOS: Stuck at 499
PHOTOS: 500!
STORY: “500 and counting” by Kirk Wessler
STORY: “No reason not to love this heartland hero” by Mike Nadel