January 10

1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier #328 - Steve Sax

On this day in 1992, the White Sox acquired Steve Sax from the New York Yankees for Melido Perez, Domingo Jean and Bob Wickman.

Easily regarded as one of the worst trades for the Sox, Steve Sax didn't hit out of the .230 range for his duration with the South Siders. His fielding took a little bit of a dip from his days with New York, but it regressed to levels of his Los Angeles days.

Sax took a back seat to Joey Cora at second base and Tim Raines in left field by 1993. Steve never played in a postseason game in 1993, despite being on the roster all season.





White Sox January 10th birthdays:

1937 - Jim O'Toole
1958 - Pat Keedy
1959 - Richard Dotson

January 9

2010 Historic Autographs "In Memory Of" Update - Ray French

On this day in 1895, shortstop and second baseman, Ray French was born. Ray played briefly for the White Sox in 1924. He mostly played at shortstop, but played three games at second base for the Pale Hose. He managed 20 hits and 11 RBI, while batting .179.

Ray was purchased from the Brooklyn Robins on April 16, 1924 and played his last game on July 10, 1924.




White Sox January 9th birthdays:

1895 - Ray French
1982 - Tony Pena

January 8

1984 Donruss #379 - Julio Cruz

On this day in 1984, the White Sox re-signed free agent Julio Cruz.

After being the spark plug for the 1983 "Winning Ugly" team, the Sox signed Julio to a new contract in 1984. Unfortunately, Cruz did not return to form and slowly trailed off of his hot '83 finish. This was one of the reasons why the 1984 team underperformed and the beginning of a slow decline that would last for the rest of the decade.

The Sox finally cut ties with Julio before the 1987 season, but the damage was done and the Sox would find themselves near the cellar of the American League West until strong drafts led to a Pale Hose resurgence in 1990.

White Sox January 8th birthdays:

1921 - Marv Rickert
1927 - Jim Busby
1934 - Gene Freese
1973 - Mike Cameron

January 7

1916 M101-4 #96 - Jack Lapp

On this day in 1916, the White Sox purchased Jack Lapp from the Philadelphia Athletics.

Jack would only play forty games for the Sox, hitting .208, in what would be his last year in the majors. Lapp was a second string catcher behind Ray Schalk. Jack's final game was October 1, 1916, during a doubleheader in Cleveland. The 1916 White Sox finished two and a half games back of the Boston Red Sox. He was cut from the White Sox due to ill health.

Lapp died on Friday, February 6, 1920, at the age of thirty-five, from pneumonia, in his home at 4229 North Franklin Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the night.




White Sox January 7th birthdays:

1900 - Johnny Grabowski
1905 - Frank Grube
1920 - Dixie Howell
1921 - Ted Beard
1946 - Joe Keough

January 6

2006 Topps Heritage #84 - A.J. Pierzynski

On this day in 2005, Sox GM Kenny Williams bites the bullet and signs A.J. Pierzynski, despite the ugly rumors that persist about the hard nosed catcher.

The signing turned out to be a stroke of genius, as Pierzynski was a helpful teammate and one of the driving forces behind the surprising World Series Championship year for the White Sox. Controversy follows A.J. wherever he goes, it seems, as he gets in the middle of nearly every play.

A.J. was in the middle of a dropped third strike debacle, a few fights and many interesting calls. Pierzynski may be the most knowledgeable man on the field at all times, but that, like many other facets involving A.J., is in the eye of the beholder.



White Sox January 6th birthdays:

1878 - Jack Slattery
1882 - Willis Cole
1886 - Billy Purtell
1895 - Charlie Blackburn
1887 - Buck Crouse
1902 - Bob Barnes
1903 - Ike Eichrodt
1916 - Phil Masi
1920 - Early Wynn

January 5

2011 Bowman Prospects #BP38 - Eduardo Escobar

Happy birthday to Eduardo Escobar, who made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2011.

Escobar had turned heads as a minor league standout, and put up respectable numbers in very limited appearances in 2011. Appearing in games as a pinch runner, pinch hitter and shortstop, Eduardo managed two hits in seven at-bats. He appeared in nine games in his first season.









White Sox January 5th birthdays:

1879 - Zaza Harvey
1899 - Bill Hunnefield
1901 - Luke Sewell
1914 - Jack Salveson
1924 - Fred Marsh
1935 - Earl Battey
1948 - Charlie Hough
1958 - Ron Kittle
1963 - John Davis
1989 - Eduardo Escobar

January 4

1949 Bowman #191 - Joe Haynes

On this day in 1941, the White Sox purchased Joe Haynes from the Washington Senators. Joe went on to play with the White Sox through 1948.

While with the Sox, Haynes led the AL in games and games finished in 1942, was the AL ERA champion in 1947 and made his only All-Star appearance in 1948.

Joe was traded to the White Sox by his future father-in-law, Washington owner Clark Griffith.






White Sox January 4th birthdays:

1903 - Alex Metzler
1906 - Blondy Ryan
1930 - Don McMahon
1963 - Daryl Boston
1982 - Jason Bourgeois
1994 - Reynaldo Lopez

January 3

2007 SP Rookie Edition #126 - Gustavo Molina

On this day in 2000, Gustavo Molina was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox. Gustavo made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2007. He was on the opening day roster due to an injury to backup catcher Toby Hall.

Gustavo was 1-18 with one RBI during his tenure with the White Sox. His lone hit came at U.S. Cellular Field against the New York Yankees. Once Toby Hall came back, Gustavo was sent down and was eventually picked up on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. After the Orioles, he has played for the Mets, Red Sox and Yankees.






White Sox January 3rd birthdays:

1904 - Bill Cissell
1910 - Frenchy Bordagaray
1950 - Bart Johnson

January 2

1976 Chicago's Greats - Bill Veeck

On this day in 1986, Bill Veeck died from cancer, after a lengthy smoking habit. While he is most associated by his contributions with the White Sox, most people have no idea how influential he was all over the game.

When Bill was a child, his father became president of the Chicago Cubs. As a young lad, Bill came up with the idea of growing ivy in the Wrigley Field outfield. This brainstorm helped to define Wrigley Field and is one of the first things that pops into people's heads when they think of the Cubs home field.

While with the Cleveland Indians, Veeck signed Larry Doby to a contract, effectively making Doby the first black player in the American League. He also signed Satchel Paige, making him the oldest rookie in MLB history.

Working with the St. Louis Browns, Veeck hired Eddie Gaedel to pinch hit and allowed the fans to manage a game, which the Browns won, snapping a four game losing streak.

In 1959, Veeck was head of a group that took over the White Sox. He installed the now famous exploding scoreboard and electric blowers to clear home plate of dirt. Bill was forced to sell his shares of the team in 1961, due to poor health, but returned in 1975.

This time, Veeck pulled memorable stunts like having the team wear shorts during three different games and the ill-fated Disco Demolition. He also created the template for the rent-a-player mentality that would become popular with some owners, when he signed star players to one year contracts, in 1977. Veeck would be responsible for reinstating Minnie Minoso two separate times. One of the most enduring stunts that Veeck pulled out of his hat was convincing announcer Harry Caray to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for the fans during the seventh inning stretch. A reluctant Caray agreed and it became a staple of Harry's schtick, which he moved to the Cubs booth a few years later.

White Sox January 2nd birthdays:

1905 - Red Kress
1951 - Jim Essian
1951 - Royle Stillman
1970 - Royce Clayton

January 1

1984 Topps #405 - LaMarr Hoyt

Happy birthday to LaMarr Hoyt, who in 1983, helped lead the White Sox to the AL West division title. This was the first time since 1959 that the Sox made the playoffs. That year, LaMarr won the AL Cy Young award and the AL TSN Pitcher of the Year.

Hoyt came to the organization with Oscar Gamble in 1977, as part of the Bucky Dent deal with the Yankees. He was dealt to the Padres after the 1984 season for a package that included a young shortstop named Ozzie Guillen.

LaMarr ran into drug problems that derailed his career, but he eventually rebounded from those woes and is currently drug free and working in the White Sox organization as a roving instructor.


White Sox January 1st birthdays:

1874 - Ned Garvin
1924 - Earl Torgeson
1955 - LaMarr Hoyt
1974 - Kevin Beirne

Cards That Never Were #53

1984 Fleer Update - Bucky Dent

Well past the days of postseason heroics, Bucky Dent was released from the Texas Rangers on April 2, 1984. Later in the season, he signed a contract with the Yankees, where he became a household name years earlier. Finding himself released from a contract with the Yankees shortly after, without appearing in a MLB game, Bucky signed with the Kansas City Royals.

Appearing in eleven games, mostly as a defensive replacement at shortstop and third base, Bucky was able to manage three hits and one RBI between August and September in the 1984 season. After the 1984 season, Bucky was released from his contract with the Royals and his MLB playing career ended.

Dent ended his career with the team his Yankees defeated two years in a row to advance to the World Series, in 1977 and 1978. The Royals bested the Yankee team he was on in 1980, to advance to the World Series. The Royals did win the Western Division in 1984, but lost to the Tigers in the playoffs. Dent did not participate in any of those games. In fact, his last game was on September 11, 1984 against the Twins. Bucky came in as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning for John Wathan, who pinch hit for Buddy Biancalana. Dent was lifted in the eighth by pinch hitter Leon Roberts, who was replaced in the field by Onix Concepcion.

Buehrle Is A Marlin

Mark,

I've thoroughly enjoyed your time in Chicago. We (as the collective of players and fans) have experienced the best of times and times that were probably best forgotten. Yet, your calm, cool and grace always poked through. There are too many highlights that I will remember from your time here to start listing them all. I'm sad to see you go, but I can understand your decision. And I thought St. Louis was the only team that could wrangle you away from the White Sox! I'll still collect your cards and I will follow your career with great interest. I, and the rest of Chicago, will sure miss you. We will never forget you.

~ Steve Gierman
White Sox Cards

Santo In, Minoso Denied

I could say a lot about the Hall of Fame committee's vote, but I won't. Instead, I'll say congratulations to the ghost of Ron Santo and his loyal supporters. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Ron Santo, the player, deserves to get into the Hall of Fame, as do other excellent players that repeatedly get overlooked.
For a great read on why Minnie Minoso got the shaft again, read Jim Margalus' excellent article.

2012 WSC Hall Of Fame Ballot

Here's a Hall of Fame that anyone can vote for: The White Sox Cards Hall Of Fame.

You can vote for as many or as few players as you want. The rules are the same as the MLB Hall of Fame. 75% of the vote will get a player in. At least 5% of the vote will keep a player on the ballot for next year. A player has to be away from the White Sox for a minimum of five years for ballot consideration. If a player cannot get 75% of the vote after 15 tries, he is taken off the ballot.

Last ballot, first baseman Frank Thomas was voted into the WSC Hall Of Fame. Who will make it in this year?

The 2012 ballot includes a player for each positional spot on the field, a designated hitter, a manager, and pitching has been split into spots for starter, middle relief and closer.

Luis Aparicio - SS (2nd year)
Harold Baines – OF (2nd year)
Nellie Fox – 2nd Base (2nd year)
Oscar Gamble - DH (2nd year)
Ed Herrmann - C (1st year)
Frank Isbell – 1st Base (1st year)
Joe Jackson - OF (2nd year)
Fielder Jones – OF (2nd year)
Al Lopez – MGR (2nd year)
Gary Peters - P (2nd year)
Bobby Thigpen - P (1st year)
Robin Ventura – 3rd Base (2nd year)
Hoyt Wilhelm – P (1st year)

Voting will be through February 14, 2012, with the results announced shortly after. You can vote on the right sidebar. Any position left open due to election or cuts will be filled by another player next year.

The results should prove interesting. Have fun!

What I'm Thankful For This Year

In no particular order...

Family
Friends
Health
New job
Better new job
Restarting my education
New relationship
Not abandoning this blog
A new direction for the White Sox
At least one company still makes baseball cards
Becoming a published author
Happiness after sadness
Reading everyone else's card blogs
The feeling of a freshly opened pack of cards
Watching "Garfield's Thanksgiving" on DVD today
Watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on DVD right after
Secretly wishing that my dinner consisted of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, popcorn and jelly beans

Hope everyone has a growing list of things to be thankful for this year!