Baseball Hall of Famer sues his former team, seeking more than $50,000

Frank Thomas’ already strained relationship with the Chicago White Sox has taken yet another sour turn. MORE: Frank Thomas slams White Sox for Black History Month post The Hall of Famer filed a lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois against the White Sox, Nike and Fanatics, alleging they marketed items bearing his name and likeness without permission or contract. Thomas is seeking “a sum of money in excess of $50,000” plus attorney’s fees in the suit filed March 19.

The complaint alleges the White Sox used Thomas’ No. 35 jersey in its marketing — both online and in team stores displaying licensed apparel — of its City Connect 2. 0 uniforms.

Thomas is seeking damages exceeding $50,000, plus attorneys fees and expenses. Thomas recently called out the White Sox — his employer for 16 of his 19 MLB seasons — for excluding him from a social media post celebrating their Black players’ contributions during Black History Month. Thomas, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first BBWAA ballot appearance in 2014, won two American League MVP awards, hit 448 home runs, and drove in 1,465 runs for the White Sox from 1990-2005.

This isn’t the first time Thomas has sued the White Sox. He alleged medical malpractice against the team in 2006 , claiming a misdiagnosis of a foot injury. That case was settled out of court in 2011 .