Name: Ross Gload
Rank: 184
Position: 1B/RF
Years With White Sox: 2004-2006
As spring training wound down in 2003, the White Sox acquired Ross Gload from the Rockies in exchange for minor league pitcher Wade Parrish. Gload spent the entire 2003 season in Triple A Charlotte, but made the White Sox roster out of spring training in 2004, backing up Paul Konerko and, prior to his season ending injury, Magglio Ordonez. Gload made it into 110 games and finished the year with a .321 batting average. Despite the limited playing time, he finished 7th in voting for AL Rookie of the Year.
In 2005, Gload missed time due to shoulder inflammation, which kept him either on the disabled list on in Triple A Charlotte between April 25 and July 22. When Frank Thomas went down with a foot injury, Gload was recalled to take his roster spot. A little more than a week later, Gload was sent back down when Geoff Blum was acquired from the Padres. He rejoined the team when rosters expanded on September 1. Gload was left off the playoff roster for all three rounds.
With his shoulder fully healed, Gload returned to the White Sox full time in 2006. While his playing time was again limited, he did manage to put up .327 average. Following the season, Gload was traded to the Royals in exchange for relief pitcher Andy Sisco.
Gload’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
