Category / Baseball

by jim

Fauxbacks

Bhbv5oOCYAArFYZThe one bright spot in a dismal 2013 season for the Chicago White Sox was the reintroduction of the uniforms introduced in 1982 and worn during the 1983 Winning Ugly season.  The Sunday throwbacks were a big hit with fans and with the players themselves.  Yesterday, the White Sox announced that they were adding the uniform as an official alternate for the 2014 season, which could be worn at any time.  Despite not being tied to an anniversary for the 1983 team, the All Star Game patch will still adorn the sleeves of the throwback.  The only difference will be the hat.

But oh, what a difference.  Rather than sticking with the caps that were originally part of the uniform set, and which were worn last year as part of the Sunday throwback program, the team is joining forces with New Era to hawk a new alternate batting practice cap, which they will wear with these uniforms.  The hat replaces the SOX wordmark on the front of the cap and replaces it with the top half of the old “Batterman” logo used by the team from the mid 70s until current uniforms were introduced at the end of the 1990 season.  The decision seems to have more to do with promoting a New Era product line that may be a little slow moving than one where the team puts its best looking foot forward.

by jim

2014 Games Of Interest

BhVWyjyCEAAcgD8Fireworks Night

April 26 (Minnie Minoso Statue)
May 10 (Pink Scarf)
July 19
August 2 (Frank Thomas HOF Plaque)
August 16
August 30 (Tony LaRussa Bobblehead)
September 13
September 27

Family Day

April 13
April 27
May 11
May 25
June 1
June 15
July 6
July 20
August 3
August 17 (Spirit & Mascot Day)
August 31
September 14
September 28

Other Fun Stuff

March 31 – Opening Day
April 12 – 1983 Fleece Blanket
May 24 – Chris Sale Bobblehead
May 31 – Kids Baseball Glove
July 5 – Home Kids Jersey

by admin

#246 – Lastings Milledge

Lastings MilledgeName: Lastings Milledge

Rank: 246

Position: LF

Year With White Sox: 2011

Lastings Milledge signed a minor league deal with the White Sox on February 3, 2011.  He earned his way on to the major league squad in spring training and headed north with the team.  He lasted less than a week.  He went 1 for 4 in his 2 appearances, but was the odd man out when 2 straight 12-inning games left the White Sox with a need for an extra arm in the bullpen.

“Personally, it was very hard for me to do it,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “When you send someone down that has nothing to do with the situation [how they are playing], that’s [difficult]. I was on the plane thinking all flight how I was going to handle it. He handled it very well. I talked to Milledge about the problem we have. Unfortunately, that’s part of the game. It’s one of the hardest talks I had with any of the players.”

Milledge spent the rest of the season in Triple A, and left to play in Japan following the season.

Milledge’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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by admin

All Time Batting Leaders – Through 2013

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersEarlier this week, we took our annual look at the all time leaders in pitching stats for the 720 games I’ve attended (and identified) between 1984 and 2013.  With the full White Sox roster due in camp today, it’s time to take a look at the offensive stat leaders for those games, starting with our first category:

Home Runs

Name Total
Paul Konerko 89
Sammy Sosa 42
Aramis Ramirez 41
Derrek Lee 40
Jermaine Dye 40

Hits

Name Total
Paul Konerko 352
Derrek Lee 255
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by admin

#247 – Alex Cintrón

alex_cintronName: Alex Cintrón

Rank: 247

Position: SS

Years With White Sox: 2006-2007

Looking to bolster their roster in preparation for their first title defense in 88 years, the White Sox acquired Alex Cintrón on March 8, 2006 from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Jeff Bajenaru.  Cintrón split time between the three non-1B infield positions and managed at least 1 AB at every spot in the lineup except for leadoff as he hit .285 in his first season on the south side.

In 2007, Cintrón, like the rest of the White Sox, struggled.  His average dropped 40 points and his playing time decreased.  Following the season, he was released.

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

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#248 – Dan Wright

dwrightName: Dan Wright

Rank: 248

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2001-2004

Dan Wright was drafted by the White Sox in the second round of the 1999 draft.  He made his major league debut on July 27, 2001 and moved in to the starting rotation a week later after injuries to David Wells and James Baldwin.  Wright went 5-3, but his ERA was a non-impressive 5.70.

Wright spent the 2002 season entrenched in the starting rotation, again putting up a winning record at 14-12, but again with an ERA over 5.  In 2003, he battled elbow issues in spring training and found himself on the disabled list as the season began, which, sadly, might have been the highpoint of his year.  Wright returned on May 10 and lasted just 4 1/3 innings in a loss against the Mariners.  That began a stretch, which covered parts of both the 2003 and 2004 seasons, where Wright, as a starter, managed to go 0-11 with a 7.11 ERA.

He was sent down to Triple A on May 4, 2004, and that was the end of his White Sox, and major league, career.  On June 1, he underwent Tommy John surgery after posting a 28.69 ERA in 2 stats for the Charlotte Knights.  Six months later, he was released by the White Sox.

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

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All Time Pitching Leaders – Through 2013

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles DodgersWhite Sox pitchers and catchers reported to spring training yesterday, so it is time to looked at the pitching leaders in games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2013.  Not a whole lot of difference from last year, but a few people have moved up the ranks a little.  So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category:

Wins

Name Total
Mark Buehrle 31
Gavin Floyd 24
Carlos Zambrano 21
John Danks 15
Ryan Dempster 13
Matt Clement 13

Losses

Name Total
Mark Buehrle 16
Carlos Zambrano 15
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#249 – Chris Widger

Chris_Widger

Name: Chris Widger

Rank: 249

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 2005-2006

Chris Widger joined the White Sox as a minor league free agent prior to the 2005 season and managed to beat out Ben Davis for the backup catcher spot during spring training.  He appeared in 45 games for the eventual World Series champions, batting .241.  Widger made one appearance during the post season thanks to the 14 inning victory over the Astros in game 3 of the World Series.

Widger returned in 2006, but his production fell off.  He only appeared in 27 games, hitting .184.  White Sox pitchers had a 5.36 ERA with him behind the plate and he was in the midst of an 0-for-24 slump when, on July 23, he was designated for assignment after the acquisition of Sandy Alomar Jr.  12 days later, he was released and his White Sox career came to an end.

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

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by jim

So Long, Skipper

FregosiFormer White Sox manager Jim Fregosi, who suffered multiple strokes last weekend during an MLB alumni cruise, was reportedly taken off life support tonight after Twitter rumors of his death circulated earlier this afternoon.  Fregosi took over the White Sox in June of 1986 after general manager Hawk Harrelson fired Tony LaRussa.  “The team is 9 1/2 games out, that’s nothing,” Fregosi said upon being hired.  “I don’t see any reason we can’t turn things around and compete in our division.”  The White Sox did improve slightly under Fregosi, but still finished in 5th place.

Things did not go any better in 1987, when the White Sox again finished in 5th place.  A late season surge lifted the team out of last place in the AL West and saved Fregosi’s job, at least for one more year.  Unfortunately, things got worse in 1988, as the White Sox dropped to 71-90 and their third straight 5th place finish.  GM Larry Himes, who replaced Harrelson and inherited Fregosi, fired him following the season, ending 2 years of an uncomfortable pairing.

Fregosi ended his tenure on the South Side at 36 games under .500, but kept the team steady during threats of moving to Florida and the tumultuous reign of Hawk Harrelson.  Tonight, he ends his tenure on this mortal coil.   May his family enjoy some measure of comfort in this difficult time.

by jim

100 Years Of Innovation

1976 Chicago White Sox100 years ago today, Bill Veeck, the former club treasurer for the Cubs and two-time owner of the White Sox, was born here in Chicago.  Veeck followed his father, the then president of the Cubs, into baseball.  As a 13 year old, Veeck came up with the idea of planting ivy to cover the outfield walls at Wrigley Field.  In 1937, as general manager, he oversaw the construction of the iconic hand operated scoreboard that is still in use today.

Veeck left the Cubs in 1941, striking out on his own and buying the minor league Milwaukee Brewers.  While he owned the team, he also served in the Marines during World War II, where he injured his leg, which required amputation.  After the war, Veeck sold his interests in the Brewers and bought the Cleveland Indians, returning to the major leagues.  In July of 1947, Veeck broke the color barrier in the American League by signing Larry Doby.  In 1948, the Indians won their first World Series title since 1920.  Veeck was forced to sell the Indians in 1949 due to his divorce.

2 years later, Veeck was back in business, purchasing the St. Louis Browns.  While trying to force the Cardinals out of town, Veeck came up with one of his most famous, or perhaps infamous, stunts, signing Eddie Gaedel, standing 3 feet and 7 inches tall, and sending him to the plate in the second game of a double header against the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951.  Gaedel walked on four pitches and was lifted for a pinch runner.  American League president Will Harridge voided Gaedel’s contract the next day, claiming that Veeck was making a mockery of the game. In response, Veeck threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto, the reigning MVP, was a short ballplayer or a tall midget.

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