Category / Baseball

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#113 – Brent Morel

morelName: Brent Morel

Rank: 113

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 2010-2013

Brent Morel joined the White Sox organization as their third round selection of the 2008 draft.  He made his major league debut a little over 2 years later on September 7, 2010, appearing as a pinch hitter against the Tigers in a 9-1 White Sox loss.  A few days later, he hit a home run for his first major league hit against Bruce Chen and the Royals.  He finished the year with a .231 average in 21 games.

Morel spent the entire 2011 season with the White Sox, earning the starting third baseman job.  He boosted his average to .245 and appeared in a career high 126 games.  Unfortunately, this was the high point of his career.

2012 saw Morel battling injuries which affected him at the plate, as his average plummeted to .177 in only 35 games.  In 2013, Morel was back in Triple A for most of the year, getting into only 12 games for the White Sox.  Following the season, Morel was selected off waivers by the Blue Jays, ending his White Sox career.

Morel’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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Tigers All Time Leaders – Through 2015

tigersWith 2 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers began life in 1894 as part of the Western League and became a charter franchise of the American League in 1901, making them the oldest one city, one name franchise in the American League.  I’ve seen them play 38 times, including the second game ever, and my first game, at the new Comiskey Park.

Home Runs

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 5
Ryan Raburn 3
Jhonny Peralta 3

Hits

Name Total
Ryan Raburn 19
Austin Jackson 15
Brandon Inge 15

Runs

Name Total
Miguel Cabrera 13
Austin Jackson 10
Ryan Raburn 9
Brandon Inge 9

RBI

Name Total
Ryan Raburn 13
Miguel Cabrera 10
Tony Clark 9

Doubles

Name Total
Alex Avila 4
Ryan Raburn 3
Brandon Inge 3
Johnny Damon 3

Triples Continue reading →

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#114 – Mike LaValliere

Mike_LaValliere

Name: Mike LaValliere

Rank: 114

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1993-1995

After being released by the Pirates just days into the 1993 season, Mike LaValliere signed a minor league deal with the White Sox.  He was recalled in June when Ron Karkovice landed on the disabled list.  He became the primary catcher after Carlton Fisk was released on June 28th, and moved back into a reserve role once Karkovice returned.  He finished the year with a .258 average in only 97 at bats.  LaValliere made two appearances during the ALCS against the Blue Jays, picking up 1 hit in 3 at bats.

LaValliere returned to the White Sox in 1994, again as a backup to Karkovice.  He hit a robust .281 in only 139 at bats before the season came to a premature end due to the player’s strike.

When baseball resumed in 1995, LaValliere was back behind the plate for the White Sox.  He again was used sparingly, ending the year with a .245 average in a scant 98 at bats.  Following the season, he became a free agent and retired.

LaValliere’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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Reds All Time Leaders – Through 2015

redsWith 3 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds began life in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association, joining the National League in 1890.  I’ve seen them play 38 times, at 4 separate stadiums across 2 states.

Home Runs

Name Total
Adam Dunn 12
Austin Kearns 3
Edwin Encarnacion 3

Hits

Name Total
Adam Dunn 24
Ken Griffey Jr. 19
Sean Casey 18

Runs

Name Total
Adam Dunn 22
Sean Casey 12
Brandon Phillips 9

RBI

Name Total
Adam Dunn 27
Ken Griffey Jr. 12
Austin Kearns 10

Doubles

Name Total
Jason LaRue 5
Adam Dunn 4
Austin Kearns 4

Triples Continue reading →

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#115 – Tom Paciorek

wimpyName: Tom Paciorek

Rank: 115

Position: 1B/LF

Years With White Sox: 1982-1985

Tom Paciorek was traded to the White Sox from the Mariners in December of 1981, for Rod Allen, Todd Cruz, and Jim Essian.  He became the primary first baseman for the White Sox in 1982 and finished the year second on the team with a .312 average.

In 1983, Paciorek split time between first base and the outfield, due to the emergence of young players like Greg Walker and Ron Kittle.  He finished the year with a team-leading .307 average as the White Sox took home their first division title, by a record 20 games.  Paciorek appeared in all 4 games of the ALCS, picking up 4 hits in 16 at bats as the White Sox fell to the Orioles.

Paciorek saw his playing time diminish further in 1984, as the White Sox struggled to repeat their success of the prior year.  His personal highlight came on May 8th (and 9th), when he set an odd major league record, garnering 5 hits in a game he did not start.  Paciorek replaced Ron Kittle in the 4th inning of what would become the longest game in major league history, with the White Sox eventually defeating the Brewers in 25 innings, with Paciorek going 5-9.

By 1985, Paciorek’s playing time was decreased even further.  He had only 122 at bats when, on July 16, he was traded to the Mets for outfielder Dave Cochrane, drawing his White Sox playing career to an end.

Following his playing career, Paciorek rejoined the White Sox as color commentator on their television broadcasts from 1988 through 1999, and appeared as an occasional fill-in in more recent times.

Paciorek’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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Brewers All Time Leaders – Through 2015

brewersWith 3 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers began life in 1969, joining the American League as the Seattle Pilots.  After one year, they moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers.  In 1998, the Brewers became the first team to switch leagues when they moved to the National League as the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League.  I’ve seen them play 36 times, first in 1993 battling the White Sox at their old home of Milwaukee County Stadium and most recently last May, once again battling the White Sox, at Miller Park.

Home Runs

Name Total
Richie Sexson 4
Prince Fielder 4
Bill Hall 3

Hits

Name Total
Ryan Braun 26
Prince Fielder 23
J.J. Hardy 19
Corey Hart 19

Runs

Name Total
Ryan Braun 14
Prince Fielder 14
J.J. Hardy 11
Rickie Weeks 11

RBI

Name Total
Ryan Braun 18
Prince Fielder 17
Richie Sexson 13

Doubles

Name Total
Prince Fielder 9
Corey Hart 6
Ryan Braun 5

Triples Continue reading →

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#116 – Kip Wells

kipwellsName: Kip Wells

Rank: 116

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1999-2001

Kip Wells joined the White Sox organization as the 16th overall pick of the 1998 draft.  After splitting most of the 1999 season between A and AA, he was called up to the White Sox to make his major league debut August 2nd against the Tigers in Detroit.  In a game I just so happened to attend, he earned his first major league win, going 5 1/3 innings in the Sox 6-2 victory.  He started 6 more games for the White Sox, winning 3 of them and finishing with a respectable, if unspectacular, 4.04.

2000 again saw Wells splitting time between the minor leagues and the big leagues.  As the White Sox ran away and hid with the AL Central crown, Wells started 20 games, struggling through most of them.  He finished with less than 100 innings pitched, which averages out to less than 5 innings per start, and an ERA over 6.  While the White Sox battled the Mariners in the ALDS, he did not see any post-season action.

Wells again spent most of 2001 in Chicago, though he split time between the bullpen and the rotation.  He again started 20 games, but also appeared in another 20 in relief.  He did manage to win 10 games for the first time in his career, but finished with a losing record for the second straight year, despite lowering his ERA by 1 and a quarter runs.  That December, he was packaged with fellow pitchers Josh Fogg and Sean Lowe in a trade to the Pirates for Todd Ritchie.

Wells rejoined the White Sox organization on a minor league deal in April of 2012, but he was released 10 days later.

Wells’ numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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#117 – Dustin Hermanson

dustinhermName: Dustin Hermanson

Rank: 117

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2005-2006

Dustin Hermanson signed with the White Sox as a free agent in December of 2004.  He started the 2005 season as the set-up man, but moved into the closer role when the incumbent, Shingo Takatsu, failed to perform.  As the White Sox cruised to a big lead in the AL Central, Hermanson put together the best season of his career, with a stellar 2.04 ERA and 34 saves.

Hermanson lost his closer position due to a back injury in September, when he was replaced by Bobby Jenks as the White Sox tried to keep their tenuous grasp on the AL Central lead.  As the White Sox cruised through the playoffs on their way to their first World Championship in 88 years, Hermanson sat on the sidelines.  He made his only post-season appearance in Game 3 of the World Series, throwing 1/3 of scoreless relief in the south sider’s 14 inning victory over the Astros.

When 2006 got underway, Hermanson’s back was still causing him issues.  He only appeared in 6 games for the White Sox, before spending most of the year on the disabled list.  Following the season, he became a free agent and never pitched in the major leagues again.

Hermanson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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Rangers All Time Leaders – Through 2015

rangersWith 3 months until baseball in Chicago returns, I thought it would be interesting to look at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers began life in 1961, joining the American League as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators after the original franchise moved to Minnesota to become the Twins.  Following the 1971 season, the team moved to Arlington, Texas and became the Rangers.  I’ve seen them play 31 times, across 2 states and 4 different stadiums.

Home Runs

Name Total
Hank Blalock 3
Ian Kinsler 3
5 tied with 2

Hits

Name Total
Michael Young 19
Ian Kinsler 12
Mark Teixeira 12

Runs

Name Total
Michael Young 12
Hank Blalock 6
Gary Matthews Jr. 6

RBI

Name Total
Mark Teixeira 13
Michael Young 11
Hank Blalock 8
Ian Kinsler 8

Doubles

Name Total
Michael Young 7
5 tied with 3

Triples Continue reading →

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#118 – Jim Parque

parque

Name: Jim Parque

Rank: 118

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1998-2002

Jim Parque was selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 1997 draft, signing less than a week later.  He spent less than a year in the minor leagues, making his big league debut on May 26, 1998 against the Yankees.  Parque spent the rest of the season in the White Sox rotation, finishing with a winning record but with an inflated 5.10 ERA.

Parque spent the entire 1999 season in the big leagues, starting 30 games, but finding little success.  He finished with a 9-15 record and saw his ERA rise to 5.13.

2000 was Parque’s best year in the big leagues.  His most infamous moment in a White Sox uniform came in early April, when the White Sox and Tigers were involved in 2 brawls during the Sox’s 14-6 victory.  Parque hit Dean Palmer with the first pitch of the 7th inning, igniting the first brawl of the day and earning himself a 3 game suspension.  Many claim that the brawl united the young White Sox team, spurring them on to winning the AL Central title.  Parque finished the year with a 13-6 record and lowered his ERA to 4.28.  He started game one of the ALDS against the Mariners, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings and getting a no decision in the White Sox loss.

Parque’s career began to fall apart in 2001, as a torn labrum limited him to 13 games for the White Sox over the 2001 and 2002 seasons, with ERAs of 8.04 and 9.95 respectively.  With his recovery in doubt, he was non-tendered in December of 2002, making him a free agent.

Parque’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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