This Day In Sox History...March 30

[Lip Man 1]

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond.

He sent catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vicente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will.

Romo helped stabilize a young White Sox bullpen with an ERA of 3.33 and six saves in his two years with the team primarily as a middle relief man.

 

March 30, 1981 - Shortly before the start of the regular season, the White Sox purchased the contract of Chicago area slugger Greg Luzinski from the Phillies. The Phillies originally wanted either pitcher Steve Trout or pitcher Rich Dotson in return but when the Sox wouldn’t budge settled for cash considerations. The imposing strongman would become a two-time American League Designated Hitter of the Year and provide solid power to the middle of the batting order. In his three and a half seasons he pounded out 84 home runs and drove in 317 RBI’s.

“Bull” would also become the first man to hit three rooftop home runs in a single season at the original Comiskey Park when he did it in 1983. The blasts came against the Twins, Yankees and Red Sox.

               

March 30, 1982 - Needing outfield help, Sox G.M. Roland Hemond sent two prospects to the Dodgers for the speedy Rudy Law. Law would smash the team’s stolen base record in 1983, swiping 77 bases. He added 20 doubles, seven triples and hit .283. His career on the South Side wasn’t long, as he was released by the Sox in spring training 1986, but it was memorable, as he supplied speed and defense to the 1983 Western Division champions. In his four years with the Sox, Rudy stole 171 bases.

 

March 30, 1992 - Seeking another power bat to hit behind Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura and not being able to close a deal with free agent Mark McGwire, Sox G. M. Ron Schueler dealt outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the Cubs for outfielder/DH George Bell.

Bell would have 112 RBI’s in 1992 and have a solid but limited 1993, but outbursts during the A.L.C.S. over playing time with manager Gene Lamont, sealed his fate and he was gone from the organization.

Part of the reason Sosa was traded was because he had issues with White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak who wanted him to hit to all fields and stop trying to just hit home runs. Hriniak wanted the 1990 version of Sosa who was the only player in baseball that season with double figures in doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases and outfield assists…and he drove in 70 RBI’s to boot!

Sosa would become the face of the Cubs and challenge the all-time home run marks in the late 1990's. However, in the wake of the steroid scandal and his potential involvement with it, he left baseball with a cloud over him, his future Hall of Fame chances in real jeopardy