Originally published May 6, 2010

By Bob Elliott

MANCHESTER, N.H. _ Eric Thames shares the double-A Eastern League lead in home runs.

The New Hampshire outfielder is right up there when it comes to hanging with celebs.

Playing for the Pepperdine University Green Wave in Malibu, Calif. Thames attended a team barbecue at Pamela Anderson’s house in 2007.

“Kenny Lofton, who used to play with the Cleveland Indians, were there, so was Tommy Lee and her two kids. She was married to Kid Rock at the time,” said Thames before the fightin’ Fisher Cats played the New Britain Rock Cats Thursday.

“She doesn’t have a huge house, but it’s on Malibu beach with a beautiful view,” Thames said.

Thames’ best guess is that Anderson adopted Pepperdine as her home team to root for since her children attend clinics at the school. 

“She always wears white at the games,” Thames said. “We’ll be in our dugout, she’d arrive and we’ll watch the other team. Everyone in their dugout is looking at her -- didn’t matter what was going on the field, they could have been turning double plays.

“And everyone recognized her because of her stature.”  

Anderson’s sons Brandon Thomas Lee, 13, and Dylan Jagger Lee, 12 have served as Pepperdine bat boys in the past at Eddy D. Field Stadium with a view of palm trees and the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s nicer now,” said Thames, “they put plexi glass into the left-field fence so people in the dugout and fans in the stands can see the ocean.” 

Anderson, a former Baywatch babe, Playboy model, tabloid fave and Borat’s dream gal, helps out with fund raising for the Waves, allowing dinner dates with her to be auctioned. 

Thames missed the 2008 barbecue at Anderson’s house because he was undergoing surgery for a tore quad. 

“I only played a few games at Dunedin the first half,” said Thames who made the class-A Florida State League all-star game. “Dickie Scott (then the farm director) just told me to go, have a good time and not play in the game. Everyone in the clubhouse was teasing me about making the all-star team when I was hobbling down to first base.”

Expected to go in the second or third round, the San Jose native was hitting .407 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs when he tore his right quad late in 2008 and his stock fell.

Asked if he remembers the incident, Thames answers as if he thinks of it every day.

“It was against Santa Clara, ground ball to second, I was running up the line and beat it out,” Thames said.

He didn’t go on Day I of the 2008 draft and the next day was at the Lucky Stars tattoo parlour getting a ‘Rage of the Gods’ burned into his left biceps when his agent phoned. The Jays selected him in the seventh round and he was given a $150,000 US signing bonus by scout Tim Rooney.

“I’m into mythology and history,” Thames said. 

Thames shares the league home run lead with Binghamton’s Zach Lutz and Erie’s Wilkin Ramirez with seven homers and has 25 RBIs, two behind Binghamton’s Lucas Duda. He has a .324 average, third on the team behind catcher Brian Jeroloman (.357) and Darin Mastroianni (.324). He has an OPS of .997.    

“You should see him in the batting cage, he’s an animal, he hits for hours,” manager Luis Rivera said. “His work habits are outstanding and if you want to make the big league you need good work habits. When he was drafted he wasn’t 100%.”

This spring Rivera gave Thames the green light yet he seldom ran. Thames was worried about another injury. Rivera and Thames had a chat.

“I’m going to run now,” Thames told the manager. 

Thames has been 5-for-5 stealing bases this season. 

A muscular 6-foot, 205-pounder, built like a running back, Thames was a weight lifter for years. 

No more.

“I’m into yoga now,” Thames said. “Lifting makes you look good on the beach. Yoga helps guys get to the big leagues.”