Tag / Jim Essian

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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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#162 – Marc Hill

MarcHill2_20090603845Name: Marc Hill

Rank: 162

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1981-1986

Marc Hill signed with the White Sox as a free agent just as spring training was getting underway in 1981.  When the White Sox signed fellow free agent Carlton Fisk a month later, Hill jockeyed for playing time alongside fellow backup catcher Jim Essian.  Between that, spending time in the minor leagues, and the player’s strike, which wiped out 2 months of the season, Hill managed to get into only 16 games, going hitless in 6 ABs.

With Essian gone, Hill returned to a more normal backup role in 1982.  He appeared in 53 games and managed to get a hit or 23 in 88 ABs.  Things were starting to look up for the White Sox and Hill.

The Sox were expected to contend in 1983, but got off to a slow start.  By May 26, the Sox were eight games under .500 and manager Tony LaRussa’s job was in jeopardy.  Hill, and the other veterans, helped to turn things around.  “We looked around at each other and told ourselves Tony wasn’t going to get fired,” Hill said in an interview.  “We weren’t going to let that happen.”  The White Sox got back to .500 by the end of June and caught fire after the All-Star break, earning their first division title.  Hill again provided solid defense behind the plate, even though he struggled at the plate.

Expectations were high in 1984, but the White Sox struggled to reproduce their success of the previous year.  Hill saw the most playing time he had since joining the White Sox, appearing in 77 games and getting 193 ABs, despite hitting only .233.

The White Sox rebounded to have a winning season in 1985, but Hill’s production dropped off significantly.  With the 37 year old Fisk still chugging along and young prospect Joel Skinner ready to take the next step, Hill saw his playing time reduced, appearing in just 40 games and hitting an anemic .133.

Things went downhill for the White Sox in 1986.  Hawk Harrelson was brought in as GM and he clashed with manager Tony LaRussa.  “I got along with Hawk and I got along with Tony but it was just bad,” Hill said.  “With Tony gone, it just wasn’t any fun anymore for me.  I remember Hawk came up to me in Texas and asked if I’d had enough and I did.”  Hitting .158 in only 19 AB, Hill was released on May 27.  He remained with the club for the remainder of the year as a bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher.

Hill’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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