Name: Mike Squires
Rank: 77
Position: 1B
Years With White Sox: 1975, 1977-1985
Mike Squires joined the White Sox organization as their 18th round draft pick in 1973. He made his major league debut on September 1, 1975, going 2-3 in the White Sox loss to the Royals at Comiskey Park. He appeared in 19 additional games down the stretch, hitting .231 in 74 plate appearances.
After spending all of 1976 back in Triple A, Squires returned to the South Side for 3 games in 1977, going hitless in 3 at bats. He was up in the big leagues to stay in 1978, appearing in 46 games and hitting .280 in 150 at bats.
1979 saw Squires getting his most extensive playing time to date, appearing in 122 games and hitting a modest .264, including his first major league home run. 1980 was more of the same for Squires, hitting a career-high .283 in 131 games. He also became the first left-handed catcher in the major leagues since 1961 when he replaced Bruce Kimm in the 9th inning of an 11-1 loss to the Brewers on May 4.
During the strike-shortened season of 1981, Squires hit .265 in 92 games, failing to homer for the first time since 1978 and earning the Gold Glove award for first basemen. 1982 was more of the same for Squires, as he put up a .267 average in only 195 at bats, his lowest total since 1978. As the White Sox ran away with the division title in 1983, Squires set a career high in games played with 143, but garnered only 153 at bats, hitting a meek .222. He became the first left handed third baseman in at least 50 years when he replaced Vance Law in the 8th inning of a 10-2 loss to the Royals. He went 0-4 in the ALCS against the Orioles, appearing in all 4 games.
1984 was the beginning of the end for Squires, as his average slipped to a career low .183 in only 82 at bats. He was released during spring training in 1985, before being re-signed in September, appearing in 2 games without a plate appearance. Following the season, his career came to an end.
Squires’ numbers in a White Sox uniform were: