TUCSON, Ariz. – Jim Thome thought he took care of the hard part, reaching 500 home runs. But getting the historic ball to Cooperstown has proved to be a challenge, too.

Thome had hoped to celebrate the milestone homer at the Hall of Fame by now, but the birth of his son and bad weather have stopped him from making the trip.

“The home run ball is at home. It is locked up. We are just trying to get there,” Thome said Monday at training camp with the Chicago White Sox. “We will get it there eventually.”

Thome hit No. 500 on Sept. 16, connecting against the Los Angeles Angels and becoming the 23rd player to reach the mark.

He couldn’t go to upstate New York late last year because of his son’s birth. Since then, he’s had snow wipe out two trips to the Hall, where he was to hand the ball over in a presentation with his father, Chuck, and Will Stewart, the person who caught the homer.

Thome said he’s hoping to get there during an off-day during the season.