This Day In Sox History...November 3

[Lip Man 1]

November 3, 1983 – Tony LaRussa, who guided the White Sox to a 99-win season and their first playoff appearance in 24 years, was named the Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

It was the first year the organization handed out that award.

LaRussa received 17 of a possible 28 votes to take the honor. He beat out the Orioles Joe Altobelli who picked up seven first place votes.

LaRussa would also take Manager of the Year honors from The Sporting News and the Associated Press.

 

November 3, 1988 - The Sox named Jeff Torborg as the team’s new field manager.

Torborg, a former Major League catcher, and Indian’s manager, gained notable success with the club. His ‘team and family’ philosophy took hold and a young group of players stunned the baseball world by winning 94 games in 1990. He would be named Manager of the Year that season. He followed up that year by winning 87 games in 1991 before being forced out by then Sox G.M. Ron Schueler who wanted to hire his own man.

Torborg by the way is the only man in baseball history to have caught a perfect game from Sandy Koufax and a no-hitter from Nolan Ryan as he played for the Dodgers and Angels from 1964 through 1973. He also caught a third no-hitter courtesy of the Dodgers Bill Singer.

 

November 3, 2003 - Former Sox All-Star shortstop Ozzie Guillen was named the team’s manager replacing Jerry Manuel.

The “Wizard of Oz” immediately set about changing the fortunes of the franchise. His “Ozzie-Ball” philosophy of pitching, smart/aggressive base running, defense and doing the little things instead of just waiting for the home run would help lead to a World Series title in 2005, the season he would be named Manager of the Year. He’d return to the playoffs with the club in 2008.

Before being allowed to leave in late September 2011, Guillen appeared to be headed for a very long career on the South Side but his relationship changed with then G.M. Kenny Williams and a parting was best for all concerned.

 

November 3, 2022 – The White Sox named former Royals coach Pedro Grifol the club’s new manager replacing Tony LaRussa who officially retired due to health concerns in October.

Grifol who played college baseball at Florida State and got as high as Triple-A, but never spent a day in the Major Leagues, spent 10 years in the Royals organization and before that had a lengthy stay in the Mariners ranks.

His hiring as an ‘outsider,’ someone who had no connection to either Jerry Reinsdorf or the White Sox organization, marked the first time that had happened in the managerial search since Jerry Manuel got the position before the start of the 1998 season.

His first year however was a disaster as he appeared overmatched on numerous occasions. The team went 61-101 and that mark placed Grifol as the worst skipper in franchise history among those who lasted at least one full season.