Tag / Scott Ruffcorn

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#194 – Scott Sanderson

Scott_Sanderson_(1994_White_Sox)_3Name: Scott Sanderson

Rank: 194

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1994

When pitcher Jose DeLeon injured his knee during fielding drills in the early going of spring training in 1994, the White Sox offered free agent Scott Sanderson a minor league deal and a shot at making the team out of spring training.

Not only did he make the team, but he earned a spot in the rotation as the fifth starter.  Despite putting up his worst numbers since an injury plagued 1988 campaign with the Cubs, Sanderson stayed in the rotation until late July, when he was replaced by rookie Scott Ruffcorn.  “I understand,” Sanderson said at the time.  “I had two bad starts against Detroit, and their decision is to bring Scott up.”

Sanderson made 4 appearances over the bullpen in what would be the final 3 weeks of the season, before the players went on strike in mid August.  After the season, and the post-season, was declared lost, Sanderson was granted free agency, bringing his White Sox career to an end.

Sanderson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#226 – Scott Ruffcorn

Scott-Ruffcorn

Name: Scott Ruffcorn

Rank: 226

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1993-1996

Scott Ruffcorn was the White Sox first round draft pick out of Baylor University in 1991.  The previous 4 White Sox first round picks, Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, and Alex Fernandez, were leading the White Sox to their first division title in a decade when Ruffcorn made his major league debut on June 19, 1993 against the Angels, taking the place of an injured Kirk McCaskill.  When Ron Karkovice separated his shoulder during the game, Ruffcorn was sent back to the minors to make room for another catcher on the roster.  He returned to the majors in September and made two additional appearances.

When Scott Sanderson had a tremendous spring in 1994 to force his way in to the starting rotation, it forced Ruffcorn to start the year in Triple A.  As July rolled around, Sanderson had started to struggle and Ruffcorn was called up to take his slot in the rotation.  Sadly, he didn’t last long, giving up seven runs and nine hits over 4 innings.  Manager Gene Lamont said that Ruffcorn “needed to get over his nervousness,” but his next start also did not go well.  Facing the Royals, he gave up 4 runs before being pulled in the third inning.  He was demoted back to Triple A before the strike in August wiped out the remainder of the season.

After an abbreviated spring training in 1995, Ruffcorn broke camp with the White Sox, earning a spot in the bullpen.  He walked six in 1 2/3 innings against the Red Sox in his second appearance of the year, and by mid-May, he was back in Triple A, with reporter Dave Van Dyck writing that Ruffcorn was “ruined forever because the Sox rushed him to judgment.”

Ruffcorn finished his White Sox career in 1996, appearing in 3 final games but getting the same results.  He ended up with 0 wins and a career ERA of 9.68 and the “record” for most consecutive seasons with an ERA over 7.00.  In January of 1997, he was purchased by the Phillies.

Ruffcorn’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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