WSC Birth Years: Nancy Faust

Card #NNO - Nancy Faust

Born: March 11, 1947

Consider this an add on bonus card to the Birth Years series. To honor Nancy Faust on her last day with the White Sox, I created a special no number WSC Birth Years card.

As many of you are aware, Nancy is finishing up 41 seasons on the Southside. The park will not be the same without her musical musings. To commemorate her legacy with the White Sox, I've created a card based on the 1947 Tip Top Bread cards.

1947 was a very lean year for baseball cards, but many White Sox players managed to sneak their way into the Tip Top Bread set. I can't think of a more fitting card set to feature Nancy Faust in, considering the White Sox connections.

The original cards were 2 1/4 inches by 3 inches. They featured a black and white photograph with player identification at the bottom. The cards were borderless at the top and sides.

Fare thee well, Nancy.

WSC Birth Years: Gregory Infante

Card #71 - Gregory Infante

Born: July 10, 1987

Gregory was a surprise call up on September 1, 2010. He wasn't even on the 40 man roster until right before his promotion. It turns out that the faith the White Sox put in Infante was well placed. In his first five appearances, he has a sparkling 0.00 ERA.

On September 7, 2010, Greg made his MLB debut against the Tigers in Detroit. In each of his first five appearances out of the bullpen, Infante has finished the game. He has shown the ability to work well in tough situations. He has done enough in his limited action to receive strong consideration for a bullpen role in the 2011 season.

Out of Gregory's five appearances and month plus with the club, there have still only been photos of him from his first day with the parent club. Instead of hoping for a miracle on the last day of the season, I've decided to go ahead with the best representation of what was available. This does fit in to a degree with 1987 Topps, but the photo would not have been my first choice.

WSC Birth Years: Brent Morel

Card #70 - Brent Morel

Born: April 21, 1987

Brent opened a lot of eyes in 2010 Spring Training. Morel wasn't going to break with the team, but he made the decision more difficult than it should have been. His defensive skills have been steadily improving since rookie ball in 2008. Primarily a third baseman, the Charlotte Knights have tried Brent out at shortstop in 2010.

Morel made his MLB debut on September 7, 2010 with a pinch hitting appearance in the ninth inning. In his third MLB game is when Brent smacked his first hit in the majors, a solo home run to deep center field, leading off the third inning. It gave the Sox the lead over the Royals and hopefully will be the first of many home runs in the majors for Morel.

WSC Birth Years: Alejandro De Aza

Card #69 - Alejandro De Aza

Born: April 11, 1984

Having a taste of the big leagues with the Florida Marlins in 2007 and 2009, Alejandro was hoping for the best when he was claimed off of waivers by the White Sox on October 21, 2009. He came to Spring Training with the ChiSox hungry to make the team and opened plenty of eyes.

De Aza was one of the last players cut before the Sox headed into the season. That fantastic spring made it an easy decision when the rosters opened up in September 2010. Alejandro was among the first group called up. He has been used as a pinch runner during the first week with the Sox. De Aza has taken the opportunity and ran with it; literally. During his first days with the parent club, Alejandro has one stolen base and scored a run in four appearances.

WSC Birth Years: Manny Ramirez In Action

Card #68 - Manny Ramirez In Action

Born: May 30, 1972

A bonus card base on the "In Action" subset from the 1972 Topps set.

WSC Birth Years: Manny Ramirez

Card #67 - Manny Ramirez

Born: May 30, 1972

Manny's presence in a lineup makes everyone around him that much better. On August 31, Manny stepped out onto the on deck circle and caused such a stir with the opposition that A.J. Pierzynski was able to hit a three run home run.

Making his official debut with the White Sox the next day, on September 1, 2010, Ramirez went one for three and was hit by a pitch right between the numbers on the back.

Manny is known as a character and should be quite a match for manager Ozzie Guillen, who is known for his own colorful antics. Whatever the final result, it should be interesting on the Southside in September.

WSC Birth Years: Chris Sale

Card #66 - Chris Sale

Born: March 30, 1989

The Chicago White Sox picked Chris in the first round of the 2010 draft, 13th overall. Sale was the first player in the 2010 draft to make the majors.

While Chris is being groomed for a starting position, he's cutting his teeth in the bullpen, racking up MLB experience and soaking everything in. His first outing was less than stellar, but since then, Sale has improved steadily. Chalk that first outing to nerves. Chris appears to be the real deal. White Sox fans should be looking at his career very closely in the next few years.

WSC Birth Years: J.J. Putz

Card #65 - J.J. Putz

Born: February 22, 1977

J.J. is set to rival his best seasons in Seattle, this year, with the White Sox. Putz may not be a closer anymore, but he still has closer stuff. Stepping into the late inning role, J.J. succeeds where others have failed.

In 2010, he set a franchise record with 27 consecutive scoreless appearances. With that kind of a pitcher in the late innings, it's any wonder that the Sox have been in or around first place for most of the summer.

It's a bit of a delayed homecoming this season for Putz. The Chicago White Sox originally drafted J.J. in 1995, but he ended up not signing. In a way, he's right back where he belongs and flourishing because of it.

WSC Birth Years: Edwin Jackson

Card #64 - Edwin Jackson

Born: September 9, 1983

Edwin already had success before coming to the White Sox. Jackson threw a no-hitter on June 25, 2010, where he threw 149 pitches and walked eight batters with the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Tampa Bay Rays.

After coming to the White Sox and meeting with pitching coach Don Cooper, it was revealed that he had been tipping pitches. On August 4, 2010, Edwin made his ChiSox debut, going 7+ innings and giving up one run. He gave up nine hits and one walk, while striking out six.

Edwin has a little it of wildness in him, but that should start to disappear the longer he works with the Pale Hose coaching staff. If Jackson can turn out even half as successful as Don Cooper's previous project, Matt Thornton, the sky will be the limit for Edwin.

WSC Birth Years: Lucas Harrell

Card #63 - Lucas Harrell

Born: June 3, 1985

It wasn't the prettiest MLB debut in history, but it was enough to get the job done for a win. Relying mostly on his defense, Lucas played to his strengths and ended up going six innings, giving up only one run.

Harrell's success is even sweeter when you realize that his development was stunted due to injuries. After seven years in the minors, he finally made the big time and left a positive impression. After the game, Lucas was sent back down to AAA, but it's good to know that he's waiting in the wings.

The top card is the official Birth Years card, which keeps the style of the photographs in the original 1985 set. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to create a second fun card. I spotted a picture of Lucas Harrell in the middle of the first victory beer shower celebration and had to make an extra card. This is not the type of photograph that would be on a 1985 Topps card, so I had to abandon it. Still, it's definitely worth seeing. Enjoy!

WSC Birth Years: Erick Threets

Card #62 - Erick Threets

Born: November 4, 1981

After failing to catch on in the Dodgers organization, Erick may have finally found a home with the White Sox. In his first six appearances with the Pale Hose, Threets has a 0.00 ERA. Erick almost made the club out of Spring Training, but was sent to AAA until needed.

Originally drafted by the Giants, Erick made his MLB debut with them and, at one time, his changeup was rated the best in the Giants minor league system. He is still searching for his perfect role in the bullpen, but if Threets can keep his pace up, the crafty left-hander might just stick around for awhile.

WSC Birth Years: Jeff Marquez

Card #61 - Jeff Marquez

Born: August 10, 1984

Jeff originally was drafted by the Yankees, but came to the White Sox in a deal that sent Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira to New York.

On July 9, 2010, Marquez made his MLB debut for the White Sox against the Kansas City Royals. He promptly got his first man out, then gave up his first base hit and his first home run, before settling down and retiring the last two batters to finish off an eventual 8-2 victory for the White Sox.

Jeff only pitched one inning before being sent back down, but with his debut out of the way, he can have less butterflies the next time he is called upon by the parent team.

WSC Birth Years: Mark Teahen

Card #60 - Mark Teahen

Born: September 6, 1981

Mark was acquired during the offseason for second baseman Chris Getz and an under-performing Josh Fields. The plan was simple. Move Gordon Beckham to second base to replace Chris Getz and plug Teahen into third base in place of Beckham and Josh Fields.

Early in the 2010 season, Mark's defense was suspect and his bat was slow to come around. When both were finally showing more consistent signs of life, Teahen broke his finger and was put on the disabled list. Hopefully, this will not be a huge blow to Mark's progress, when he returns.

If Teahen lives up to his full potential with the White Sox, Mark could be a permanent fixture at third base, possibly joining the ranks of Robin Ventura and Joe Crede in the hearts of ChiSox fans.

WSC Birth Years: Dayan Viciedo

Card #59 - Dayan Viciedo

Born: March 10, 1989

After defecting from Cuba in early 2008, Dayan was declared a free agent and signed a four year contract with the White Sox on December 12, 2008. While some saw this as a risky investment, Dayan has improved at every level since joining the Sox.

On June 20, 2010, Viciedo made his MLB debut against the Washington Nationals, going 1 for 4, but hitting the ball with authority in his first three at-bats. In his first at-bat, Nyjer Morgan made a spectacular play to rob Dayan of a sure double. In his second at-bat, Viciedo hit a rocket single.

If Dayan continues to show discipline and power at the plate, it may prove difficult to send him back down to AAA. The future appears bright for this young slugger.

WSC Birth Years: Juan Pierre

Card #58 - Juan Pierre

Born: August 14, 1977

Juan D'Vaughn Pierre came to the White Sox through a trade with the Dodgers. Two top pitching prospects went to Los Angeles, while Pierre came to Chicago in the December 2009 trade.

Juan was the answer to the Scott Podsednik problem after the 2009 season. Pierre is a clear upgrade defensively from Podsednik, but Juan doesn't have the same arm that he once had. In Pierre, the Sox have a true leadoff hitter, who is not a liability on the bases.

The longer Juan plays with the Sox, the better he becomes. As the games play on, Pierre has found better ways to get on base and more ways to steal bases, once he's at first. If he continues this path, the Sox will be in a much better position at the All-Star break.

WSC Birth Years: Sergio Santos

Card #57 - Sergio Santos

Born: July 4, 1983

Sergio started his career as a shortstop with some pop in his bat. Santos was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002 and worked his way up the the AAA level. He then spent time with the Blue Jays, the Twins, the White Sox and the Giants, in their minor league organizations.

Fate stepped in when the White Sox finally convinced Sergio to embrace his strong throwing arm (which he used to win bar bets) and reinvent himself as a pitcher in 2009. Starting in A ball and stopping at every level of the White Sox minor league system, Santos was in a great position to open eyes in 2010 Spring Traning.

Breaking with the White Sox, after camp, Sergio tied a team record of 11 appearances to start his career without allowing a run.

WSC Birth Years: Donny Lucy In Action

Card #56 - Donny Lucy - In Action

Born: August 8, 1982

A bonus card based on the 1982 Topps card set.

WSC Birth Years: Donny Lucy

Card #55 - Donny Lucy

Born: August 8, 1982

After making his debut in 2007, Donny has been stuck in the minors, behind parent club veteran catchers, until a heel injury to Ramon Castro forced the Sox to call upon Lucy's services again in 2010.

Donny has been making the most of his backup catcher role. Since rejoining the big club, he has seen an increase in his playing time and slugged his first Major League home run, which also turned out to be his first RBI.

Despite being a backup to workaholic A.J. Pierzynski, Lucy has found ample time to get in games. Donny has been waiting in the wings for a few seasons now. 2010 will be the time to make an argument to stay with the parent club.

WSC Birth Years: Andruw Jones

Card #54 - Andruw Jones

Born: April 23, 1977

White Sox management took quite a few gambles before the 2010 season started. One of the high risk/high reward moves involved signing Andruw Jones, hoping that he would return to his old form that he had with Atlanta. Jones has bounced around the last few years, spending time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers after slightly over a decade with the Atlanta Braves.

The last three seasons have been subpar compared with Andruw's past performances. Jones joins old friend Ozzie Guillen on the White Sox. With any luck, Andruw's fortunes will turn around for the entire 2010 season.

So far in 2010, the White Sox have found a power threat and speed on the base paths from Jones. While celebrating his 33rd birthday, Andruw stole his third base of the year and smacked two homers for the Sox, including the game winner.

WSC Birth Years: Omar Vizquel

Card #53 - Omar Vizquel

Born: April 24, 1967

Making his debut with the Seattle Mariners in 1989, Omar is the oldest active player on the White Sox at the beginning of the season. Vizquel is the next in the long line of excellent Venezuelan shortstops to grace the position for the White Sox.

In his long career, Omar has won eleven Gold Gloves and has been selected to three All-Star teams. Vizquel is not expected to be the everyday shortstop this late in his career, but don't be surprised if he can still play with the best of them. Omar is expected to be a bench player and a mentor to the young infielders.

Expect Vizquel to see plenty of playing time between filling in at shortstop, pinch hitting and being part of skipper Ozzie Guillen's rotating DH plan for 2010.