Name: 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: