THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: JAN. 13 & 14/Buck, Bo, Looie

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 13TH

 

For more see, www.whitesoxalmanac.com

 

WEAVER TURNED DOWN

1922: Former White Sox third baseman Buck Weaver applied unsuccessfully for reinstatement to Major League Baseball after he was banished for life in 1921 for his role in the fixing of the 1919 World Series. History told us that Weaver did not participate in the fix but was banned for knowing of the fix and not reporting it to club or league officials. This would be one of many unsuccessful reinstatement efforts put forth by Weaver until his death in 1956. After his death, reinstatement efforts on Weaver’s behalf have been ongoing.

 

BO KNOWS INJURY

1991: Los Angeles Raiders’ running back Bo Jackson suffered a football career-ending hip injury in an AFC playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The injury, which occurred in a Raider loss, led to Jackson’s release by the Kansas City Royals, hisother employer, on March 18, 1991, paving the way for his signing with the Sox on March 10, 1992. With the White Sox, Jackson would make history by becoming the first player to play with an artificial hip. He left the team after the 1993 A.L. West Division championship team as one of the more popular players in team history, a distinction he still holds.

 

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 14TH

 

For more see, www.whitesoxalmanac.com

 

LEGENDARY LOOIE LEAVES

1963: The White Sox said goodbye -- it turned out temporarily -- to legendary shortstop Luis Aparicio when they dealt him to Baltimore in a six-player exchange. The Sox sent the popular Aparicio with third-baseman outfielder Al Smith to the Orioles in exchange for pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, slugging outfielder Dave Nicholson, third baseman Pete Ward and shortstop Ron Hansen. While Aparicio gave the Orioles some good seasons, the Sox really got the best of this swap. Wilhelm had the best years of his Hall of Fame career pitching out of the Sox bullpen while Ward went on to earn American League Rookie Player of the Year honors from The Sporting News. Hansen provided the Sox with power from the shortstop position they had never seen before and didn't see again until Jose Valentin arrived on the scene in 2000. The only bummer of the barter for the Sox was Nicholson. He lasted three seasons on the Southside and did land one home run on the Comiskey Park roof but strikeouts prevented him from becoming a great player. He whiffed an A.L.-leading and club record 175times in 1963 -- his only year as a regular. As for Aparicio, he would eventually make it back to Chicago. The Sox re-acquired "Little Looie" from the Orioles following the 1967 season.

 

13 YEARS LATER, DRABEK RETURNS

1997: The White Sox signed veteran free agent pitcher Doug Drabek. It was a homecoming of sorts for Drabek, who won 130 National League games for the Pirates and Astros between 1987 and 1996. Drabek was originally drafted and signed by the White Sox in the 11th round of the June 1983 draft. He was dealt by the Sox to the Yankees with Kevin Hickey for Roy Smalley in 1984. Drabek pitched one year with the Sox, going 12-11 with a 5.74 ERA.

 

ALLS WELLS THAT ENDS WELLS … NOT!

2001: In an effort to garner a No. 1 starter, general manager Ken Williams acquired 20-game winner David Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays in a five-player exchange. To get Wells and pitcher Matt DeWitt, the Sox had to surrender pitchers Mike Sirotka and Kevin Beirne and outfielder Brian Simmons. This trade didn’t work out for either team. Wells spent one unforgettable and disruptive year with the Sox, going 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA in an injury-shortened 2001 campaign. Sirotka, who won 46 games for the Sox between 1995 and 2000, never pitched again because of arm trouble. The rest of the players involved in the trade were marginal contributors – at best – in their careers.