Saturday, December 22, 2007

#20 - Joe Horlen

Number 20 came between two players when it all came down to it. Ron Karkovice and Joe Horlen. There have been a good number of players to wear #20. Among them are Jerry Dybzinski, John Jeter and John Romano.

Looking at the numbers between Karkovice and Horlen, Joe comes out ahead, even though he was 113-113 in his career for the White Sox. From 1963 to 1969, Joe was lights out for the Sox. His career with the Sox spanned 1961 until 1971.

Joe's best season was 1967. He was 19-7 with a 2.06 ERA. He was runner up in AL Cy Young voting and fourth in MVP voting. Joe was also selected to the All-Star game that year.

A new rule issued in 1969 lowered the pitching mound 5 inches and his effectiveness went with it. Before that change, he threw a no-hitter in the first game of a double header on September 10, 1967, his magical year.

Joe was always a quiet person who preferred to let his work on the field speak for itself. That work just landed Joe this spot as the greatest player to wear #20 in a White Sox uniform.

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