THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 4TH/Mary Shane, Burks, Goose

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THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 4TH

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NIFTY PURCHASE
1941: The White Sox purchased some versatility for their pitching staff when they picked up Joe Haynes from the Washington Senators for $3,000. Haynes had suffered from a sore arm with Washington but was healed by the Sox medical staff and turned in solid campaigns in 1942, 1943 and 1944 before suffering a compound fracture in his ankle in June of 1945 that cost him the rest of the season. The right-hander was back for the 1946 season and then he fashioned the best year of his career by going 14-6 with an American League best 2.42 ERA in 1947. In his final year with the team, 1948, Haynes was named to the A.L. All-Star squad for the game at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Haynes did not pitch in the A.L.’s 5-2 win. Following the season, the Sox dealt Haynes to Cleveland for Joe Tipton.

COME HERE, SHANE
1977: The White Sox hired 28-year-old Mary Shane to work on their television broadcast team. Shane, who came from Milwaukee, became the first female television play-by-play announcer in big league history for the 1977 White Sox. She teamed with Harry Caray, Jimmy Piersall and Lorn Brown in the WSNS booth for one season.

ELLIS BURKS: ONE-YEAR WONDER
1993: The White Sox signed outfielder Ellis Burks to a one-year contract in what proved to be a great move. Burks, who had struggled with back injuries during the later stages of his career in Boston, turned in a stellar season as the White Sox right fielder. Under the watchful eye of trainer Herm Schneider, Burks played in 146 games and hit .275 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs in helping the Sox win the American League West. Burks emerged as a team leader as the season wore on and was often seen sporting a “Go Hard or Go Home” t-shirt late in the year. In the playoffs, Burks hit .304 with a homer and three RBIs as the Sox lost the American League Championship Series in six games. He provided the Sox with one of the lasting moments in their history when he gloved the final out in the A.L. West Division-clinching victory over Seattle Sept. 27, 1993 at Comiskey Park. Burks signed with Colorado after the season and played there until 1998. His big league career lasted until 2004.

GOOSE GETS CLOSER
2005: In his sixth year of eligibility, former White Sox pitcher Rich Gossage crept closer to the Hall of Fame. The right-hander, who played for the White Sox from 1972 to 1976, was named 55.2 percent of ballots in voting performed by the Baseball Writers Association of America released on this date. The output was an improvement over the 40.7 percent he received the year before and was his best showing in the voting. Only first-year candidates Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg received the required 75 percent for induction. Other former Sox players getting votes were pitchers Tommy John (23.8 percent) and Jim Abbott (2.5 percent). Edited January 4, 2008 by StatManDu