THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 30/Sosa

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 30

NO BULL: LUZINSKI ARRIVES

1981: In another credibility-establishing move, the White Sox purchased the contract of Chicago-area product Greg Luzinski from the Philadelphia Phillies. The acquisition of the four-time All-Star, coupled with the pickup of Carlton Fisk, Jim Essian, Bill Almon and Dennis Lamp, showed that the new ownership group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn was willing to spend money and make a splash. Luzinski, a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Niles, Ill., was an ideal designated hitter and he took to the role. "The Bull" hit 21 homers in the strike-shortened season of 1981, drove in 101 runs in 1982 and hit 32 homers with 95 RBIs for the A.L. West champs in 1983. Sadly, Luzinski, like the rest of the Sox hitters, did not have a good playoff series against Baltimore (2-for-15) or a good season in 1984 (.238, 13 homers), which was the last of his 15-year career.

 

RUUUUUUUUUUUU-DEEEEEEEEEE

1982: The White Sox acquired outfielder Rudy Law from the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfield prospect Cecil Espy and fellow minor leaguer Bert Geiger. The lanky Law hit .318 for the 1982 Sox and then went on to have a historic season for the 1983 American League West Division champions. As the team's leadoff hitter, Law hit .283 and swiped a franchise-record 77 bases. The amazing thing about his steal total was that Law was only thrown out 12 times. Law and Julio Cruz (.333) were the only Sox players whose bats showed any life in the 1983 American League Championship Series. Law amassed seven hits and hit a team-best .389 in the four-game loss to the Orioles. Much like the rest of the 1983 team, Law's production leveled off in 1984. After a mediocre 1985 season, the Sox released Law on April 1, 1986 when he couldn't beat out rookie John Cangelosi for the starting center fielder's job.

 

ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, IT TOLLS FOR SAMMY

1992: The White Sox acquired George Bell from the Cubs for outfielder Sammy Sosa and left-handed reliever Kenny Patterson. Bell gave the Sox an extremely productive 1992 campaign, hitting .255 with 25 homers and 112 RBIs while giving Frank Thomas some protection. Bell's productivity dipped in 1993 although he did have some big games during that division-championship season. As for Sosa, his track record is well known and history will judge him accordingly. However, it should be pointed out that in the years following Sosa's departure from the South side, offense was not the White Sox problem, particularly in right field where the Sox employed heavy-hitters such as Ellis Burks, Darrin Jackson and Danny Tartabull until Magglio Ordonez arrived in 1998.