Tag / Ken Harrelson

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#155 – Steve Carlton

leftyName: Steve Carlton

Rank: 155

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1986

Less than a week after announcing he was retiring from the Giants, Steve Carlton signed with the White Sox on August 12, 1986.  Carlton started 10 games down the stretch for the White Sox going 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA in his first American League action after spending the first 21+ seasons of his career in the National League.

With the departure of general manager Hawk Harrelson, Carlton was not offered a contract for the 1987 season as was allowed to leave as a free agent.

Carlton’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#157 – Bob James

jamesName: Bob James

Rank: 157

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1985-1987

Bob James was acquired by the White Sox on Decmber 7, 1984 from the Expos in exchange for Vance Law.  James was installed as the team’s closer for 1985 and helped to return the White Sox to a contending club.  Manager Tony La Russa said, “We’ve had a decent bullpen since I’ve been here, but, with Bob, our bullpen can compare with anybody’s in the league.”  Broadcaster, and Hall of Fame pitcher, Don Drysdale agreed.  “They have a guy down in the bullpen now who they haven’t had for quite a few years. . .a stopper,” Drysdale said.  “Without James, I don’t know where they would be.”

The White Sox finished the season in 3rd place, with an 85-77 record, but James finished with an 8-7 record, a 2.13 ERA, and 32 saves, behind only Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry.  Things appeared to be looking up for the White Sox heading in to the 1986 season.

Sadly, things went a bit crazy in 1986, both for James and the White Sox.  While new GM Hawk Harrelson turned the organization on its head, James lost any semblance of effectiveness that he had showed the previous year.  In early August, James went down with triceps issues and was lost for the season.  His final numbers were nightmarish: a 5-4 record but an ERA of 5.25 and only 14 saves in 49 appearances.

James continued to struggle in 1987, and in May, he lost his position as the team’s closer.  “I told him he`s not throwing as well as he could be,” manager Jim Fregosi said.  “I’m going to use him as a long man so he can get back to where he`s throwing well.”  Shoulder problems put him out of commission in July, and he finished the season with a 4-6 record and a 4.67 ERA.

The White Sox released James in December, but looked to resign him to an incentive-laden deal the following spring.  “We’ve had several talks with him,” general manager Larry Himes said.  “He’s looking at other places. The Sox are interested, but he knows the conditions. We’re willing to pay for performance. Bob James has not performed up to our expectations the last couple years.”  James ended up not signing with the White Sox, or anyone else, and his major league career came to an end.

James’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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#172 – George Foster

GFosterName: George Foster

Rank: 172

Position: LF

Year With White Sox: 1986

When George Foster burned some bridges in New York after getting released by the Mets, accusing them of racism, the White Sox decided to take a flyer on the veteran left fielder, picking him up on August 15.  “If he’s happy, he’ll hit,” GM Ken Harrelson said.  “I don’t believe he was ever completely happy in New York.”

Things did not exactly work out in Chicago, as Foster appeared in only 15 games before being released again on September 7.  “I have no regrets about the release from the White Sox, because I feel they did give me a chance,” Foster said.  Those 15 games were the final ones of his major league career.

Foster’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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He Gone?

Ken-HarrelsonNews broke this morning that Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, the play by play man for White Sox television broadcasts since 1990, is considering cutting back next year, giving up road games to concentrate on the home schedule.  Harrelson, who turns 73 next week, has a 4 hour commute (one way!) and reportedly would like to spend more time with his grandchildren, who are 10 and 7.

Harrelson is certainly a polarizing figure amongst White Sox fans, where just as many fans love his homer philosophy and corny catchphrases as hate them.  As time has gone by, however, Harrelson’s routine has moved from being a broadcaster who used corny catchphrases to a spewer of corny catchphrases who occasionally broadcasts.  Thanks to the recent Hall of Fame induction of Frank Thomas, we’ve been able to see many clips of Harrelson from the early 90s though the mid 2000s, and the difference between that announcer and the Harrelson we get today is striking.

Sooner or later, the White Sox are going to need to address their broadcast teams.  Even if Harrelson decides to do a full slate next year, he will still turn 74 towards the end of the season.  His partner, Steve Stone, will be 68 by the end of 2015.  Radio play-by-play man Ed Farmer will be 65.  At some point, fresh blood will be needed.

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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

You’d Think He Would Have Mentioned Something

hawkyazIn all seriousness, though, this site is an incredible time waster.  The biggest degree I’ve been able to come up with was 9, although I don’t remember the specifics after the dozens of different combinations I’ve run over the past few days.

Mike Ditka to Phil Jackson – 7 degrees

Ozzie Guillen to Scott Skiles – 4 degrees

Prepare to fall down the rabbit hole.

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#372 – Wayne Tolleson

Name: Wayne Tolleson

Rank: 372

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1986

When Ken Harrelson was named general manager of the White Sox following the 1985 season, his first major move was trading Scott Fletcher and heralded prospect Ed Correa to the Rangers in exchange for Dave Schmidt and Wayne Tolleson.  “Wayne Tolleson gives us a versatile infielder who’s a switch hitter and a base-stealing threat,” Harrelson said.  “He has played second, short and third, and he can play any of those spots for us.”

He certainly didn’t do so for long, as Tolleson’s tenure on the south side ended on July 30, 1986, when he was sent to the Yankees along with Ron Kittle and Joel Skinner for Ron Hassey, Carlos Martinez, and a player to be named later who eventually became Bill Lindsey.

Tolleson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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