Name: Brian Anderson
Rank: 99
Position: CF
Years With White Sox: 2005-2009
Brian Anderson joined the White Sox organization as the 15th overall pick in the 2003 draft. He made his major league debut on August 16, 2005, going 2-7 in a 9-4 loss to the Twins at US Cellular Field. He appeared in only 13 games for the big league club in 2005, as the White Sox battle for the division crown went down to the final weekend. Anderson was left off the playoff roster, but still spent the time with the team, joining Aaron Rowand in doubting the walk-off home run Scott Podsednik hit in Game 2 of the World Series.
When Rowand was traded to the Phillies prior to the 2006 season, Anderson became the new starting center fielder. Unfortunately, he was unable to reproduce his minor league success at the major league level, eventually losing playing time to Rob Mackowiak. He finished the year with a .225 average, striking out 90 times in only 365 at bats.
2007 turned in to a lost season for Anderson, as he lost his starting job to Darin Erstad and appeared in only 13 games, with an anemic .118 average, before being sent back to Triple A Charlotte. He managed to boost his average back up in the minors, but an injury ended his season early.
Anderson returned to the big leagues in 2008 with a renewed focus, but it did not translate to better results in the field. He spent most of the year as a backup and as a late inning defensive replacement for Ken Griffey Jr. The highlight of his season was the diving catch he made to end the tiebreaker game 163 that sent the White Sox to the playoffs. This time, Anderson made the playoff roster, but he went hitless in 5 at bats across 3 games in the White Sox loss to the Rays in the ALDS.
Anderson found himself in the same position in 2009, until the trade deadline approached, when he was traded to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay.
Anderson returned to the White Sox organization on January 15, 2015, signing a minor league deal, but he was released on April 2nd, ending his professional career.
Anderson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
| BA | At Bats | Runs | Hits | RBI | Walks | Strike Outs | Doubles | Triples | HR | SB | GIDP | Errors | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.267 | 176 | 29 | 47 | 27 | 13 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 83 |
| 0.225 | 782 | 101 | 176 | 75 | 62 | 203 | 47 | 1 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 334 |