THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOVEMBER 19/BELLE

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOVEMBER 19

 

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1972: The White Sox dealt starting pitcher Tom Bradley to the San Francisco Giants for switch-hitting outfielder Ken Henderson and right-handed pitching prospect Steve Stone. This turned out to be one of general manager Roland Hemond’s better swaps. After an injury cut short his 1973 campaign, Henderson went on to have the best season by a Sox switch-hitter to date in 1974. Playing in all 162 games in center field, Henderson hit .292 with 20 homers and 95 RBIs. His homer total stood as a White Sox record for switch-hitters until Jose Valentin hit 25 in 2000 while his RBI total is still a club record in that category. His home run total broke Dave Philley’s 1950 club record of 14 while his RBI total broke George Davis’ previous club record of 93 set in 1902. Henderson declined in 1975 and was shipped to Atlanta in the Ralph Garr deal after the season. In his first of two stints with the Sox, Stone showed promise in 1973 but was shipped to the Cubs in the Ron Santo swap after that season. Stone returned as a free agent for the 1977 and 1978 seasons. Bradley, who was 30-29 for the Sox in 1971 and 1972, had a solid 1973 for the Giants going 13-12 with a 3.90 ERA. He went just 10-14 over the next two seasons with 1975 being his final campaign.

 

1996: In a move that had everyone scratching their heads, the White Sox signed free agent slugger Albert Belle to a record five-year, $55 million contract. The signing came on the heels of a protracted battle between the players and owners in which White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was perceived as a “hawk.” The fact that he would turnaround and give Belle a deal that would surpass $10 million annually was what reportedly irked some of those in the baseball establishment. Reinsdorf defended himself by saying he was going to play by the rules in place. Regardless, the prospect of a Sox lineup that included Frank Thomas, Belle and Robin Ventura had Sox fans dreaming of October. However, those dreams never came true. Belle spent two seasons with the White Sox before a clause in his contract allowed him to become a free agent again. The former Indian had a mediocre season – by his standards – in 1997, socking 30 home runs (his fewest since 1991) with 116 RBIs. The following year, Belle had arguably the greatest offensive season in Sox annals by hitting .328 with a club-record 49 home runs and 152 RBIs. Despite that, the Sox let him walk after that season which speakes volumes.