The Eighties Could Have Been Worse

So, you think that the White Sox uniforms in the eighties were the absolute worst in the decade? I've got some news that you might find disturbing. They could have been worse. Much, much worse.

What could be worse than the monstrosities of the eighties White Sox uniforms, one may ask? How about the prototypes of eighties uniforms that didn't make the final cut.

Which would Tom Seaver be more embarrassed to win his 300th game in? The uniform that was pictured in countless newspapers the next day or a aquamarine and tangerine number with a star? How about something with old timey prisoner stripes on the arms? Or something that reminds me of the Bears sweaters that Mike Ditka used to wear? It's a scary thought!

They all suck worse than the uniform that the Sox went with in 1982. No matter how bad things seem, they could almost always be worse.

I'm not sure what the Sox were going for with the aquamarine and tangerine colors. Maybe this was part of the long term plan to move to Florida? For some reason, I think that these would even fail in the sun drenched world of Florida. That many people cannot have heat stroke at the same time to render that abomination fashionable.

In a bold PR move, the White Sox became the only team to put on a fashion show featuring all of their failed designs for the upcoming year. I still can't believe that there is photographic evidence of these glorified pajamas. I just wish I could have found a color photo to fully illustrate the lameness of these choices.

The models look so happy to be promenading these mistakes. Maybe they were drugged. Either that, or they were paid a handsome sum to keep a smile on their faces.

The second uniform from the left is the closest to the final version, but this one still looks like it has a cumber bun attached to the middle. Most of these remind me of things from the bargain bin at Zayre. Get to Zayre and Get It All! Including crappy White Sox failed uniforms.

See, it could always be worse!

You Can Borrow My Jersey

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on my White Sox Greatest Uniform Numbers posts. I've also gotten almost as many requests to borrow the idea.

Yes, go ahead, borrow the idea. I'm very interested in seeing what are the best players at a uniform number on other teams. Take the idea and run with it!

My only request would be to give me a little credit when you first start it. Other than that, run buck wild and have fun.

If I don't have you in my links already and you take on this project, drop me a line to let me know about it. I'll put your link up and watch the progress. There is a link to my e-mail in the "About Me" section of this blog or my "Want List" page at the top of the links. I hate getting spam, so I try not to post it directly on the posts.

Enjoy and have fun! I don't have the card pictured, but would gladly accept it in a trade or donation. Hey, it was worth a shot.

It's All In The Numbers

It's dangerous when I get an idea in my head. It all started with a simple thought. Who were the greatest White Sox players at their uniform number? See, I told you it was a dangerous thought. This simple thought turned into a full scale search.

I excluded managers and coaches. I tried to find the White Sox player that most exemplified the uniform number that he wore. Some players wore more than one number. So, if they were squeezed out of one number because the competition was fierce, they may have had a shot at another number. A single player could not have two different number spots. Once a player was written in at a number, he was stuck there.

Another interesting problem was that not every uniform number has been used. What about the players before numbers were issued on the backs of uniforms? Well, they are SOL. They could be the best player in a White Sox uniform, but for the purpose of this exercise, they don't count.

0 – Oscar Gamble
1 – Jim Landis
2 – Nellie Fox (Retired)
3 – Harold Baines (Retired)
4 – Luke Appling (Retired)
5 – Bill “Moose” Skowron
6 – Jorge Orta
7 – “Jungle” Jim Rivera
8 – Albert Belle
9 – Minnie Minoso (Retired)
10 – Sherm Lollar

11 – Luis Aparicio (Retired)
12 – Ed Herrmann
13 – Ozzie Guillen
14 – Paul Konerko
15 – Dick Allen
16 – Ted Lyons (Retired)
17 – Chico Carrasquel
18 – Rocky Colovito
19 – Billy Pierce (Retired)
20 – Joe Horlen

21 – George Bell
22 – Ivan Calderon
23 – Robin Ventura
24 – Early Wynn
25 – Tommy John
26 – Earl Battey
27 – Greg Hibbard
28 – Wilbur Wood
29 – Jack McDowell
30 – Magglio Ordonez

31 – Hoyt Wilhelm
32 – Alex Fernandez
33 – Mike Sirotka
34 – Eddie Fisher
35 – Frank Thomas
36 – Jim Kaat
37 – Bobby Thigpen
38 – Norm Cash
39 – Roberto Hernandez
40 – Wilson Alvarez

41 – Tom Seaver
42 – Ron Kittle
43 – Gary Peters
44 – Chet Lemon
45 – Carlos Lee
46 – Eddie Robinson
47 – Matt Karchner
48 – Ralph Garr
49 – Rich Dotson
50 – Barry Jones

51 – Jason Bere
52 – Jose Contreras
53 – Dennis Lamp
54 – Rich “Goose” Gossage
55 – Brandon McCarthy
56 – Mark Buehrle
57 – Shawn Hillegas
58 – Matt Ginter
59 – John Snyder
60 – Rocky Biddle

61 – Jesus Pena
62 – Ehren Wassermann
63 – Ryan Bukvich
64 – no player has worn this number in an official game to my knowledge
65 – Kelly Wunsch
66 – Carl Fischer
67 – John Danks
68 – Doug Lindsey
69 – no player has worn this number in an official game to my knowledge
70 – Rich Sauveur
71 – Scott Linebrink
72 – Carlton Fisk (Retired)
73 - Tony Phillips

You may bicker and argue all you like. Any arguments for better suggestions at each number, please leave in the comment section. You will probably go, "Who?", to a few selections. That's understandable. Some players are not of this era of baseball and some players are the only player to wear that number, so far. I am not aware of any number past 73 in an official game. There have been some odd numbers in Spring Training games, but I am not counting those. I'm not counting exhibition games either. So, Michael Jordan does not qualify.

Any player that has had his number retired by the White Sox automatically got that number and is noted in parenthesis that it is retired. Despite being retired throughout baseball, Jackie Robinson never played for the White Sox, so he is not eligible for the 42 spot.

The Powder Blues Club

It seems that retro is all the rage nowadays. Nothing is more evident of this than the Royals and Blue Jays going to powder blue uniforms for alternate jerseys. "That's a bold statement", as John Travolta said in Pulp Fiction. I like the idea, but then again I also liked the White Sox softball uniforms of the late 70's and early 80's. They were so bad that you had to love them, like a tattered 1975 Wilbur Wood card in your wallet.

I decided to dig up a card from the White Sox era of powder blue uniforms. Everyone else seems to be doing this, so I thought I'd join in the fun. I think Jesse Jefferson's 1976 card will do nicely. I think his hair could almost rival Oscar Gamble's 'fro. Not quite, but with enough special love and attention it could grow like a Chia Pet too.

Bad uniforms have always fascinated me. I've always held a special place in my heart for the old Astros uniforms with the rainbow colors or the Pirates hats that stood up like a top hat. Those early Mariners uniforms are great too. I can't wait for the 1977 Turn Back The Clock game between the White Sox and the Mariners. It should be quite an eyesore. Will the Mariners Anchorman inspired trident uniforms beat the White Sox senior softball league uniforms? One can only hope fans can see the outcome after they burned out their retinas.