October 31

1990 Donruss #253 - Steve Rosenberg

On this day in 1964, Steve Rosenberg was born.

Steve can to the White Sox with Dan Pasqua and Mark Salas from the New York Yankees in a trade in 1987. Steve pitched for parts of three seasons with the Sox before being traded to the San Diego Padres in March 1991. While mostly in relief, the Sox tried Rosenberg as a starting pitcher in 1989. He made twenty-one starts, pitching two complete games. Steve finished his White Sox career with a record of 5-14 and a 4.82 ERA.

October 30

2000 Topps Traded & Rookies #T128 - Charles Johnson

On this day in 2000, Charles Johnson was granted Free Agency.

The White Sox traded for Charles Johnson and Harold Baines on July 29, 2000, sending Brook Fordyce and three minor league players to the Baltimore Orioles, to help with their push to the playoffs. Charles batted .326 with ten homers and thirty-six RBI in forty-four games. The plan worked, propelling the Sox into the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

October 29

1916 Sporting News (M101-5) #159 - Jim Scott

On this day in 1913, Jim Scott struck out twelve.

The Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants went on an off-season World Tour of exhibition games. This day found them in Muskogee, Oklahoma, playing in front of a crowd of 3,000, including rowdy cowboys cheering. The White Sox won easily, 7-1. Jim Scott struck out twelve, while pitching a complete game.

October 28

1947 Tip Top Bread #NNO - Johnny Rigney

On this day in 1914, Johnny Rigney was born.

Johnny was born in Oak Park, Illinois and lived in the area most of his life. He made his MLB debut with the White Sox on April 21, 1937 against the St. Louis Browns. Rigney played eight seasons out of eleven, losing three during military service with the Navy in WWII.

Johnny finished his career in 1947 with career totals of a 63-64 win/loss record, a 3.59 ERA and 605 strikeouts.

October 27

1911 Helmar Stamps (T332) #NNO - Patsy Dougherty

On this day in 1876, Patsy Dougherty was born.

The White Stockings purchased the contract of Patsy Dougherty from the New York Highlanders on June 6, 1906. He was a staple in left field from then through the 1911 season. Patsy's six seasons with the ChiSox produced 48 hits, 261 RBI, 231 walks, and 168 stolen bases.

October 26

2005 Donruss Leather & Lumber #63 - Jermaine Dye

On this day in 2005, Jermaine Dye becomes a World Series MVP.

Runner on second. Two out. Palmeiro. Over the head of Jenks. Uribe charges. Throws. Out! And the White Sox have won the World Series…

88 years between titles. It came down to a seven inning pitching duel between Freddy Garcia and Brandon Backe before going to the bullpens. In the top of the eighth, Houston's closer Brad Lidge is on the mound. Willie Harris pinch hits for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia. Willie hits a line drive single to left. Scott Podsednik sacrifices Harris over to second with a bunt. Carl Everett grounds to second, which advances Harris to third base. Jermaine Dye hits a ground ball to center field, scoring Harris. Paul Konerko strikes out to end the inning half, but that run is all the Sox need, as they win Game 4 by the score of 1-0 and the 2005 World Series.

October 25

2005 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH133 - Geoff Blum

On this day, Geoff Blum helps the Sox win Game 3 of the World Series.

The longest game of the World Series (at that point), stretched into the fourteenth inning, when an unlikely hero emerged from a double switch in the bottom of the thirteenth inning. Geoff replaced the pitcher, Bobby Jenks and pitcher Damaso Marte replaced the second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

Blum, with two outs, hit a homer in the top of the fourteenth to push the Sox ahead of the Astros. That opened the floodgates, as Aaron Rowand and Joe Crede gets singles and Juan Uribe walks to load the bases. Chris Widger walks to score Rowand. This bring the score to 7-5 in Chicago's favor. Damaso Marte struggles a bit in the bottom of the fourteenth, only to be lifted for starting pitcher Mark Buehrle with two outs. Buehrle get Adam Everett to pop to short for Mark's World Series save.

October 24

1995 Fleer #110 - Paul Assenmacher

On this day in 1994, Paul Assenmacher was granted Free Agency.

Paul came to the Sox through a trade with the Yankees for Brian Boehringer on March 21, 1994. Assenmacher appeared in forty-four games with the Sox. He was mostly used as a mop up guy, when games were all but lost. Paul had a 3.55 ERA with the Pale Hose.

October 23

2005 Bowman Heritage #35 - Scott Podsednik

On this day in 2005, Scott Podsednik won the second game of the World Series with a home run.

The Houston Astros kept battling back. Bobby Jenks blew a save opportunity. Houston's closer Brad Lidge came out in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-6 tie. Juan Uribe flew out to center field. Then Scott Podsednik stepped to the plate. The man who had no home runs in the regular season and already had one this postseason.

On the fourth pitch, in a 2-1 count Scott blasted a shot to right-center, over the wall, to bring the victory to the White Sox in front of their home crowd.

October 22

2006 Flair Showcase #179 - Bobby Jenks

On this day in 2005, Bobby Jenks get the save in Game 1 of the World Series.

Bobby was the third closer in the 2005 season for the White Sox. Shingo Takatsu and Dustin Hermanson both spent time as the closer that year. Jenks was the rookie who was bigger than life and made a splash that Chicago had not seen since William "The Refrigerator" Perry was a rookie for the Bears Shufflin' Crew in 1985.

Bobby pitched 1 1/3 innings to close out the win, while issuing no walks and three strikeouts.

October 21

1994 Bowman #399 - Julio Franco

On this day in 1994, Julio Franco was granted free agency by the White Sox.

Julio was brought onto the White Sox for the ill-fated 1994 season. The baseball strike cancelled the season in August, but in the time that Franco played for the Sox, he batted .319, hit twenty homers and had ninety-eight RBI in 112 games. It is another case of what if?

October 20

1977 Topps #293 - Jack Brohamer

On this day in 1977, Jack Brohamer was granted free agency.

Jack hit .253 between the 1976 and 1977 campaigns. While he appeared in 119 games in the 197 season, his playing time dwindled to only 59 games in 1977. Brohamer was the odd man out when the Sox got Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble through free agency. Jorge Orta moved back to the infield and Jack was left without a permanent position. He landed on the Red Sox in 1978.

October 19

1966 James T. Elder Postcards #861 - Don Mossi

On this day in 1964, the White Sox released Don Mossi.

After many seasons with the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox purchased the contract of Don Mossi before the 1964 season. Don went 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA and seven saves in thirty-four games for his lone season in Chicago. Mossi would sign with the Kansas City Athletics during the 1965 season.

October 18

1966 James T. Elder Postcards #919 - Jim Lemon

On this day in 1963, Jim Lemon was released from the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox were Jim's third and final team of 1963. He started with the Twins, where he had been since 1954 (when they were in Washington), then went to the Philadelphia Phillies and finally the White Sox. While with the Pale Hose, he appeared in thirty-six games, hit .200, with a home run and eight RBI.

October 17

1959 Topps #252 - Ray Boone

On this day in 2004, Ray Boone died.

On June 15, 1958, Ray Boone and Bob Shaw were traded from the Detroit Tigers for Tito Francona and Bill Fischer. With the White Sox in eighty-six games, Ray hit .243 with sixty-five hits and forty-six RBI. Boone was traded to the Kansas City Athletics for Harry Simpson on May 3, 1959.

October 16

1994 Topps #147 - Mike LaValliere

On this day in 1995, the White Sox designated Mike LaValliere for assignment.

Spanky would enjoy two and a half years as backup catcher to Ron Karkovice, replacing Hall of Fame player Carlton Fisk. He would hit .263 with two home runs and fifty-one RBI in the course of 142 games. Mike was mainly there for defense, but had a spark or two in reserves, if his opponent counted him out.

October 15

2012 Panini Golden Age #15 - Chick Gandil

On this day in 1917, the White Sox won the World Series against the New York Giants.

In the fourth, during a scoreless tie, Giants third baseman Heinie Zimmerman got Eddie Collins into a rundown. During the chase, which led to Collins scoring the first run of the game. During the rundown, Joe Jackson advanced the third base and Happy Felsch took second. Chick Gandil hit a single over first base that drove in Jackson and Felsch to make it 3-0 in favor of the Sox. The Sox would go on to win the game 4-2 and take the series.

October 14

1911 T205 Gold Border #NNO - Jiggs Donahue

On this day in 1906, the White Sox won the World Series against the Cubs.

The only game that was won by the home team all series, the White Stockings won Game 6 by a score of 8-3. The Sox scored seven runs in the first two innings off of Cubs ace Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown. George Davis and Jiggs Donahue each drove in three each. The "Hitless Wonders" managed fourteen hits in this deciding game.

October 13

1909-11 T-206 - Frank Isbell

On this day in 1906, the White Sox won Game 5 over the Cubs in the World Series.

The 8-6 win would put the Sox one game away from winning the 1906 World Series. Ed Walsh got the win and Doc White had a three inning, one-hit save. Frank Isbell enjoyed four doubles in the game!

October 12

1966 Topps #335 - Juan Pizarro

On this day in 1966, the Sox traded Juan Pizarro to the Pirates.

White Sox GM Ed Short sent Juan Pizarro, who was having arm trouble, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a minor league pitcher named Wilbur Wood. Juan would play in the majors, on various teams, until 1974. Wilbur became one of the great White Sox success stories.

October 11

1989 Topps Traded #120T - Jeff Torborg

On this day in 1991, Jeff Torborg resigned.

Jeff was offered a job with the Mets, but he didn't want to take it. He wanted to stay with the White Sox. GM Ron Schueler forced Torborg out of the position. With a job offer already in hand, Jeff made a nice transition to New York, but that wouldn't be the only job offer that he would receive.

After the Yankees fired manager Stump Merrill, the Yankees offered Jeff the manager job, but he turned the Yankees down because he had already verbally committed to managing the Mets. If Schueler didn't force Torborg out, would that have been enough to put those early 90s White Sox teams over the hump? We will never know.

October 10

1992 Conlon Collection TSN #515 - Earl Sheely

On this day in 1921, the White Sox swept the city series against the Cubs.

Earl Sheely hit a three-run homer that highlighted a five-run fifth inning to help beat the Cubs 9-5 and sweep the exhibition "city series" best of nine. Reb Russell got the win and Dickey Kerr pitched a four inning save.

October 9

1994 Pacific Crown Collection #119 - Tim Belcher

On this day in 1993, the White Sox won their last playoff game of the year.

Tim Belcher got the win in relief of an ineffective Jason Bere, as the White Sox won against the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-4. In the top of the sixth inning, Frank Thomas homered and Lance Johnson tripled in Ellis Burks and Bo Jackson to go ahead for good.

October 8

1911 T205 Gold Border #NNO - Amby McConnell

On this day in 1911, Amby McConnell played his last MLB game.

Amby was traded to the White Sox with Harry Lord from the Boston Red Sox for Billy Purtell and Frank Smith. Almost immediately after the trade Amby's play improved. In McConnell's final game against the Cleveland Naps, he got a hit and a walk in five plate appearances.

October 7

1921 Exhibits (W461) #33 - Dickey Kerr

On this day in 1919, Dickey Kerr pitched ten innings against the Cincinnati Reds for the win.

Extra inning games are a nail-biting event in the World Series. At any moment, the game could be lost. Dickey Kerr pitched all ten innings of game six of the 1919 World Series. He even added a hit, when he was batting in the top of the fifth.

The tenth inning helps cast some doubt about what happened to eight players that suited up for this series. Buck Weaver doubled to start off the inning. Joe Jackson produced a bunt single that moved Weaver over to third. Happy Felsch then struck out. Chick Gandil grounded a single to center field, which scored Weaver and moved Jackson to second. Swede Risberg crushed the rally by lining out to the shortstop, who turned it into a double play to end the half inning. Dickey Kerr retired the Reds in order in the bottom half of the tenth to win the game for the Sox.

October 6

1958 Topps #491 - Sherm Lollar

On this day in 1959, Sherm Lollar drove in the only run against the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.

In the top of the fourth inning, Sherm Lollar hit into a double play, but it allows Nellie Fox to score, breaking the 0-0 tie. That 1-0 advantage would be all the White Sox needed to win. A solid 7 1/3 inning outing by Bob Shaw, and relief by Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan would prove very effective against the Dodgers. This win kept the Sox alive in the series.

October 5

1984 True Value Chicago White Sox #NNO - Minnie Minoso

On this day in 1980, Minnie Minoso takes his last MLB at-bat.

On October 5, 1980, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, center fielder Chet Lemon comes out of the game in the middle of the seventh inning. In his place, Saturnino Orestes Armas "Minnie" Minoso steps to the plate to lead off the bottom of the seventh. He grounds the ball to Angels third baseman Carney Lansford, who then throws to first baseman John Harris for the out.

Thus ends the illustrious multi-decade career of Minnie Minoso in the majors. In five separate stints with the Pale Hose, covering twelve seasons, Minnie became "Mr. White Sox". His years with the Sox covered 1951 through 1957, 1960 through 1961, 1964, 1976 and 1980.

October 4

2005 Upper Deck #329 - Jose Contreras

On this day in 2005, Jose Contreras got the win in the first game of the ALDS.

Jose pitched 7 2/3 innings, while scattering eight hits, as the White Sox clobbered the Boston Red Sox 14-2. It would start one of the best postseason runs in MLB history, as the ChiSox would steamroll the competition with a record of 11-1, on their way to their first World Series win in nearly nine decades.

October 3

1987 Donruss Opening Day #229 - Gary Redus

On this day in 1987, Gary Redus 5 RBIs helped annihilate the Oakland Athletics.

Gary Redus had four RBIs in the fifth inning alone, as the Sox won the game 17-1. Highlighted by an eleven run fifth, the Chicago crowd got its money's worth, as the home team sent fifteen men to the plate that inning, against Oakland pitchers Jose Rijo, Gary Lavelle, Dennis Lamp and Dave Otto. White Sox pitcher Dave LaPoint pitched the entire game.

October 2

1990 Coca-Cola Chicago White Sox #NNO - Donn Pall

On this day, Donn Pall earned the final win of the 1990 season in Boston.

The Sox won their second to last game of the surprising 1990 season, in the 11th inning, making reliever Donn Pall the winner. Ozzie Guillen's RBI single off of ex-White Sox pitcher Dennis Lamp was the deciding factor. Wayne Edwards came in for the save and Lance Johnson extended his hitting streak to thirteen games.

The 1990 White Sox would finish the season the next day with a loss to the Red Sox and finish with a record of 94-68.

October 1

2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classics #36 - Luke Appling

On this day in 1950, Luke Appling got his final MLB hit.

The capper of a twenty year career, all with the ChiSox, was hit number 2,749, a single off of St. Louis Browns' pitcher Stubby Overmire, in the second game of a doubleheader at Comiskey Park.