Lip Man 1

October 15, 1917 - The Sox won their second World Series title beating the New York Giants four games to two. The score in the series clincher was also 4-2. Future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins hit .409 with pitcher Urban “Red” Faber, another future Hall of Famer, winning three games (and losing one!) Afterwards a young federal judge and White Sox fan, one Kenesaw Mountain Landis sent a telegram congratulating the Sox for a job well done. The telegram read, “We did a fine job today...we disposed of the Giants.” Landis would go on to become the first baseball commissioner in the wake of the “Black Sox” scandal. October 15, 2020 – On the basis of their first winning season since 2012 and tremendous individual accomplishments, The Sporting News named Sox G. M. Rick Hahn their Executive of the Year and first baseman Jose Abreu the Player of the Year. Hahn became the third Sox executive to win the award following Roland Hemond (1972) and Bill Veeck (1977). Hahn’s deals and restocking the farm system during the rebuild proved to be worthwhile as the Sox turned the corner during the pandemic shortened season with a mark of 35-25 and their first playoff appearance since 2008. He received six of the 18 votes. San Diego’s A.J. Preller was second. Abreu just crushed baseballs since the first day of the year, posting a .317 batting average with 19 home runs, 15 doubles and an American League high 60 RBI during the 60-game season, appearing in every game. He led the American League in hits (76), slugging percentage, total bases (148) and RBI’s and was second in home runs. Abreu joined Frank Thomas (1993) and Early Wynn (1959) as White Sox players to win the award. Indians’ right-hander Shane Bieber was second and Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman third in the voting.

October 14, 1906 - The Sox beat the Cubs, winning the World Series four games to two behind the pitching of Guy "Doc" White. They clinched the title winning the sixth game 8-3. “Big” Ed Walsh won two games for the Sox during the series with infielder George Rohe batting .333 and playing in all six games. The “Hitless Wonders” White Sox had a team batting average of only .230 for the season and hit even worse, .198 in the series. But they collected 10 doubles and three triples in the six games and held the powerful Cubs to a series batting average of only .196 After the game, owner Charles Comiskey handed a $15,000 dollar check to manager “Fielder” Jones. It was to be split among the players. The players viewed the check as a bonus for their efforts. Comiskey though considered it as part of their 1907 salary! The seeds of the eventual “Black Sox” scandal were perhaps sown on this day. It is the only time in over a century of playing baseball that the Sox and Cubs have ever met in the postseason.

Agreed, he won't pitch for a year and he's already in his mid-30's. Why do the Sox keep going down the road of relying on declining veterans?

It's pretty clear Kenny and Rick wanted a manager they could control and who wouldn't rock the boat.

Maybe they should be taking notes? https://www.mlb.com/news/bruce-bochy-blending-philosophies-to-lead-rangers-to-alcs

October 13, 1970 - New player personnel director Roland Hemond made his first deal in that capacity for the club. Hemond sent John “Pineapple” Matias and Gail Hopkins to the Royals for Don O’Riley and Pat Kelly. Kelly, who was the brother of Browns running back Leroy Kelly, provided speed for the “New Look” White Sox. A solid hitter and leadoff man, Pat would make the All-Star Team in 1973 when he hit .280 with 22 steals. He played for the Sox from 1971 through 1976 and stole 119 bases.

Saw a story today where the Red Sox are being turned down by candidates for their opening because of instability in the front office and ownership that changes their mind over what they want every few seasons.

October 12, 1966 - Another one of then Sox G.M. Ed Short’s best moves. He sent two-time former All-Star pitcher Juan Pizarro, nursing a bad arm, to the Pirates for minor league pitcher Wilbur Wood. Wood would blossom in Chicago thanks to his knuckleball, first as a record setting relief pitcher then as a four-time 20 game winner. Wood would also make three All-Star teams. He pitched for the Sox through the 1978 season. He won 20 or more games four consecutive seasons from 1971 through 1974 totaling 90 wins in that span. He started 181 games and in those four years pitched at least 320 innings. October 12, 2005 - In one of the strangest endings to a post season game in history, the Sox beat the Angels 2-1, in game #2 of the A.L.C.S. With the game tied in the ninth inning catcher A.J. Pierzynski ran to first on a third strike that bounced in the dirt. Angels catcher Josh Paul, the former Sox player, thought he struck out normally and never threw down to first base as required by the rules. Home plate umpire Doug Eddings agreed with Pierzynski and let him remain at first base. After pinch runner Pablo Ozuna stole second, Joe Crede’s two strike double brought home the game winner and tied the series at a game apiece. October 12, 2021 – The Sox were beaten 10-1 by the Astros in game #4 of the A.L.D.S. eliminating them from the playoffs and ending their season. But the Sox, despite numerous injuries that caused key players to miss significant stretches of time, still won 93 games and the Central Division title. They had consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2003-2006 and for the first time in the 120-year history of the franchise made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. They also beat their crosstown rivals the Cubs, five out of six meetings.

https://soxmachine.com/2023/10/white-sox-rumors-salvador-perez-whit-merrifield-a-little-too-obvious/

October 11, 1899 - The new American League was formed in Chicago. The city didn’t have a team in the league at that point but soon got the St. Paul, Minnesota team with their player/manager Charles Comiskey. They set up shop on the South Side at the 39th Street Grounds at 39th and Princeton. October 11, 1991 - Sox manager Jeff Torborg who was named Manager of the Year for 1990 resigned to take the job as manager of the New York Mets. It was a strange move and the real reason for it wasn’t made known until years later as Torborg told individuals and provided examples of how then White Sox G.M. Ron Schueler forced him out wanting to hire his own man, who turned out to be Gene Lamont.

Money has a way of doing that.

I don't think anyone is "celebrating" that game. Simple fact, it was a rare post season White Sox win and is a historical moment.

Very true, they are is real deep s%*#.

October 10, 1924 - The White Sox and New York Giants began their second barnstorming tour together. This world tour started in 1924 in Canada and would sail the Atlantic to promote the game in France, England, Ireland, Germany and Italy. Most of the exhibition games were hardly visited. The absolute low was a game in Ireland where only 20 persons attended the game. Eventually, the tour would be cut short due to the lack of appreciation and understanding for the sport in England and France. Just like with the 1913-14 world tour, King George V of England attended the games. These games were the only ones that were well attended as 24,000 people were in the stands. October 10, 2021 – Things did not look good for the Sox in game #3 of the A.L.D.S. against Houston. The Astros led 5-1 and the White Sox were on the verge of elimination. Then everything changed. The Sox rose from the dead scoring five runs in the third inning, three more in the fourth and went on to win 12-6. Finally, after the first 20 hits by the team in the playoff series were all singles, they got a two-run home run from Yasmani Grandal and then a three-run blast from Leury Garcia to turn the game around. Starting a playoff series with 20 straight singles broke the previous Major League record of 19 set by the Angels. Four White Sox bullpen pitchers then threw five hitless innings to close the door on any Astros comeback. Sox pitchers wound up striking out 16 Astros which also set a franchise mark for a playoff game.

Agreed.

October 9, 1919 - The Sox unexpectedly lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds five games to three. Sox fans, reporters and some players were totally shocked over the way some games were lost. The questions surrounding this series, one of the greatest upsets in baseball history would linger for a year before exploding into the “Black Sox” scandal as eight players were put on trial for attempting to deliberately lose games and defraud the public. October 9, 1993 - In game #4 of the 1993 A.L.C.S. the Sox squared the best of seven series at two games each with a 7-4 win in Toronto. Tim Belcher who was acquired in a July trade got the win in relief of Jason Bere. Unfortunately, this was the last great moment for the "Good Guys Wear Black" as Toronto closed out the series winning game #5 in Toronto and game #6 at Comiskey Park. A few years later Toronto manager Cito Gaston revealed that the Jays knew exactly what pitches were coming from both Sox aces, Jack McDowell and Alex Fernandez something the Sox coaching staff never picked up on. In fact, Toronto beat those pitchers four times while losing all the other games.

Your assumption is that NBC Sports Chicago will no longer be around and that all their equipment would be available to be purchased by WGN. No guarantees along those lines. NBC Sports Chicago may have other plans for that equipment or it could potentially be outdated given the latest technology. All I'm saying is there are no guarantees. I suspect WGN would have little interest in getting back into the sports business unfortunately.

In the rare times that JR has spoken publicly about this he has been consistent. He has told his family that when he passes they should keep the Bulls and sell the White Sox. He has said the Bulls make Michael (Reinsdorf) money because of the salary cap/structure in the NBA, the Sox do not because there is no salary cap. (Most business sites feel the notion that he hasn't made money with the Sox even without a salary cap is posturing.) I've been told by some who have knowledge of the situation that most likely when JR leaves his estate will put the team up for sale and more than likely be bought by a corporation. Those folks have told me they have a hard time thinking a single individual will buy the club because of the price tag. The latest Forbes estimate had the Sox valued at 1.75 billion dollars.

The first point in your dream sequence is interesting. Now that WGN has been out of the sports business for several seasons now I wonder if they'd be willing to spend the millions of dollars needed to buy production trucks, equipment and hire all the technical individuals needed to actually go back to airing games. I suspect they nor the other stations you mentioned would do so. Overall I think it would be nice if some of your wishes were brought back but regardless of whomever owns the club those ideas have sailed into never-never land and they aren't coming back. I'm sure their rational would be, "This isn't 1958, 1965 or 1972 anymore...deal with it."

At least 200 million just in capital gains, to say nothing of Illinois state tax.

Forbes Business latest estimate was the Sox were worth 1.75 billion but in the event of an unexpected sale by JR they'd go for two billion.

October 8, 1948 - Frank “Trader” Lane was recruited out of the American Association (a Triple-A minor league baseball league) where he was President and took over as the new General Manager of the White Sox. Lane would go on to become one of the greatest G.M.’s in team history. Among the players acquired by Lane, who made over 230 trades in his Sox tenure, were such future All-Stars as Nellie Fox, Sherm Lollar, Billy Pierce, Dick Donovan, “Chico” Carrasquel and “Minnie” Minoso. Lane built the club that would go on to win the pennant in 1959. October 8, 1983 - With the Sox down two games to one in the A.L.C.S. Jerry Dybzinski overran second base after a line drive one hop single by Julio Cruz in the seventh inning of a scoreless game at Comiskey Park in game #4. In the ensuing rundown Vance Law, who was on base in front of Dybzinski, was thrown out trying to score what would have been the go ahead run. The Sox wound up losing the game and the series on a home run by the Orioles Tito Landrum in the 10th inning. The final score was 3-0, spoiling a masterful performance by Sox pitcher Britt Burns who went the distance striking out eight. October 8, 1993 - With the Sox down two games to none in the A.L.C.S. Wilson Alvarez pitched a gem in game #3 and beat the Blue Jays 6-1. The Sox scored five runs in the third inning which gave him some breathing room. The complete game victory was badly needed and gave Sox fans a reason to keep hoping. Alvarez gave up seven hits striking out six. October 8, 2021 – White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was a prime-time player and it showed in his first five postseason games. Anderson got three hits in the White Sox 9-4 game #2 A.L.D.S. loss to the Astros giving him 13 hits in his first five games dating back to the 2020 playoff series against the Athletics. That set the Major League record. The 13 hits also tied the record for the most hits in any five-game span in postseason history. Anderson then added three more hits in the game #3, 12-6 Sox win two days later, giving him 16 in six postseason games, the most ever by a player in a six-game postseason span. Clark

October 7, 2001 - Sox All-Star outfielder Magglio Ordonez became the first player in American League history to have a season with a .300 average, 40 doubles, 30 home runs, 100 RBI’s and 25 stolen bases. His hit against the Twins in the fourth inning went for his 40th double and the record. October 7, 2005 - At Fenway Park the White Sox won their first post season series of any kind since 1917 by beating Boston 5-3 to sweep the A.L.D.S. in three straight games. Paul Konerko’s two run home run gave the Sox some breathing room and then pitcher Orlando Hernandez saved it. Entering into a bases loaded, no out, one run lead situation in the sixth inning of game #3, “El Duque” got two pop outs and a strike out. It was an amazing performance in a pressure packed situation.

October 6, 1905 - The Sox lost the pennant on the next to last day of the season when pitcher Guy "Doc" White couldn’t beat the bottom feeding St. Louis Browns. White and the Sox lost 6-2 which handed the flag to the Philadelphia Athletics. The Browns scored five runs in the third inning. The Sox would finish the season two games off the pace. That year they had six games declared ties which factored in to the final standings. October 6, 1908 - The Sox lost the pennant on the last day of the season when Ty Cobb and Detroit won the decisive game 7-0. Guy "Doc" White again was the pitcher of record, only this time he may have had an excuse. He was working on two day’s rest having beaten the Tigers 3-1 on October 4. October 6, 1909 - Architect Zachary Taylor Davis submitted his design for a new ballpark on the South Side to owner Charles Comiskey. The concrete and steel structure was considered revolutionary for its time yet only took three and a half months to complete the following year, opening in July 1910. October 6, 1923 – It was his first year on the team and turned out to be his last appearances of the season but future Hall of Famer Ted Lyons had himself an afternoon in Cleveland. The right hander from Texas came in to pitch in the first game of a double header, threw three innings in relief and got the win as the Sox won 6-3 by scoring four times in the ninth inning. Later in the afternoon Lyons came in to pitch again in relief in the second game, tossing a little over four innings and yes, he got the win again as the Sox took the contest 7-6. Lyons threw almost eight innings total. When his career ended in 1946, he’d win 260 games, the most ever for a White Sox pitcher. October 6, 1959 - At the mammoth L.A. Coliseum, which was the temporary home of the Dodgers, the White Sox played small ball in game #5 of the World Series. They beat Sandy Koufax 1-0 to stay alive, cutting L.A.’s lead to three games to two. The only Sox run scored on a double play ground ball but it turned out to be enough. The Sox became the first team in World Series history to have three pitchers combine for the shut out (Bob Shaw, Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan). The game also featured one of the greatest catches in World Series history as “Jungle” Jim Rivera ran a long way and made an over the shoulder catch in the seventh inning with two men on base to save the game robbing Charlie Neal of a potential game winner. Also it was a day game and Rivera somehow located the ball against a murderous background filled with white shirts and white dresses worn by the fans. Alas the Dodgers beat the Sox in game #6 9-3, to win the series four games to two. October 6, 2000 - Another dramatic and fantastic season was ruined as the Sox fell apart and lost the divisional series in three straight games to the Mariners. The M’s clinched the series despite a heroic effort from pitcher James Baldwin. “JB,” pitching with a bad arm, held the Mariners to one run on three hits in six innings of game #3. Seattle scored the series clinching run in the 2-1 win on a suicide squeeze from Carlos Guillen in the ninth inning. Replays showed him clearly out of the batter’s box on the bunt attempt, stepping over home plate, but Sox manager Jerry Manuel never protested the play.

Both may be in good shape because the possibility exists of new ownership.