Great WSI interview with Joel Horlen

[YASNY]

Mark Liptak interviews Joel Horlen

 

First off .... If the administrators have a problem with this link to a WSI interview, feel free to delete it the thread. However, being a long time Sox fan, I thought some of the older members here would enjoy reading this. I know I did.

 

A few notes about the interview that stuck with me, but just minor stuff.

 

I had totally forgot former Cardinal 3B great Kenny Boyer played for the Sox.

 

Former UK basbetball player Cotton Nash played for the Sox. He's one of UK's greats. He was a defensive replacement at 1B for the 9th inning of Horlen's 1967 no-hitter. It turned out to be a very good move, if you remember correctly.

 

Horlen was released before the 1972 season. He was the Sox player rep. Some things never change.

 

On a personal note, the mid 60's were the years that solidified my life long love for the White Sox. Their pitching staffs, with guys like Horlen, Gary Peters, John Buzhardt, Juan Pizarro and Tommy John were a big part of that for me. There's a lot of interesting stuff in this interview. Some of it brings back great memories, other parts remind of painful ones. For you younger guys, this is a good read and chance to learn a bit about Sox history and some of the best years to be a Sox fan.

[Chisoxfn]

Heck no Yasny, a good article is a good article regardless of where it comes from

 

Thanks for sharing that.

[Hatchetman]

horlen is on my all-time sox 12 man staff.

[Hatchetman]

btw, i've heard joe and joel and apparently he went by both. anyone know the story there?

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Thanks Yas . Joel Horlen and Ken Berry (CF) were my favorite Sox players from that 1967 team. I was 9 years old. Reading it brought back a lot a names from those teams that I will always think of as Sox players. I guess we must be sum of the old timers on this website since there hasnt been much interest in this thread.

 

By the way I like your Blackhawk head with the tear . Reminds me of the old TV commercial with the old Native American crying about pollution.

[YASNY]

Thanks Yas . Joel Horlen and Ken Berry (CF) were my favorite Sox players from that 1967 team. I was 9 years old. Reading it brought back a lot a names from those teams that I will always think of as Sox players.  I guess we must be sum of the old timers on this website since there hasnt been much interest in this thread.

 

By the way I like your Blackhawk head with the tear . Reminds me of the old TV commercial with the old Native American crying about pollution.

 

Hey, I forgot about that old commercial with the Indian. I was 9 years old that summer as well. Talk about a heartbreaking end to a season. Man, did that one hurt. I always liked Ken Berry as well. He was probably my favorite non-pitcher on the club that year.

[Yossarian]

Al Lopez was probably the greatest manager in White Sox history. He did more with less. However he could be a thin skinned tyrant, and this interview (which is great by the way) gives that much more evidence. As for Horlen, he was the ultimate hard luck pitcher. His all time record of 116-117 is in no way indicative of the pitcher he was. He had great control and great ball movement on almost every pitch. The 60's White Sox were loaded with pitching. If Frank Thomas had been born in 1938, instead of 1968? Oh hell, what's the use in dreaming. You can't defy the laws of physics and bend space and time. The past is what it is.