Lip Man 1

Given all the other good players going to other teams it turns your stomach to see the s%*#, flotsam and jetsam the Sox are scraping the bottom of the barrel for. Yet JR thinks they are going to contend? ?

Looks like they are hoping to televise MLB games this upcoming season: https://awfulannouncing.com/sinclair/bally-sports-2024-mlb-games-bankruptcy.html

Chuck Comiskey was the biggest single shareholder. It was Veeck's group that owned 54% of the team after the sale. I made the correction.

I'll have to check on this but I think you are correct!

Arrogance that they thought they knew better than everyone else, dysfunction in the front office and an unwillingness by JR to finish the rebuilding job via acquiring additional talent.

December 15, 1960 - Sox owner Bill Veeck made up for some of his deals after the 1959 season by getting pitchers Juan Pizarro and Cal McLish from the Reds for infielder Gene Freese. Manager Al Lopez and pitching coach Ray Berres had their eyes on Pizarro for a few years but Milwaukee refused to deal him to the Sox. Veeck therefore got his friend Bill DeWitt of Cincinnati to swing a deal and then to ship Pizarro to the South Side. Pizarro was an enigmatic, moody pitcher but when he got on the mound, he was all business. Possessor of a blazing fastball, the left hander had four seasons of double figure wins, among them 16 in 1963 and 19 in 1964. He totaled 75 White Sox wins between 1961 and 1966 and was a two-time All-Star selection pitching a scoreless inning in the 1963 contest. December 15, 1961 - It was the end of 61 years of Comiskey family ownership of the White Sox, as Chuck Comiskey sold his 46 per cent interest in the team to a group of 11 investors, headed by insurance executive William Bartholomay and entertainer Danny Thomas. Chuck had made two major miscalculations in his quest to regain his ‘birthright’ ownership of the White Sox. The first came in the later 1950s, when he lowballed his sister Dorothy; Dorothy had decided to sell her 46 per cent of the club to Chuck, but instead sold to Bill Veeck once Chuck’s insulting offer came across her desk. (Veeck, in declining health, would own the White Sox for only two years, selling out to Arthur and John Allyn.) The second was Chuck compromising his own 46 per cent share of the White Sox — he remained the biggest single shareholder in the team through 1961 — by selling out. Chuck was confident that he could broker a purchase of the near-half of the White Sox that the Allyn’s had purchased from Veeck. Allyn’s near-half of the White Sox would make the Bartholomay/Thomas investors nearly 100 per cent owners of the club, with Chuck back in charge as team president/GM. But the Allyn’s rebuffed Chuck’s overtures, forever ending Comiskey ownership of the White Sox. December 15, 1967 – It was one of the worst deals ever made by then G.M. Ed Short. The Sox sent infielder and base stealer Al Weis along with outfielder, base stealer and home run hitter Tommie Agee to the Mets in exchange for former N.L. batting champ Tommy Davis, pitcher Jack Fisher and catcher Richard “Buddy” Booker. Two years later the Mets would win the World Series thanks in large part to the play of Agee and Weis. None the players the Sox got in return did much for them. It was deals along those lines that sent the franchise into a tailspin and by September 1970 got Short fired from his position. December 15, 1993 - Sox G.M. Ron Schueler’s luck with taking chances on hurt or limited free agents continued when he signed Julio Franco to a contract. Franco would have a tremendous 1994 season hitting behind Frank Thomas. Julio would have 20 home runs, 98 RBI’s, eight stolen bases and a .319 batting average in his one year in Chicago. He went to Japan the next year because the Sox refused to meet his asking price on a new deal and with labor unrest on the horizon wanted some stability.

I apologize as I did not see at the time that one had been posted much earlier in the day.

On paper Royals are a better team than the Sox.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/12/14/24000128/tonys-place-healthier-larussa-back-wants-state-where-he-fits-with-white-sox-reinsdorf-grifol-getz

December 14, 1965 - In an unexpected move the Sox named “The Brat,” Eddie Stanky as the team’s new manager replacing the retired Al Lopez. Stanky was an intense, obsessed man. He was the 60's managerial version of Billy Martin or Earl Weaver. Stanky knew baseball and was a genius at tactical decisions but he was also extremely unpopular with many of his players. He imposed a curfew, dress code and a rigorous calisthenics program on the team. He would fine players (or bench them) every time they weren’t able to lay down a bunt, hit a sacrifice fly or advance runners into scoring position. He offered a new suit of clothes for any pitcher who threw a complete game with at least a certain number of ground ball outs. For stolen bases or advancing into scoring position, a player would get a new pair of dress shoes. He’d have winning seasons in 1966 and 1967 nearly taking the pennant, but by early 1968 his act had grown old and he was fired… replaced with…Al Lopez! December 14, 1994 - The Sox traded former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell to the Yankees for two minor league players. McDowell was the most successful pitcher in the American League between 1990 and 1994 winning a total of 73 games along with the Cy Young Award. He’d win 20 or more games twice in that span making the All-Star team three times. The move, which left the Sox pitching staff without its leader, proved very costly during the 1996 Wild Card collapse and was done purely for financial reasons related to the labor situation that cost the team the last two months of the 1994 season.

December 13, 1969 - The Sox dealt their star left hander Gary Peters to the Red Sox for Syd O’Brien and Billy Farmer. Farmer retired instead of reporting, so as compensation the Sox received Jerry “Wheat Germ Kid” Janeski in early March. Peters would win 33 games in the next three seasons. Janeski won 10 games in 1970 then was shipped to Washington for outfielder Rick Reichardt. His best outing for the Sox came on April 15 when he threw a three-hit, complete game shutout of the A’s in Oakland. Peters had spent seven full and four partial seasons with the team, winning 20 games, making two All- Star teams, leading the league in ERA and winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1963. December 13, 1982 - The White Sox outbid 16 other Major League teams and signed free agent pitcher Floyd Bannister to a five year, $4.5-million-dollar deal. Bannister led the American League in strikeouts in 1981 with Seattle. In his five seasons with the Sox, Bannister won in double figures every year with a high of 16 wins in both 1983 and 1987. The 83’ season saw him get off to a 3-9 start before completely turning it around to go 13-1 after July 12. His signing angered Yankee owner George Steinbrenner who wasn’t used to losing out on talent that he wanted. Steinbrenner was quoted as saying that he regretted voting against Edward DeBartolo in his bid to buy the Sox franchise from Bill Veeck back in 1980 and leveled verbal blasts at owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn. December 13, 2001 - In his quest to find reliable starting pitching, Sox G.M. Ken Williams traded youngsters Robert “Kip” Wells and Josh Fogg and veteran Sean Lowe to the Pirates for Todd Ritchie. Ritchie would suffer a shoulder injury and have a disastrous 2002 Sox season going 5-15 with an ERA of over six! A free agent, the Sox let him go soon afterwards. He only appeared in nine more games with Milwaukee and Tampa Bay before retiring. In fairness to Williams, none of the pitchers he gave up really asserted themselves over the ensuing seasons, Fogg perhaps coming the closest to making an impact going 62-69 with an ERA of over five in nine big league years. December 13, 2004 - On the third anniversary of his ill-fated Todd Ritchie deal, Sox G.M. Kenny Williams continued his remake of the club. He sent power hitting but defensively challenged outfielder Carlos Lee to Milwaukee as part of a four-player deal after manager Ozzie Guillen lost patience with Lee and wanted to get away from the ‘home run or nothing’ philosophy the team had. The person coming back to replace him, Scott Podsednik energized the lineup, stole over 40 bases twice, made the All-Star team in 2005 and hit a dramatic walk off home run in game #2 of the 2005 World Series to win it for the Sox 7-6. The Sox would reacquire Podsednik in April 2009 and he had another productive season hitting .304 with 30 stolen bases in 132 games.

According to Merkin's e-mail newsletter, he's set a target date of the trade deadline to be back on the mound in a Major League game. Also he has been contacted by a few teams already including the Cubs who he said was one of the first teams to reach out to him.

December 12, 1975 - In an effort to start improving a desultory offense, Sox G.M. Roland Hemond and new owner Bill Veeck acquired former N.L. batting champ Ralph “Road Runner” Garr from Atlanta for three players including outfielder Ken Henderson and pitcher Dick Ruthven. Garr would have severe limitations in the field but he did become the catalyst for the “South Side Hit Men” in 1977 with his speed and ability to hit to all fields. That year he’d hit .300 with 10 home runs, 54 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases. He’d also hit .300 the following season, 1978. September 12, 1980 - Sometimes the smaller moves are what turn out to be important. Sox G.M. Roland Hemond traded pitcher Richard “Tex” Wortham to the Expos for switch hitting, second baseman Tony Bernazard. Bernazard would be part of the “New Deal” Sox in 1981 and would eventually be traded for another productive second baseman, Julio “Juice” Cruz in June 1983. Manager Tony LaRussa called Bernazard the heart of the club during his time with it.

Ron Blomberg November 17, 1977 – In the wake of free agent defections by Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble, owner Bill Veeck signed infielder/DH Ron Blomberg to a free agent contract. Blomberg missed the previous two years with a severe leg injury but Veeck signed him anyway. On opening day 1978 he’d hit a dramatic ninth inning game tying home run but he did very little afterwards. Making matters worse is that Veeck signed him to a guaranteed multiyear contract. Veeck turned his sights on him after Gamble took a last-minute offer from the Padres after the Sox thought they had a deal to keep him on the South Side.

The MLBPA is literally the strongest union in the world, they'll never, repeat never agree to a salary cap on earnings. Nor should they in my opinion given what MLB as an industry is raking in.

Nothing stopping the Sox or any team from taking the same advantage of the loopholes is there?

I'm willing to wager a good deal of money that MLB will NEVER repeat NEVER see a salary cap / salary floor instituted.

And to enable the Dodgers to continue to go after the best talent. That's a good teammate and a guy who puts winning high up on the priority list.

“A lot of people say athletes don't deserve to get the money they get, but the one law of economics that has never been repealed is the law of supply and demand. There is a very small supply of athletes who have the ability to play at the major league level in any sport--and the demand is great enough that they command these salaries because that's the law of economics." – Jerry Reinsdorf to the Chicago Sun - Times’ Terry Savage. July 30, 2000.

December 11, 1973 - It was one of the worst deals ever made by G.M. Roland Hemond. The Sox acquired Cubs star Ron Santo after Santo refused a deal to the Angels invoking his rights as a 5/10 player, meaning five years with the same team and 10 seasons in Major League Baseball. Santo, who may have been able to be picked up on waivers, was acquired for three players, including pitcher Steve Stone. Santo did very little in his one season with the White Sox and was considered a clubhouse cancer often getting into disagreements with Dick Allen. His highlight was probably the inside the park home run he hit on June 9, 1974 against Boston’s Bill Lee at Comiskey Park. Santo was also one of the few players who disliked playing under manager Chuck Tanner. He’d hit a paltry .221 for the Sox with five home runs and 41 RBI’s. December 11, 1975 – Sox G.M. Roland Hemond sent third baseman Bill Melton, a former A.L. home run champ, and pitcher Steve Dunning to California for first baseman Jim Spencer and outfielder Morris Nettles. Melton had a bad back and had worn out his welcome with the team, getting into a shouting match in a Milwaukee hotel lobby with broadcaster Harry Caray. Spencer meanwhile would win a Gold Glove for his defensive prowess saving many errors. He also had 18 home runs and 69 RBI’s for the “South Side Hit Men”, twice driving in eight runs in a game in 1977. Both came at Comiskey Park against the Indians and then the Twins. December 11, 1980 - Edward DeBartolo was voted down by other American League owners in his attempt to buy the White Sox from Bill Veeck. DeBartolo, the man who invented the modern shopping mall in Boardman, Ohio may have had connections with organized crime. He also owned horse racing tracks, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL and wasn’t from the Chicago area. All were ‘red flags’ for the other owners. In an effort to appease then Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, DeBartolo agreed to move to Chicago at least 20 per cent of the time to have a direct idea of what was going on with the franchise. His compromises fell on deaf ears as he only received three affirmative votes. Originally back in October at the first vote on his attempt to buy the club, he fell two votes short of approval. The way was then opened for the group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn to get the franchise. December 11, 1981 - Another fine deal pulled off by G.M. Roland Hemond. He sent shortstop Todd Cruz and outfielder Rod Allen to the Mariners for Tom “Wimpy” Paciorek. Tom made the All-Star team with the M’s in 1981. He’d hit over .300 for the White Sox both in 1982 and 1983. He was also one of the craziest guys to ever do commercials for the club. After he retired, he worked in the Sox broadcasting booth from 1988 through 1999. December 11, 1996 - After losing star pitcher Alex Fernandez to free agency and claiming that starting pitcher Kevin Tapani was faking an injury to his pitching hand (an injury that would force Tapani to miss the first half of the 1997 season with the Cubs after he signed a free agent deal with them), Sox G.M. Ron Schueler signed pitcher Jaime Navarro to a four year, $20-million-dollar deal. Navarro was a complete bust. His three-year record with the Sox was 25-43 and he often publicly blamed his teammates for his pitching issues Making matters worse was Schueler’s refusal to talk with the agents for Roger Clemens after he had expressed an interest in joining the team. Schueler offered this comment on the matter, "Roger Clemens is over the hill." During that same three-year period that Navarro was with the Sox, Clemens would win two Cy Young awards and 55 games. Navarro eventually did do something positive for the franchise…he was part of a deal that brought Jose Valentin and Cal Eldred to the Sox in January 2000.

Of course they do, but that doesn't seem to be the case with baseball is it? People still go to see games, in many cases in record numbers.

Ken Rosenthal has a story in The Athletic today explaining how baseball is not "broken" by the Ohtani signing and may in fact be headed for another renaissance.

Unless given permission by the individual source, reporters ethically are not supposed to be giving out source names. And here is what Nightengale wrote: Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf created a stir, and plenty of wild rumors, when he had dinner with the Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell. But no, the White Sox are not moving to Nashville. Yes, Nashville remains a contender for expansion franchise with an ownership group led by Dave Stewart, who is a friend of Reinsdorf’s.

As Howard Cosell said many years ago (paraphrasing), 'You beat odds of 100,000-1 to get to the top of your profession, you deserve to collect big...' It's funny but I never seem to hear people complaining about how much money singers like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé make or how much money an actor will get for a picture. Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson have made an incredible amount of money but no one complains about them....only athletes.

December 10, 1963 - One of the last players from the “Go-Go” Sox era, second baseman Nellie Fox was traded to the Houston Colt 45's for pitchers Jim Golden and Danny Murphy along with some cash. Fox, who’d eventually be elected to the Hall of Fame, played for 14 years on the South Side, being named to 12 All-Star teams. He was the M.V.P. in 1959 and won three Gold Gloves. Fox was dealt because young infielder Don Buford had hit .336 at Indianapolis and was ready to take over his position. December 10, 1975 - After first being turned down, American League owners voted to allow Bill Veeck to buy the White Sox from John Allyn. The agreement kept the team in Chicago and ended speculation that the Sox were bound for Seattle with Charlie Finley’s A’s headed for the South Side. Major League Baseball wanted the Sox to move to the Pacific Northwest in order to end lawsuits filed by the Washington state, King County and the city of Seattle after the Pilots were moved to Milwaukee before the start of the 1970 season. It was the second time Veeck owned the club, the first time being from 1959 through July 1961. The owners placed such financial conditions on Veeck that they assumed he wouldn’t be able to meet them and they could turn him away, but somehow he got it done and after a speech by Tigers owner John Fetzer they voted to allow the sale to go through despite many having a personal dislike for him. December 10, 1976 – Owner Bill Veeck came up with a unique way to try to bolster his franchise. Veeck decided to try the ‘rent a player’ approach, which was to acquire as many players as possible who were about to become free agents. He figured since those players were playing for new, big money deals they’d play hard every night. With that as the backdrop, he traded relief pitchers Rich “Goose” Gossage and Terry Forster, both former American League Fireman of the Year winners to the Pirates for slugger Richie Zisk and pitcher Silvio Martinez. Zisk, in his one season on the South Side, would belt 30 home runs and knock in 101 RBI’s as the undisputed leader of the “South Side Hit Men” who shocked baseball by winning 90 games in 1977. Among Zisk’s home runs that season were a blast into the original center field bleachers at Comiskey Park under the exploding scoreboard and one over the roof and out of the park down the left field line. December 10, 1987 - Sox G.M. Larry Himes sent pitcher Floyd Bannister and infielder Dave Cochrane to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for four players, two of whom were pitchers Greg Hibbard and Melido Perez. They both would help stabilize the starting rotation in the early 1990's. They’d combine for 85 wins in a White Sox uniform.