JoshPR Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 WhiteSox History 1953 A winning record in every month except September (11-13) enabled the Sox to finish third for the second straight season, 11.5 games from the league lead. A 20-10 July was the hottest part of the season. The final record was 89-65. Minnie Minoso soared to .313 with 15 homers and a team high 104 RBI's while Nelson Fox hit .259 with a surprising, carrer high 72 RBI's. Shortstop Chico Carrasquel batted .279 but Farris Fain , a two time batting champion acquired from the Philadelphia A's, was a major dissapointment. Fain broke a finger in an Aug. 2 fight and ended up hitting only .256 with 6 homers and 52 RBI's. A more successful deal was the one on June 13 that brought Bob Elliott and righthander Virgil Trucks to Comiskey Park. Elliott hit .260 in 67 Games with the Sox but Trucks won his first 8 decisions, had 13 complete games and a 15-6 record in 21 starts, fininshing the year 20-10 overall with a 2.93 ERA. Billy Pierce was 18-12 and his 2.72 ERA was second best in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Fainter Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 I remember Ferris Fain coming back from that hand injury and hitting a bases loaded inside the park homer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted June 9, 2003 Author Share Posted June 9, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI1020 Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 This is 4 years before I started following the Sox. Billy Pierce and Virgil Trucks were a formidable 1-2 punch. Pierce started the All Star game for the American League and pitched 3 scoreless innings. The Yanks as usual, were too much for everybody. Keep it coming Josh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI1020 Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 Pierce also had 39+ consecutive shutout innings in August. He lead the league in strikeouts with 186 and was second in shutouts with 7. Billy never did get the run support he needed. "Jungle" Jim Rivera, a real fan favorite and a first class character lead the league in triples with 16 and Minnie Minoso lead in SB with 25. Teams didn't run very much in the 50's. A certain HOF shortstop from Venezuela was to change that in the late 50's. The problem with the Sox that year is they didn't have their customary depth in starters. Saul Rogovin and Joe Dobson slumped badly. Eight pitchers had 10 or more starts but only Pierce and Trucks were consistently effective. The 1953 team had the best record of any Sox team since 1920. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastime Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 When I started following the Sox, I was a very young kid. I remember Wilbur Wood, Jerry Hairston, Bucky Dent, Ken Kravec, Brian Downing, Jorge Orta, Bill Melton, Chet Lemon, Claudell "Loser Ass" Washington, and I remember Harry Caray doing the games on what was it? Channel 44? Needless to say, the 1977 White Sox were the "South Side Hit Men." As of now, this 2003 team will be known as "The South Side s*** Men." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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