THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOV 5/Jocko, Baines

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOVEMBER 6TH

 

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1935: The White Sox released reserve outfielder Jocko Conlan and pitcher Sad Sam Jones. The White Sox actually did Conlan a favor by letting him go. The Chicago native went on to become one of the great umpires in big league history and he was recognized as that when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. Conlan was a National League arbiter between 1941 and 1965. He got his start as an umpire while with the White Sox in 1935. In a game against the Browns, umpire Red Ormbsy was overcome with exhaustion. With the blessing of White Sox manager Jimmy Dykes, Conlan volunteered to umpire and a Hall of Fame career was born. Conlan’s umpiring career officially began in 1935 in the minors at the New York Pennsylvania League. Conlan made it to the Majors in 1941 and stayed there until June 6, 1965. In between, he umpired five World Series’ and six All-Star Games. Conlan, who died in 1989, hit .263 with no homers and 31 RBIs in 1934 and 1935 for the White Sox. … Jones’ release signaled the end of a career which began in 1914 and included 229 victories. The right-hander went 34-46 for the White Sox between 1932 and 1935 after being acquired from Washington in a five-player swap Dec. 4, 1931.

 

1984: Reflecting the disappointing campaign which his team had just gone through, outfielder/DH Harold Baines was the only White Sox player who received votes in the balloting for the American League MVP, the results of which were released on this date. This a year after the Sox won the American League West title and had six players garner at least two points in the voting. Baines, who hit .304 with 29 homers, finished tied for 13th as the White Sox fell off to a 74-88 record. Detroit reliever Willie Herandez topped the voting.