StatManDu
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And what year did the trade occur?
It was after the 1959 seson and the main player the Sox acquired was Minnie Minoso. The three players they surrendered to Cleveland were Norm Cash, John Romano and Bubba Phillips. Other promising players traded from that era included Don Mincher, Johnny Callison and Earl Battey in addition to those listed by Lindberg.
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On this date in Sox history, the team traded Minnie Minoso for three promising players.
In his definitive book on White Sox history "Who's On Third," historian Rich Lindberg put forth this dream lineup for Opening Day 1964, which could have been fielded for the offensively-challenged franchise: Don Buford, 2B; Floyd Robinson, CF; Johnny Callison, LF; Rocky Colavito, RF; Norm Cash, 1B; Pete Ward, 3B; Earl Battey, C; Ron Hansen, SS; Denny McLain, P.
In this book, later on, Lindberg theorizes that when Veeck bought the team for the 2nd team in 1975, he was saving the team from himself because his trades during his first ownership had a negative long-term impact on the franchise.
In his definitive book on White Sox history "Who's On Third," historian Rich Lindberg put forth this dream lineup for Opening Day 1964, which could have been fielded for the offensively-challenged franchise: Don Buford, 2B; Floyd Robinson, CF; Johnny Callison, LF; Rocky Colavito, RF; Norm Cash, 1B; Pete Ward, 3B; Earl Battey, C; Ron Hansen, SS; Denny McLain, P.
In this book, later on, Lindberg theorizes that when Veeck bought the team for the 2nd team in 1975, he was saving the team from himself because his trades during his first ownership had a negative long-term impact on the franchise.
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On this date in Sox history, the Sox traded Brian Downing to the Angels in the Bobby Bonds deal.
It's a shame they couldn't have found a way to keep Downing out of that deal!
MOST HOMERS HIT AFTER LEAVING SOX
Sammy Sosa.......................................................569
Norm Cash..........................................................373
Bobby Bonilla.......................................................285
Brian Downing......................................................249
Ellis Burks............................................................232
Johnny Callison.....................................................222
Gus Zernial...........................................................203
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Today is the 35th anniversary of the Dick Allen trade ... In honor of that, here is a column I wrote for my local paper when Roland Hemond came to town (I cut and paste since it's mine) in April. Hemond touches on a few interesting topics ... I have talked with Hemond many times and every time is better than the last.
Enjoy!
In my gleeful post-World Series column of Oct. 28, I called Ozzie Guillen the most significant figure in the history of the Chicago White Sox.
Not a bad call considering Guillen had brilliantly managed the team to their first World Series title in 88 years after a playing career that included a division championship, a Rookie of the Year Award, a Gold Glove, two All-Star berths and tremendous popularity.
However, after a conversation I had in Kenosha recently, I am thinking of changing my mind.
Roland Hemond is certainly in the running for the title of “Most Significant Figure in White Sox History.”
Without stretching the bounds of credibility too much, it could be argued that if Hemond had never joined the White Sox, the White Sox would be no more.
On Sept. 2, 1970, Hemond was hired as White Sox general manager with the team mired in its worst season ever. When 1970 ended, the White Sox were 56-106, 42 games out of first place and had drawn only 495,355 to Comiskey Park.
Hemond and manager Chuck Tanner improved the Sox by 23 wins and nearly 400,000 fans in 1971.
Following that campaign, Hemond made one of the greatest trades in club history when he acquired the enigmatic Dick Allen from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tommy John and Steve Huntz.
It was a deal that provided the White Sox with a superstar drawing card and it carried the franchise through the middle part of the decade.
“That club was in dire straits when Chuck Tanner and I joined them in September of 1970,” Hemond said prior to the Outstanding Kenoshan Banquet last week at UAW Local 72 Headquarters.
“We made quite a number of trades that first winter and improved by 23 games. The next year, Al Campanis of the Dodgers said he would consider trading Dick Allen. He wanted Tommy John and Terry Forster. I said, ‘I can’t give you Forster. He could be another Koufax.’ In any event, we arrived at a trade.
“Chuck Tanner had known Dick real well. They lived in the same area. I said, ‘Chuck, what do you think?’ And Chuck said, ‘I’d love to have him.’ ”
Allen went on to win the 1972 American League MVP Award in becoming (with the help of the club’s TV voice Harry Caray) one of the most popular figures in Chicago.
The sheer force of Allen’s talent kept the Sox in the hunt for the Western Division title for most of that season before they succumbed to the eventual World Series champion Oakland A’s.
“Allen came and he was a success story, the MVP,” said Hemond, who was at the banquet because he was instrumental in signing its honoree -- Bob Lee -- to a contract with the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s.
“The club drew over a million. If (third baseman Bill) Melton (who had won the last two A.L. home run titles) didn’t come up with a herniated disc in mid-season, he played just 60 games that year, I think that club would have gone onto the World Series.”
Four years later, another crisis surfaced and it appeared the Sox were headed out of town. Bill Veeck arrived on a white horse with investors and kept the team (and Hemond) in Chicago. In Hemond’s second season with Veeck, the Sox fielded one of the most entertaining teams in club annals, “The 1977 South Side Hit Men.” Hemond-acquisitions Richie Zisk, Oscar Gamble, Eric Soderholm and Chet Lemon powered the Sox to 90 wins and another strong, franchise-saving showing at the gate (a record 1,657,000 fans).
When Jerry Reinsdorf’s group bought the club in 1981, they wisely kept Hemond. Two years into the ownership, the “Winning Ugly” Sox cruised to the American League West title.
The franchise was unable to sustain that momentum and faltered badly in 1984.
Hemond responded to that malaise by acquiring an effervescent 20-year-old shortstop named Ozzie Guillen in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres that had the Sox surrendering LaMarr Hoyt, just a season removed from 24 wins and a Cy Young Award.
While Hemond didn’t know he was acquiring a World Series manager at the time, he said Guillen displayed leadership ability early in his professional career.
“(White Sox) scouts Jerry Krause and Duane Shaffer told me how much (Guillen) loved to play,” said Hemond, who was wearing his World Series ring in Kenosha that night.
“When he showed up the next spring, I was stunned to see how small he was. (Manager) Tony LaRussa had a great chat with him in spring training (in 1985) and he went about his work real well.
“He took charge of the infield. He’d come in and talk to the pitcher. He was always very much into the game. He showed traits of leadership and managerial possibilities. When he was playing in the farm system of the Padres, he was the same way.
“He showed the attributes of being a manager. You can’t predict what happened (with the World Series) but it’s not surprising that he was Manager of the Year and had all that success.”
If that wasn’t enough, Hemond was also the man who drafted Kenny Williams -- the general manager who assembled the 2005 World Series team -- into the White Sox organization.
The Sox used a third-round pick on Williams in the 1982 draft and lured him away from the Stanford football program, which at that time had John Elway at quarterback.
“Jerry Reinsdorf helped to sign him,” Hemond said. “He visited with the family to sign him.
“We knew since he was a football player he would be tough to sign but we got him.”
There was some turbulence between Hemond and the White Sox.
He lost his general manager’s job to Ken Harrelson after the 1986 season. Following stints in the Baltimore and Arizona organizations, Hemond was brought back to Chicago by Williams as an Executive Advisor the General Manager, the position which he currently holds.
In his sixth season back with the White Sox, Hemond watched the scrawny shortstop he acquired from the San Diego organization and the outfielder he talked out of a football career at Stanford push the White Sox to a championship.
He attended Games 3 and 4 of the World Series in Houston — because of the length of Game 3 both contests fell on his birthday — and watched the Sox finish off the Astros for the title.
“It was hard to describe,” said Hemond, a baseball lifer who has spent more than a half century in the game.
“It was very emotional for me. That’s the ultimate of my career.”
Not a bad run for the Most Significant Figure in White Sox History.
journals.aol.com/dmarran359/Soxalmanac/
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Thanks everyone for the kind words. I will stay vigilant in updating the site with a few "extras"."
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How are we feeling about Pods? This was probably a shrewd move in that Pods is signed at a relatively cheap price with arbitration avoided. I think this whole process will make him easier to trade.
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That is really great, thanks so much.
Welcome to Soxtalk!
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I just plan on adding on.
To be honest, I do a ton of research for the White Sox Scoreboard Operations Dept and every game there is a Sox Almanac that runs on the matrix (black and white board in LF). That's my work (as are the stats that appear on the DiamondVision). I have been collecting this stuff from a variety of sources for years and now -- to challenge myself -- I am trying to A) Get it all organized and B) Get at least one entry for each of the year's 365 days.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Keep reading!
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This is something I started as a lark. I update it daily. Just for fun and info -- nothing else.
Enjoy!
THEY PLAYED FOR THE SOX?
in Pale Hose Talk
Posted
THEY WERE WITH THE SOX?
21 years ago today, the White Sox plucked a little-known outfielder from the Pirate minor league system named Bobby Bonilla.
Also, Red Ruffing was signed by the Sox on Dec. 5, 1946 … 31 years later to the day the Sox acquired Bobby Bonds, Barry’s dad. … Bill Robinson? Denny McLain? These guys all once had ties or an affiliation with the Sox.
In a reply to an earlier post of mine, someone expressed surprise that both George Foster and Ron Santo had spent time in Sox yarns.
Here are some other “notables” who spent time with the Sox or had an affiliation with the Sox.
Feel free to add on, update, correct, etc.
Chief Bender: After eight years out of the game, the future Hall of Fame pitcher appeared in one game for the Sox on July 21, 1925. He gave up two runs, including a homer, in the first game of a doubleheader at Comiskey Park.
Ron Blomberg: The first DH in the history of Major League Baseball with the Yankees in 1973 ended his injury-shortened career for the 1978 Sox.
Bobby Bonds: Barry’s dad was acquired by the Sox after the 1977 season. … Quickly dealt to Texas just 26 forgetful games into his Sox career.
Bobby Bonilla: Switch-hitter made his big league debut for the 1986 Sox after being a Rule 5 pick from the Pittsburgh organization. … Returned to the Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon later in the season where he became an offensive force. … How would his bat have looked in front or behind Harold Baines in the late 1980s?
Ray Boone: The patriarch of the baseball-playing Boone family toiled for the Sox in 1958 and 1959.
Joe Borowski: Sweaty saves leader for the infamous 2003 Cubs, Borowski was the Sox 32nd round pick in the June 1989 draft. He pitched in 1990 at the Sox Rookie League affiliate at Sarasota, going 2-8 with a 5.58 ERA in 12 games (11 starts). He was traded to Baltimore on March 31, 1991 for Pete Rose Jr.
Frank Chance: First baseman in Cubs’ fabled double play combination was ready to manage to the Sox in 1924 but couldn’t start the season. … Sox then turned to Johnny Evers, the second baseman in the DP combo to manage.
Jocko Conlan: Outfielder for the Sox in 1934-1935. … Became a Hall of Fame umpire after his playing days.
Dave Debusschere: NBA star of the 1960s and 1970s pitched for the Sox in 1962 and 1963, going 3-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 36 games (10 starts) … Ron Reed and Steve Hamilton were also among Sox players who played in the NBA.
Lee Elia: He of the famous tirade broke in as a shortstop for the Sox in 1966. … Played in 80 games for the 1966 Sox, hitting .205 with three homers and 22 RBIs. … Sold to the Cubs on May 23, 1967.
Johnny Evers: Famed member of the Cubs’ double play combo played in one game for the 1922 Sox. … He managed the Sox for part of 1924, going 41-61, before leaving the team because of illness.
Gary Gaetti: Twins’ third baseman of the 1980s was the Sox third round pick of the secondary phase of the June 1978 draft but did not sign.
Eric Gagne: Dodgers’ record-setting closer was the Sox 30th round pick in the 1994 draft out of Mascouche Quebec Canada but he did not sign. … Eventually signed with the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent July 26, 1995.
Tom Gorzelanny: Evergreen Park, Ill., native was the Sox 38th round pick in the June 2000 draft out of Marist High School but he did not sign. … Left-handed pitcher signed with Pirates after being their second round pick in 2003. … Showed promise by going 2-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 starts for the ’06 Bucs.
Billy Joe Hobert: Future NFL quarterback was the White Sox 16th round pick in the June 1993 draft out of the University of Washington. … Never played college baseball. … The left-handed hitting outfielder was given a non-roster invitation to spring training in 1994 after hitting .256 with four RBIs in 15 games at the Sox Rookie League affiliate at Sarasota in 1993. … Hobert went to quarterback 29 games in the NFL for Oakland, Buffalo and New Orleans between 1995 and 1998. Most famous for admitting he didn’t thoroughly prepare for a 1997 Bills’ game against New England in which two of his first three passes were intercepted. He was quickly cut.
Bob Kennedy: Cub general manager of the 1970s and 1980s played third base for the Sox in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
Don Larsen: Fired perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series … Pitched for the 1961 Sox going 7-2 with a 4.12 ERA. Also hit .320 with a homer and four RBIs. … Traded after the season to the Giants in the Billy Pierce.
Archie Manning: Quarterback for Saints, Oilers and Vikings in the 1970s and 1980s … Drafted twice by the Sox in the early 1970s as a shortstop out of the University of Mississippi but never signed.
Denny McLain: Future 30-game for Detroit was winner was signed by the White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1962 out of Chicago’s Mount Carmel High School. … He pitched in 18 games at Harlan of the Appalachian League and Clinton of the Midwest League – both Sox affiliates – in 1962, going 5-8 with a 2.97 ERA. … The following April he was placed on first-year waivers because rules of the day stated organization’s could only keep one first-year bonus players. The Sox opted to keep Bruce Howard. … McLain was claimed by Detroit April 8, 1963.
Freddie Mitchell: The White Sox 50th round pick (and last) in the 2000 draft as an outfielder out of UCLA. … Did not sign. … Philadelphia Eagles’ first round pick out of UCLA in 2001 … Colorful and controversial receiver caught 90 passes for 1,263 yards (14.0 average) and five touchdowns for the Eagles from 2001 to 2005. … He is best known to Green Bay Packer fans as the receiver who made a 28-yard reception for the Eagles’ on 4th-and-26 in a 2003 playoff game. The first down was key in the Eagles’ comeback victory – one of the more crushing defeats in Packer history.
Placido Polanco: MVP of the 2006 American League Championship Series for the Tigers was the Sox 49th round (and final) pick in the 1993 draft but he did not sign. … Drafted as a second baseman out of Miami Dade Community College. … Eventually drafted and signed by the Cardinals in 1994.
Pete Rose Jr.: The son of baseball’s “Hit King” spent parts of four seasons in the White Sox minor league system in the 1990s. “Petey” was acquired from Baltimore for fellow minor leaguer Joe Borowski on March 31, 1991. Rose’s best season in the Sox chain was 1995 at Class-A South Bend when he hit .277 with four homers and 65 RBIs. His career with the Sox peaked at Double-A Birmingham in 1996 where he hit .243 with three homers and 44 RBIs.
Mickey Rivers: Fleet-footed outfielder was the White Sox first round pick in the January 1968 free agent draft but he did not sign … Eventually drafted and signed by Washington and traded to California where he made his Major League debut. … Turned out to be the catalyst for the three-time pennant-winning and two-time World Champion Yankee teams of the mid-1970s. … How good would this guy have looked patrolling Comiskey Park in the 1970s?
Bill Robinson: Pittsburgh Pirate offensive stalwart of the 1970s … Acquired by the Sox in a trade with the Yankees in 1970 … Never played with Sox.
Edd Roush: The “greatest Red who ever lived” and future Hall of Famer made his big league debut with the White Sox on Aug. 20, 1913. … Roush, an outfielder, jumped to the Federal League and played for the Reds from 1917 to 1926, the Giants from 1927 to 1929 and the Reds in 1931.
Red Ruffing: Hall of Fame pitcher concluded his 23-year career with the 1947 White Sox … Four-time 20-game winner with the Yankees … 3-5 with a 6.11 ERA in nine appearances for the 1947 Sox.
Cary Schueler: White Sox general manager Ron Schueler made his daughter the team’s 43rd round pick in 1993 draft out of Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif., where played junior varsity baseball as a sophomore. She didn’t sign, opting to play basketball at DePaul. … Among the players she was drafted ahead of were Jason Maxwell and Frank Menechino both of whom later played in the Major Leagues.
Everett Scott: The first “iron man.” … Shortstop played in a record 1,307 consecutive games from June 20, 1916 to May 6, 1925, a mark later broken by Lou Gehrig and then Cal Ripken Jr. … Played in 40 games for the 1926 White Sox.
Jeff Weaver: White Sox second round pick in the June 1997 draft … Right-hander out of Fresno State did not sign. … He went back to school and was picked in the first round (14th overall) by the Tigers in the next draft.
Earl Webb: Set single season record with an amazing 67 doubles for the 1931 Red Sox. … Had a cup of coffee with the 1933 White Sox.
Bob Wickman: White Sox second round pick in the 1990 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. … Right-handed pitcher advanced as far as Double-A Birmingham before he was dealt to the New York Yankees with fellow pitcher Melido Perez and Domingo Jean for second baseman Steve Sax on Jan. 10, 1992.
Others: Cleon Jones, Steve Stone, Tim Stoddard, “Blue Moon” Odom, Dave Righetti, Dave Stieb, Tony Pena, Phil Cavaretta, Ron Santo, George Foster, Steve Carlton, Jose Canseco, Jim Brosnan, Jim Abbott, Sparky Lyle, Tom Seaver, Turner Gil, Hart Lee Dykes, Larry Doby Jr., Mark Reese (Pee Wee’s son), Tim McLain (Denny’s brother).