Tag / Comiskey Park

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#102 – Juan Agosto

agosto

Name: Juan Agosto

Rank: 102

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1981-1986

Juan Agosto signed with the White Sox organization as a free agent on January 18, 1980.  He made his major league debut the following year, giving up 3 earned runs in 5 innings of relief work in the White Sox 9-5 loss to the Mariners at Comiskey Park on September 7.  He made one other appearance before the season came to an end.

Agosto returned to Triple A for 1982, appearing in only 1 game for the big league club where he gave up 4 runs in only 2 innings of work.  The 1983 season again saw Agosto starting the year in Triple A, but he was recalled on June 2 to replace outfielder Rusty Kuntz and remained for the rest of the season.  He would appear in 39 games, picking up 7 saves and posting a 4.10 ERA as the White Sox earned their first post-season berth since 1959.  Agosto saw limited action during the ALCS, facing one Oriole batter for a perfect 1/3 of an inning pitched.

While the White Sox struggled to repeat their success of the previous season, 1984 was Agosto’s best as a member of the south siders.  In 49 appearances, he tied his career high with 7 saves, lowered his ERA to 3.09 and finished the year with a winning record.  On the negative side, he walked more batters than he struck out and gave up more hits than innings pitched.

Things rebounded for the White Sox in 1985 and Juan Agosto continued to be a useful cog in the bullpen.  He lowered his WHIP to a career low, though his ERA jumped up to 3.58.  He got off to a slow start in 1986, giving up 4 earned runs in just under 5 innings pitched.  At the end of April, Agosto was traded to the Twins, along with Kurt Walker, for pitcher Pete Filson.

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

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Royals All Time Leaders – Through 2015

royalsWith 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 defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.

The Royals began life in 1969, joining the American League following the abandonment of the Kansas City market by the A’s following the 1967 season.  I’ve seen them play 40 times, first in 1985 at old Comiskey Park where Willie Wilson took a throw to second base of the noggin, to this past July, where I saw them sweep a series at US Cellular Field.

Home Runs

Name Total
John Buck 4
Billy Butler 4
Alex Gordon 3
Salvador Perez 3

Hits

Name Total
Billy Butler 30
Alex Gordon 18
Eric Hosmer 18
Alcides Escobar 18

Runs

Name Total
Billy Butler 13
Alex Gordon 12
Alcides Escobar 7
John Buck 7

RBI

Name Total
Billy Butler 16
John Buck 9
3 tied with 8

Doubles

Name Total
Billy Butler 6
Alex Gordon 5
Mark Teahen 5
Alcides Escobar 5

Triples Continue reading →

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Mariners All Time Leaders – Through 2015

marinersWith 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 Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners began life in 1977, joining the American League along with the Toronto Blue Jays. I’ve seen them play 30 times, including the final night game at the original Comiskey Park and the first 2 games of their sweep of the White Sox in the 2000 ALDS.

Home Runs

Name Total
Kyle Seager 4
Franklin Gutierrez 3
Richie Sexson 3

Hits

Name Total
Ichiro Suzuki 19
Michael Saunders 12
Raul Ibanez 11

Runs

Name Total
Ichiro Suzuki 8
Raul Ibanez 6
Michael Saunders 5
Jose Lopez 5

RBI

Name Total
Kyle Seager 8
Mike Cameron 8
Alvin Davis 7

Doubles

Name Total
Michael Saunders 3
6 tied with 2

Triples Continue reading →

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Orioles All Time Leaders – Through 2015

oriolesWith 4 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 Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles began life in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers, one of the charter members of the American League.  They moved to St. Louis the following year, becoming the Browns, before finally arriving in Baltimore in 1954.  I’ve seen them play 28 times in 5 different stadiums, first in 1985 at the original Comiskey Park and most recently in September at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Home Runs

Name Total
Brian Roberts 3
4 tied with 2

Hits

Name Total
Brian Roberts 31
Nick Markakis 17
Melvin Mora 14

Runs

Name Total
Brian Roberts 17
Nick Markakis 8
Melvin Mora 8
Luke Scott 8

RBI

Name Total
Brian Roberts 12
Nick Markakis 8
Luke Scott 8

Doubles

Name Total
Brian Roberts 6
Melvin Mora 4
Adam Jones 4

Triples Continue reading →

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Games Per Stadium – All Time

20109565It’s been more than 3 years since we’ve taken a (single) look at the 18 different stadiums I’ve been to and how often I’ve been to them.  Sadly, I’ve only added 2 additional stadiums in this time, both of which were this year.  Once again, different names for the same stadium are counted separately.

Stadium Name Total Games
US Cellular Field 351
Wrigley Field 317
Comiskey Park II 38
Comiskey Park 12
Great American Ballpark 7
Ameriquest Field 4
Miller Park 4
Ballpark in Arlington, The 3
PETCO Park 3
Target Field 2
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Games Per Stadium By Year

With the 2014 season in the rear view mirror, let’s take a look at the number of games I’ve attended per year at a particular stadium.

Games Per Stadium Per Year

GameYear StadiumName TotalGames
2008 US Cellular Field 46
2003 Wrigley Field 46
Surprise playoff runs for the White Sox in 2008 and the Cubs in 2003 led to my highest single season totals ever, boosted by post-season play.
2007 Wrigley Field 43
2004 Wrigley Field 41
My highest non-playoff total saw me attending over half of the home games for the Cubs in 2004.
2011 US Cellular Field 40
2009 US Cellular Field 40
2010 US Cellular Field 36
2005 Wrigley Field 34
2008 Wrigley Field 34
2006 US Cellular Field 32
Post World Series championship started an attendance jump.
2012 US Cellular Field 31
2007 US Cellular Field 29
2014 US Cellular Field 29
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#211 – Ken Patterson

kpattersonName: Ken Patterson

Rank: 211

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1988-1991

Ken Patterson was acquired by the White Sox in the August 1987 trade that sent Jerry Royster to the Yankees.  He made his major league debut on July 8, 1988, his 24th birthday, in a 10-7 White Sox loss to the Red Sox.  He spent 5 days with the White Sox before returning to Vancouver.  When Ricky Horton was traded to the Dodgers in late August, Patterson was recalled to take his place in the bullpen.  All told, he appeared in 9 games for the 88 White Sox, finishing with a 4.79 ERA.

Patterson made the team out of spring training in 1989 when Jack McDowell was sent back to Triple A for more seasoning.  Patterson would join him on May 21st, when he was sent back down after early struggles with the White Sox.  He returned in early June and stuck with the club for the remainder of the year, appearing in 50 games despite an uncanny inability to get left handers out.  Through August 20, the left handed hurler had “limited” left handed hitters to a .303 average.

Patterson returned to the White Sox bullpen in 1990, where he became the long man, a role he did not particularly care for.  “I don’t like it,” he said in the middle of a stretch that saw him pitch once in 16 days.  “I accept it.  But I don`t like it.”  He eventually moved to a left handed specialist role and, as the White Sox closed down Comiskey Park with a surprising 94 win season, he finished the year with a 3.39 ERA in 43 games.

In 1991, Patterson got off to an auspicious start, getting the first mock standing ovation during  the first game at New Comiskey Park after striking out Pete Incaviglia in the fourth inning.  The previous 7 batters he had faced had all reached base safely in a 16-0 thumping at the hands of the Tigers.  Patterson rebounded, however, and put together arguably his best season as a pro.  He went 3-0 with a career low 2.83 ERA in 43 games.

Despite coming off of his best season, Patterson was in a competition to earn a bullpen spot in 1992.  It was not to be, however.  With spring training winding down, Patterson was packaged along with Sammy Sosa and sent across town to the Cubs in exchange for George Bell.

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

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#218 – Phil Bradley

philbradley

Name: Phil Bradley

Rank: 218

Position: OF

Year With White Sox: 1990

With a surprising White Sox squad only 3 games behind the reigning champion A’s for the AL West crown in 1990, they swung a deadline deal that sent Ron Kittle to the Orioles in exchange for Phil Bradley.  “I have always liked the way Phil Bradley plays,” general manager Larry Himes said.  “He has good fundamentals, is very aggressive and a fine addition to our club.”

While Bradley was hitting .270 for the Orioles at the time of the trade, his average plummeted to .226 while with the White Sox as the A’s ran away with the division title.  He went 0-3 in his final appearance of the season, the last night game at Comiskey Park.

Following the season, Bradley left the White Sox to play in Japan and never again played in the major leagues.

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

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#229 – Eric King

ericking

Name: Eric King

Rank: 229

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1989-1990

Eric King came to the White Sox towards the end of spring training in 1989 in the trade that sent future GM Kenny Williams to the Tigers.  King joined the rotation and pitched well, starting 25 games and finishing with a 9-10 record and a 3.39 ERA for a White Sox team that finished 29 games out of first place.

In 1990, the final season at old Comiskey Park, King helped the White Sox achieve an epic turnaround from the year before, as the team improved their record by 25 wins.  His record improved to 12-4 in 25 starts and he finished the year with a career-low 3.28 ERA.

Following the season, the White Sox packaged King with fellow pitcher Shawn Hillegas in a trade to the Indians that would bring slugger Cory Snyder to the south side.

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

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Concert Flashback: Paul McCartney

11paulmccartney

One of the perks of having season tickets for the Cubs is getting an opportunity for pre-sales to non-baseball events that have been happening at Wrigley Field with increasing frequency the last few years.  None of the concert offerings gave me reason to splurge until 2011, when Paul McCartney announced he was bringing his On The Run tour to Chicago for his first local performance since 2005, and his first local baseball stadium performance since the Beatles played Comiskey Park in 1965.

On a hot July night, the then-69 year old McCartney used his 5 decades of hits to cobble together a 37 song set list, covering his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his more recent solo work.  The crowd was with him the entire night, including Ronnie Woo-Woo, who used the occasion to don a sparkling glove just like McCartney’s one-time duet partner Michael Jackson.

The opportunities to see a Beatle live are few and far between and I’m glad that this is one that I can now cross off the list of things to accomplish.  I haven’t been back to Wrigley for a concert since, but I wouldn’t mind doing so if the right band were to come through town.