Congratulations To The Chicago Cubs

This is a picture of me from October 1984. Notice something odd? Obscured by the pillow I'm holding is a NL Eastern Division Champion Chicago Cubs shirt. So, yes, there is thirty-two year old proof that I can enjoy the Cubs too and I do wish them well. I just prefer the White Sox.

Let this be a congratulations off to the Cubs and their fan base. We White Sox fans know about long suffering World Series droughts. Ours lasted eighty-eight years. Only one score off of the Cubs. "Score" being a term that means twenty years, that was more common closer to the last time that the Cubs won a World Series.

I have lots of friends and family who are die hard Cubs fans, including my beautiful wife. I enjoy the Cubs as I enjoy all of baseball. There is no hatred there. Only admiration and respect.

The only problem I have with the Cubs is not their team or their park. I don't even have a problem with most of their fans. I do have a problem with about .01% of the Cubs fans. I also have problem with .01% of White Sox fans. It the obnoxious fans that go to extremes that really cause the division in among fans. Cubs fans are portrayed as beer swilling, bandwagon party yuppies who don't pay attention to the game and just show up to the park to say they've been there. White Sox fans are portrayed as drunk suburban trash, who storm the field, the few times that they actually show up to the park. I'm here to tell you that neither of these portrayals represent 99.99% of each team's fans. The bad acts of the few should not represent the majority.

I can still cheer on the Cubs and not have to turn my White Sox card in. And the same is true for the Cubs fans. We all love the game of baseball. Shouldn't that be enough? It is in my book. Most fans just want to see a good game and if their team wins that game, it just makes it better.

So cherish this special team Cubs fans. It can be done. This team has proven it. From this moment forward, there will be no more excuses. No goats. No black cats. No Gatorade. No more "lovable losers". You guys are winners. It may require a completely different mindset for some of you, but know it's true.

If you would have asked me back in October 1984, if I would see a Chicago championship in my lifetime, I might have been optimistic, but I would probably have said no. Since that picture was taken, I have seen championships by the Bears, the Bulls, the White Sox, the Blackhawks and now the Cubs. I am simply amazed! It can be done.

Enjoy this moment Cubs fans. Cherish it. Relish in it. You deserve it. May you not have to wait another 108 years for another championship... unless you're playing the White Sox in that championship game, then, I'm sorry, I have to go with the White Sox. It's nothing personal and I hope we can still watch the game together.

Just Another Reason To Join The Facebook Page

WSC Birth Year Legacy cards!! Just another perk for joining the White Sox Cards Facebook page.

The regular WSC Birth Year cards cover from 2008 to present day. The WSC Birth Year Legacy cards cover the rest. See White Sox players of yesteryear on cards from their birth year, only on the Facebook page.

Here are the first three.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Chris Sale

Card #30 - Chris Sale

WSC Hall Of Fame Class Of 2016

 

The votes have been tallied and here are the results.

There were three players elected this year and three players received too few votes to be on next year's ballot.

Congratulations to Gary Peters, Robin Ventura and Hoyt Wilhelm for being the three players inducted into the WSC Hall of Fame Class of 2016!

Jerry Hairston, Ron Karkovice and Jorge Orta received too few votes to stay on the ballot, so there will be new players at starting pitcher, third base, outfield, second base, catcher and closer on next year's ballot.

Thank you to everyone who voted!

Here are the final totals.

Hoyt Wilhelm - 60 votes (84%)
Gary Peters - 56 votes (78%)
Robin Ventura - 55 votes (77%)
Buck Weaver - 49 votes (69%)
Bobby Thigpen - 48 votes (67%)
Al Lopez - 47 votes (66%)
Fielder Jones - 33 votes (46%)
Dummy Hoy - 32 votes (45%)
Frank Isbell - 27 votes (38%)
Oscar Gamble - 5 votes (7%)
Jerry Hairston - 3 votes (4%)
Ron Karkovice - 3 votes (4%)
Jorge Orta - 3 votes (4%)

Congratulations, once again, to Gary Peters, Robin Ventura and Hoyt Wilhelm for being inducted into the WSC Hall of Fame!

The voting for the Class of 2017 will begin shortly after 2017 spring training.

WSC Birth Years: Jerry Sands

Card #197 - Jerry Sands

Born: September 28, 1987

Jerry was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the twenty-fifth round of the 2008 amateur draft. From there, it was a slow ascent through the Dodgers farm system until he made his MLB debut on April 18, 2011 against the Atlanta Braves. Sands managed to get his first hit, an RBI double, out of the way in the bottom of the first inning against Atlanta pitcher Tim Hudson. Jerry would play sporadically over two seasons for Los Angeles until he was traded to the Boston Red Sox on October 4, 2012, to complete an earlier deal. Sands would not last as a Red Sox for long, since he was dealt almost three months later to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nearly a year later, without playing a single game for the Pirates, Jerry was selected off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on December 23, 2013.

Sands would appear in twelve games for Tampa Bay in 2014. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians for the 2015 season. Jerry played in fifty games for the Tribe. Sands would be selected off waivers on December 23, 2015 by the Chicago White Sox. He appeared in twenty-four games for the Pale Hose, providing a bench bat and a fill in for the outfield and first base.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Alex Avila

Card #29 - Alex Avila

WSC Birth Years: Tyler Danish

Card #196 - Tyler Danish

Born: September 12, 1994

Drafted in the second round of the 2013 amateur draft by the White Sox, Tyler made his MLB debut for Chicago on June 11, 2016, one day after first round pick, Tim Anderson made his MLB debut for the ChiSox. Making his debut against the Kansas City Royals, in front of a home crowd, Danish had a less than stellar appearance. Tyler gave up three hits and a walk, while ballooning his ERA to 13.50 in two-thirds of an inning. Manager Robin Ventura trotted him out again the next day, with much better results. Another two-thirds of an inning pitched against Kansas City, giving up only one hit, this time with no batters crossing the plate.

Danish made a third consecutive appearance on June 13th, this time against the Tigers, giving up two hits and two walks in one-third inning. Tyler would be sent back down to the minors after three games, but the experience should suit him well. He should be able to make some adjustments and come back strong, when his next opportunity arises.

Waiting 'Til This Year: A White Sox - Cubs Trade

I love it when a trade comes together when I least expect it. I fully admit that there are so many card blogs that I don't keep up with as many as I used to in the early days of the blog. It's not from lack of want or trying, mind you, it's mostly a time issue. So many blogs, so little time, you might say.

It was with great embarrassment that I found that I had not yet run across Waiting 'Til Next Year until Tom e-mailed me about making a possible trade. I will certainly not make that mistake again. I plan on checking out Tom's awesome blog frequently from now on.

Tom made an intriguing proposal. While looking through his trade box, he ran across twenty-nine cards from my want list, including five Frank Thomas cards. How could I turn that down? Tom ended up sending thirty-two cards my way.

1958 Topps #138 - Earl Torgeson
1989 Score Young Superstars I #29 - Bobby Thigpen
1989 Sportflics #85 - Ozzie Guillen
1992 Stadium Club Members Only #34 - Bobby Thigpen
1994 Fun Pack #35 - Frank Thomas
1994 Fun Pack #195 - Frank Thomas
1994 Studio #209 - Frank Thomas
1994 Upper Deck Diamond Collection #C8 - Frank Thomas
1995 Ultra #273 - Jason Bere
1995 Upper Deck #235 - Ray Durham
1996 Pinnacle Aficionado #164 - Chris Snopek
1997 Bowman's Best #127 - Mike Cameron
1997 Metal Universe #58 - Alex Fernandez
1997 Ultra Gold Medallion #G411 - Albert Belle
1998 Bowman #428 - Carlos Lee
1998 Leaf Rookies & Stars #288 - Greg Norton
1998 Leaf Rookies & Stars #307 - Jim Parque
1999 Sports Illustrated #70 - Brian Simmons, Mark Johnson, Craig Wilson
1999 SP Authentic #22 - Frank Thomas
1999 Topps Chrome #93 - Albert Belle
2000 Bowman Chrome #426 - Josh Paul
2000 Skybox #208 - Joe Crede
2000 Skybox #209 - Kip Wells
2000 Upper Deck #76 - Carlos Lee
2001 Bowman #277 - Jon Rauch
2001 Fleer Triple Crown #96 - Magglio Ordonez
2001 Pacific #98 - Magglio Ordonez
2001 Pacific #462 - Rocky Biddle
2001 Team Best #42 - Jon Garland
2013 Topps Opening Day Blue #47 - Jake Peavy (1263/2013)
2015 USA Baseball Stars & Stripes #18 - Carlos Rodon
2016 Topps Pro Debut #147 - Carson Fulmer

Thanks for the trade, Tom! You certainly filled a good amount of holes in my collection. I hope you are as satisfied with the trade as I am. I look forward to possible future trades.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Carlos Sanchez

Card #28 - Carlos Sanchez

WSC Birth Years: Tommy Kahnle

Card #195 - Tommy Kahnle

Born: August 7, 1989

Tommy was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 amateur draft by the New York Yankees. He racked up relief appearances in the Yankees farm system through 2013. Kahnle was even invited to 2013 spring training by the Yankees. On December 12, 2013, Tommy was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the Rule V draft. He made his MLB debut on April 3, 2014 for the Rockies against the Miami Marlins, relieving Franklin Morales in the bottom of the sixth inning.

On November 24, 2014, Kahnle was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He made his White Sox debut on April 29, 2016 against the Orioles in Baltimore. Tommy appeared in five games before he was sent down, resulting in a 6.23 ERA. While he was sent down, chances are Kahnle will be back up before too long.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Zach Putnam

Card #27 - Zach Putnam

A List Of Topps Larceny Of Bloggers

Has Topps stolen an idea that you either originally had or have put hard work into that clearly came well before they released a version of it?

Let's document this and see just how much Topps "borrows" from the bloggers. I acknowledge that Topps probably has a little lag time between inception of product and release of same product. Topps can also be stingy with what's exactly in their releases and sometimes will wait until the last minute to release details. The intention here is to try to establish when each instance was first released or mentioned by either side.

There are homages and there are outright cases of stealing. Homages are completely harmless. It's what most of us bloggers are doing with card creations. A company can also do an homage, but they should give credit where credit is due. We'll collect all the examples here and let the public decide.

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Birth Year cards

1st blogger mention: January 20, 2009 gcrl
1st blogger appearance: March 9, 2009 White Sox Cards
1st Topps mention: June 23, 2016 Topps blog
1st Topps appearance: Fall 2016 (as Topps Birth Year cards)

Blogger version: Cards featuring White Sox players on the design from the year they were born.

Topps version: Topps is issuing a set of cards called "Birth Year" cards featuring rookie players on the design from the year they were born.
 

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Celebrity Jersey cards

1st blogger appearance: May 7, 2010 Johngy
1st Topps appearance: Spring 2015 (as Topps First Pitch)

Blogger version: Celebrities wearing jerseys featuring all sports.

Topps Version: Topps used celebrities and notables in jerseys throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game. Topps did do insert sets of Presidential first pitches as early as 2002 in Topps American Pie.

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Do you have more examples? Leave them in the comments and I'll include them if the case is convincing enough.

Topps Steals Seven Year Old Idea From Card Blogger

I don't have a problem with anyone using my ideas. I just want credit for them. It's as simple as that.

My name is Steve Gierman. I run this little card blog called White Sox Cards. I've been producing content for White Sox Cards since November 9, 2007. Since this blog's inception, I have made many friends and gained many readers. In fact, on days I don't post, I average about 200 unique readers. Not bad for someone writing typically about one team and their baseball cards.

I have seen my fellow card bloggers receive accolades for their work and have seen some go on to jobs in the card industry, putting their knowledge, love and connections to great use. I've seen the rise and fall and resurgence of popular blogs, all the while I have been posting content and sharing the love I have for card collecting, baseball and my Chicago White Sox.

I've had a lot of great ideas for card sets and I try to make something new each year. Most years I do, some I don't, but the one consistent ongoing set has been Birth Years. I published my first Birth Years card on March 9, 2009, one year and four months into this blog. I have updated the Birth Years set each year as new players play for the White Sox, using the card design that came out in the year that they were born. I just finished posting the last of the 2015 cards (card #194) on June 14, 2016, and I have been in the prepping stages of the 2016 cards.

These cards have been one of the most popular attractions for White Sox Cards. I take great care in the little details of each card. I even made bonus "In Action" cards for anyone born in 1982 or 1972. I made a decision back in 2009 to use the Topps designs. The main reason I chose Topps cards is that their designs span back to 1951 and they own card designs that go back even further. The second reason I chose Topps is because the designs for each year are usually memorable and I have fond memories of those cards from my youth. There are special memories associated with those designs for myself and every card collector out there. I use the designs as part of "fair use", because I seek no monetary gain from selling these cards. I have had plenty of offers to sell these cards, but I have turned every one down. All I have ever asked is to be given credit.

The first 100 cards have been on YouTube for three years.



It hasn't been a secret. There's even a Birth Years album on the White Sox Cards Facebook page. The Birth Year cards are probably the most unique thing I'm known for as a card blogger. Seven years later, Topps "borrows" the idea and the name. I let the birth year coin cards slide last year because they are a completely different animal. This year it feels like a sucker punch to the gut.

Imagine my surprise yesterday, when my phone starts blowing up. Several different people are telling me the exact same thing... Topps stole my idea. I shrugged it off thinking that everybody was exaggerating. On my lunch break, I checked it out and it's the same idea and same implement.

I'm a fairly easy person to contact. This blog, the Facebook page, the Twitter account all are ways I can be contacted. It's not hard to connect the dots. For a company that is so in tune with the hobby, it's collectors and social media, this seems a bit fishy. It seems to me that someone at Topps was reading my blog and thought that was a great idea.

I don't want a commission, as some people have suggested at the Topps Twitter feed. I would just like credit. A simple e-mail or message to me before this was done would have been the decent thing to do. Common courtesy. If I was asked, I would have given my blessing for the project. I would have been the first one out there promoting it spreading the word about how awesome it was to have an idea that was actually considered worthy of a release. I would have been ecstatic!

Instead, I am frustrated, confused and defiled. I feel like I just got hit with a Randy Johnson fastball. This does nothing to put my faith in the Topps Company. This has been nothing but bad press for Topps by having the card bloggers call the company out on this fact. This experience so far makes me want to lobby for Panini to get licensed. At this point, I'd rather see Upper Deck get their license back, than have Topps retain a license.

One day, soon, this incident will likely be forgotten by most casual card collectors. The long time collectors tend to remember things like this and they are Topps' most consistent customers. Why would any Topps employee think it was alright to steal from their most loyal customers? Even if they are just ideas.


***UPDATE - June 25, 2016***
I'm not the only one who had the thought back in 2009. Check out this post from gcrl. I think Jim and I should both get credit. Jim had the original thought in 2009's Blog Bat Around about what the card companies could do to improve their product. I had honestly forgotten about that inclusion, but that does not change the fact that bloggers had the idea and the inclination to start this project seven years ago. The fact remains that this idea and ongoing project has been highly visible for seven years.

This isn't even the first thing that Topps has "borrowed" from bloggers without giving proper credit. Johngy has had Celebrity Jersey cards since May 7, 2010.  278 different cards have been posted as of this update. Topps took the idea, narrowed it down, and turned it into "First Pitch" cards, which feature celebrities and special guests throwing out first pitches in jerseys. Johngy expands on this to show celebrities in jerseys doing a number of things, including throwing out first pitches, and it includes multiple sports. It just goes to show that the bloggers have the ideas first and end up doing it better.

I guess I'll be expecting to see Final Tribute cards someday from Topps too. All I'll have to do to figure out what's next from Topps is to peruse my blog roll.

2016 Topps Legacies Of Baseball

Is this set really necessary? That will be the eternal debate. It's an interesting set with intriguing possibilities. On card autographs and a surprisingly strong checklist make this a really tempting pickup. The drawback? A box contains only four cards and only two of those are autographed on average. The biggest deterrent would be the price tag for the box. Boxes start at $150 and usually top out just below $200, depending on where you shop.

The closest thing to a base set would be the Vault Metals set. It features no autographs and is closest to what looks like a base. The cards are good stock made of metal and appear in their own penny sleeve, which cuts down on the scratching that metal cards seem to endure.

The White Sox have four cards that appear in the set. Two Hall of Fame players and arguably one of the best pitchers in the majors currently. Not bad.

Vault Metals
VM-15 - Carlton Fisk

Lasting Imprints
LL-FT - Frank Thomas (/99)

Lasting Imprints Autographs
LI-FT - Frank Thomas (/25)

Tenacity Autographs
TA-CS - Chris Sale (/199)

Vault Metals parallels: purple logo (/50), red logo (/25), black logo (/1)
Lasting Imprints parallels: purple (/50), red (/5), black (/1)
Lasting Imprints Autographs parallels: black (/1)
Tenacity Autographs parallels: green (/99), purple (/50), red (/5), black (/1)

The checklist is small and focused. It doesn't appear bloated and it's definitely not a sticker dump product. Some thought went into this set. The execution and price point might be a little off, but this is what I hope sets strive to be like quality-wise. It reminds me of a set that would have come out in the mid to late nineties without the glitter. It's a good set to pick up on the secondary market.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - J.B. Shuck

Card #26 - J.B. Shuck

WSC Birth Years: Mike Olt

Card #194 - Mike Olt

Born: August 27, 1988

Mike was drafted in the first round of the 2010 draft (49th overall) by the Texas Rangers. He debuted for the Rangers on August 2, 2012 and recorded a hit in his first at-bat. After appearing in sixteen games with Texas, Olt was traded to the Chicago Cubs as part of the Matt Garza trade on July 22, 2013. Once with the Cubs, Mike saw action in ninety-five games, slugging thirteen home runs and driving in thirty-four.

On September 15, 2015, Olt was selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. In twenty-four appearances, Mike hit a career best .203 and provided a little bit of a jolt into the lineup to a sagging ChiSox team. With the team improving for the 2016 season, Olt was released on March 15, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres two days later.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Dan Jennings

Card #25 - Dan Jennings

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Austin Jackson

Card #24 - Austin Jackson

WSC Birth Years: Junior Guerra

Card #193 - Junior Guerra

Born: January 16, 1985

Junior was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves on October 2, 2001. Since then, he has played in the Mets organization from 2007 until 2009 and pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League, the Mexican League and the American Association before signing with the Chicago White Sox on October 28, 2014.

Guerra made his MLB debut on June 12, 2015, at the age of thirty, five days after he was called up by the White Sox. He pitched the seventh and eighth innings against the Rays in Tampa Bay, giving up four hits, one run and striking out two. Junior would also pitch an inning against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on June 15th for an inning and an innings against the Twins in Minnesota, where he gave up a two-run homer to Brian Dozier. Guerra was sent down shortly after. Junior was selected off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers on October 7, 2015.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Jake Petricka

Card #23 - Jake Petricka

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Hector Sanchez

Card #22 - Hector Sanchez

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Nate Jones

Card #21 - Nate Jones

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Todd Frazier

Card #20 - Todd Frazier

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Miguel Gonzalez

Card #19 - Miguel Gonzalez

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Tommy Kahnle

Card #18 - Tommy Kahnle

Grandpa's Ticket Stub

 I've mentioned once or twice before how my dad's parents were huge White Sox fans. They even hung around drinking with Tony LaRussa after his playing days, when he was a coach in the minors out in California. I'm still tracking down the photographic evidence of that.

My dad was cleaning out one of his drawers and came across an envelope that he hadn't opened in twenty years. It contained pictures and things from his father.

No one says a word to me, when I receive a mysterious envelope in the mail from my dad. This is odd in itself because mom always sends things, never dad.

"Open carefully" the note says wrapped around a taped up cardboard sleeve.

Inside, I spot this...

A ticket stub from May 31, 1937.

It was the second game of a double header against the St. Louis Browns. The White Sox won the first game 5-2, behind a complete game by Monty Stratton. The second game was a bit more tricky.

The White Sox started Sugar Cain, but he only lasted four and a third innings. The White Sox kept battling and won it in the bottom of the ninth on a Mike Kreevich RBI single. The final score was 9-8.

This is one of the coolest pieces of White Sox history in my possession. Thanks, dad!

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Tyler Saladino

Card #17 - Tyler Saladino

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Matt Albers

Card #16 - Matt Albers

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Jimmy Rollins

Card #15 - Jimmy Rollins

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Daniel Webb

Card #14 - Daniel Webb

An Awesome Heritage Pull - Thanks, Mom!

My mom is a very thoughtful person, especially to anyone she considers family. Since I got married and moved from Illinois to Michigan, she sends "care packages" on occasion. If she's shopping and she sees something that she thinks I may like, she'll mail it off, instead of waiting until I visit. She's pretty awesome like that.

I'm assuming that she found herself inside Target sometime last week, because I received a package today that included a pack of 2016 Bowman and a pack of 2016 Topps Heritage.

Inside the Bowman pack, I found my first card of Carson Fulmer in the guise of a Chrome Prospect card. I was very satisfied with that, until I opened the Topps Heritage.

I did a double take when I flipped past the Nolan Ryan card. I thought, "Cool. Nolan Ryan". Then it registered. Nolan Ryan isn't in the base set. Then I saw the red ink. My jaw dropped. I immediately put the card in a sleeve and a top loader.

My mom is a huge White Sox fan. Really, only the White Sox, but she does know the big names that never played for the organization. She was impressed when I called and told her what I had found in the packs that she sent.

This particular Target location also produced my other Heritage red ink card; the 2010 R.C. Stevens autograph. I've never pulled an auto from a hobby pack of Heritage, but managed to find two in one Target location, granted several years apart.

I have to say that this is the best "in person" pull I've ever had. I'm not sure if it will beat the Shoeless Joe Jackson bat relic or the Willie Mays game-used uniform swatch numbered to ten, but those were group break pulls, so the thrill is somewhat diminished when watching a video of someone else pulling your cards.

I had a hectic day at work, so this was an awesome way to start my post work day!


... Interested in owning this card? You can purchase it here, through my UniSquare store.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Jerry Sands

Card #13 - Jerry Sands

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Zach Duke

Card #12 - Zach Duke

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Dioner Navarro

Card #11 - Dioner Navarro

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Jose Quintana

Card #10 - Jose Quintana

WSC Aesthetic '16 - John Danks

Card #9 - John Danks

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Jose Abreu

Card #8 - Jose Abreu

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Avisail Garcia

Card #7 - Avisail Garcia

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Carlos Rodon

Card #6 - Carlos Rodon

WSC Aesthetic '16 - David Robertson

Card #5 - David Robertson

Meet The 2016 Candidates

It's time to vote again for the WSC Hall of Fame.

Some names may look familiar, others may not. The voting encompasses the White Sox from 1894 through five seasons ago. I try to keep a healthy mix of players from all throughout White Sox history. Here's a little about each candidate.

Oscar Gamble (1977, 1985)
Oscar was originally part of the '77 South Side Hitmen, endearing himself to the south side faithful with his outlandish hair, unusual batting stance and machismo. He hit .297 with 31 homers for the 1977 team. He returned to the Sox in 1985 for a good chunk of the season to wrap up his MLB career.

Jerry Hairston (1973-1977, 1981-1989)
Jerry specialized in pinch hitting, which is why he spent parts of 14 seasons with the Pale Hose. Hairston pinch hit in his last game and fittingly singled.

Dummy Hoy (1900-1901)
William joined the Sox in 1900, during the last season as a minor league team. He was with the team when the Sox became a major league team in 1901. The 39 year old Hoy led off  and played center in 1901 becoming the first MLB batter for the ChiSox. He led the league in walks and hit-by-pitches, while helping the Sox to their first MLB AL pennant.

Frank Isbell (1896-1909)
Frank played first, second and outfield. He led the AL in stolen bases in 1901 with 52. Isbell was a pennant winner in 1901 and a World Champion in 1906. He was first in first base assists in 1901 and 1902. He was first in fielding range at first base in 1909. Frank is linked all the way back to the St. Paul Apostles team in 1896, two years removed from the beginning of the club in Sioux City, Iowa.

Fielder Jones (1901-1908)
Fielder led the league in sacrifice hits in 1904. He was first in fielding percentage in the outfield in 1903 and 1906. Jones also managed the team from 1904 until 1908. He was a pennant winner in 1901 and a World Champion in 1906.

Ron Karkovice (1986-1997)
Ron was the steady backup for Carlton Fisk until he finally became the first string catcher. He was first in caught stealing percentage in 1989, 1990 and 1993. He won the AL West pennant in 1993 and the AL Central pennant in 1994.

Al Lopez (1957-1965, 1968, 1968-1969)
Al managed the Sox to the pennant in 1959 to go along with five second place finishes during his tenure.

Jorge Orta (1972-1979)
Jorge was an All-Star for the Sox in 1975. He was the AL Player of the Week three times and finished second in AL batting average in 1974.

Gary Peters (1959-1969)
Gary was AL Rookie of the Year in 1963. He was an All-Star in 1964 and 1967. He was first in ERA in 1963 and 1966 and second in ERA in 1967. Peters won 20 games for the Sox in 1964.

Bobby Thigpen (1986-1993)
Bobby established a then MLB record 57 saves in a season in 1990. He was an All-Star in 1990. Thigpen was first in finished games in 1988 and 1990. He was first in games pitched in 1990. Bobby was AL Pitcher of the Month for May 1990 and won the AL Rolaids Relief award in 1990.

Robin Ventura (1989-1998)
Robin won five Gold Gloves at third base. He was an All-Star for the Sox in 1992. He was first in Intentional Walks in 1998. Ventura was Player of the Month in July 1991. He was known for solidifying the defense at third base, which was a sore spot for many years before Robin took over.

Buck Weaver (1912-1920)
Buck was a World Champion in 1917 and an AL pennant winner in 1919. He was first in sacrifice hits in 1915 and 1916. Weaver batted .333 in the 1917 World Series and .324 in the 1919 World Series. He was the only third baseman that Ty Cobb would not bunt against.

Hoyt Wilhelm (1963-1968)
Hoyt had an ERA of 1.92 over the six seasons he spent with the White Sox. He racked up 41 wins and 99 saves during his tenure with the Pale Hose, mostly in relief appearances, all while perplexing hitters with his knuckleball.

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Melky Cabrera

Card #4 - Melky Cabrera

WSC Aesthetic '16 - Adam Eaton

Card #3 - Adam Eaton