THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: DECEMBER 11TH

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: DECEMBER 11TH

 

COLLINS HIRED TO MANAGE ... AND PLAY

1924: The White Sox signed Eddie Collins to be a player-manager for the 1925 season. Collins was the Sox interim manager in 1924 and went 14-13 to earn the fulltime job. Collins managed the Sox to winning records in both 1925 (79-75) and 1926 (81-72) while hitting .346 and .344 respectively. According to Rich Lindberg’s “Total White Sox,” owner Charles Comiskey got rid of Collins when playing regularly became an impossibility. “…the owner had no further use for him,” Lindberg wrote. With no advanced notice or a phone call, Collins was placed on waivers and Ray Schalk was named as his replacement on Nov. 11, 1925.

 

RON SANTO ACQUIRED

1973: In the biggest swap between the Chicago franchises, the White Sox acquired third baseman Ron Santo from the Cubs for pitchers Steve Stone, Jim Kremmel and Ken Frailing and catcher Steve Swisher. The Cubs, looking to go young, turned to the Sox to deal Santo after Santo became the first player to refuse a trade (to the California Angels) based on the 10-5 clause (10 years in the big leagues, five years with the same club). While the Cubs didn’t get much production out of their end of the deal, this swap has to be considered a bad one for the Sox. Santo, the heart and soul of the Cubs from 1960 to 1973, never seemed comfortable on the Southside and “was vocal in his criticisms of Dick Allen’s special privileges,” according to Rich Lindberg’s “White Sox Encyclopedia.” Santo lasted one forgettable year with the Sox, hitting .221 with five homers and 41 RBIs while playing DH, second base and third base.

 

MELTON DEALT TO ANGELS

1975: The White Sox traded their all-time home run leader Bill Melton to the California Angels in a four-player exchange. Melton, a third baseman, went west with pitcher Steve Dunning for first baseman Jim Spencer and outfielder Morris Nettles. Melton hit a Sox record 154 home runs between 1968 and 1975. He set a Sox record with 33 home runs in 1970 and then tied it a year later when he became the first player in franchise history to lead the league in roundtrippers outright. His later years with the franchise were hampered by a back injury and squabbles with broadcaster Harry Caray. Melton’s injury in 1972 was particularly devastating. “If Melton didn’t come up with a herniated disc in mid-season, he played just 60 games that year, I think that club would have gone onto the World Series,” White Sox GM Roland Hemond recalled years later. Jim Spencer was a solid contributor at the plate and a sensational contributor in the field for the Sox in 1976 and 1977. The left-hander became the first Sox first baseman to win a Gold Glove in 1977. On two occasions in 1977, he tied the club record with eight RBIs in a game (May 14, 1977 and July 2, 1977).

 

DeBARTOLO BOWS OUT

1980: Edward DeBartolo’s flirtation with purchasing the White Sox from Bill Veeck ended when he was turned down for a second time by American League owners. DeBartolo, a businessman from Youngstown, Ohio, had the support of the White Sox Board of Directors but the league was wary of his veiled threats to move the franchise to New Orleans, his racetrack holdings and the possibility of absentee ownership. DeBartolo tried to appease the league but it did not work. The rejection of DeBartolo paved the way for the purchase of the team by current owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn et al.

 

WELCOME WIMPY: PACIOREK ACQUIRED

1981: In one of the more lopsided deals in team history, the White Sox acquired first baseman-outfielder Tom Paciorekt from the Seattle Mariners for infielder Todd Cruz, catcher Jim Essian and outfielder Rod Allen. Paciorek endeared himself to Sox fans with his affable personality and .312 and .307 average in his first two seasons at Comiskey Park. “Wimpy” was a key component of the 1983 American League West Division champions, leading the team in hitting. In the ALCS, Paciorek drove in the go-ahead run in the Sox only victory (Game 1) in the series against Baltimore. After dropping off in 1984 and 1985, Paciorek was dealt to the Mets for Dave Cochrane midway through 1985. Paciorek later returned to the team as a broadcaster where he thrived on television until 1999. The only thing Seattle got out of this swap was one solid season out of Cruz.

 

UNRETIRE THAT NUBMER: BAINES SIGNED

1995: The White Sox brought back one of their all-time greats and fan favorites by signing free agent Harold Baines. Drafted No. 1 by the Sox in 1977, Baines played for the Sox from 1980 to July of 1989. Shortly after his trade to Texas, Baines’ No. 3 was retired by the Sox. It obviously became “unretired” when Baines returned to the Sox. Baines had a productive 1996 (.311, 22 HR, 95 RBIs) and was hitting .305 when he was dealt to Baltimore in the middle of the 1997 season. Baines returned to the Sox for the 2000 stretch run and played the final 32 games of his career for the 2001 Sox.

 

UH-OH: NAVARRO, CASTILLO SIGNED

1996: The White Sox and general manager Ron Schueler signed a pair of free agent pitchers in starter Jaime Navarro and reliever Tony Castillo. The Navarro pickup, which involved lots of money and lots of years, turned out to be one of the worst in franchise history especially considering Roger Clemens was on the market as well and the Sox passed. Navarro had three disastrous years with the Sox, giving up lots of hits while going 25-43 with ERAs of 5.79, 6.36 and 6.09. The best thing the Sox could say about Navarro was that they were able to package him in a trade with Milwaukee following the 1999 season that brought Jose Valentin and Cal Eldred to Chicago for the 2000 A.L. Central Division championship season. After going 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA for the 1996 Sox, Castillo dropped to 4-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 1997.

 

[southsider2k5]

I think Navarro set this franchise back farther than any other player single handedly did in my lifetime.

[YASNY]

I think Navarro set this franchise back farther than any other player single handedly did in my lifetime.

 

Agreed.

[StatManDu]

I think Navarro set this franchise back farther than any other player single handedly did in my lifetime.

Navarro is on my Most Hated Sox team along with Royce Clayton, Albert Belle, Wil Cordero, Claudell Washington, Billy Koch and Rick White

[southsider2k5]

Navarro is on my Most Hated Sox team along with Royce Clayton, Albert Belle, Wil Cordero, Claudell Washington, Billy Koch and Rick White

 

I think after that list an angel just had it wings tore off and stomped on

[OldRetiredGuy]

For the record, Belle had perhaps the greatest invidual season I witnessed.