The preparation that helped Jim Thome become a powerful hitter and Hall of Famer carried over to his induction speech, as he spent weeks practicing in his back yard and, once, in the open field in Cooperstown, N.Y., where he eventually spoke Sunday. "Be the first one to the ballpark, be the last one to leave, work hard, don't complain, be a great teammate, and above all, treat people with respect," says Thome.