THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 31/Hooper, Senor

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: JANUARY 31

 

For more, see www.whitesoxalmanac.com

 

JANUARY 31ST

 

SUPER FOR HOOPER

1971: Former White Sox outfielder Harry Hooper was elected to the Hall of Fame by a vote of a special Veterans Committee. Hooper played the final four years of his 17-year career in Sox yarns. The Californian hit .302 for the Sox between 1921 and 1925 after playing the first 12 seasons of his career with the Red Sox. Hooper experienced unprecedented power during his time on the Southside. He arrived in Chicago with 30 career home runs. The left-handed hitter exceeded that total in his fourth year in Chicago and finished with 45 roundtrippers with the Sox. Also elected by the Vets with Hooper were Jake Beckley, Joe Kelly, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, Dave Bancroft and executive George Weiss.

 

KUDOS TO THE SENOR

1977: Former White Sox manager Al Lopez was elected to the Hall of Fame by vote of a special Veterans Committee. Also voted in by the Vets were Joe Sewell and Amos Rusie. Those three would join Cub great Ernie Banks in induction ceremonies on July 31 in Cooperstown. The popular Lopez managed the Sox from 1957 to 1965 and in 1968 and 1969. The Senor was 840-650 on the Sox bench and the highlight of his tenure was the American League pennant in 1959.

 

ROBIN SECURED

1994: The White Sox signed third baseman Robin Ventura to a four-year contract with an option for an additional season. Ventura was coming off a season in which he hit .262 with 22 homers and 94 RBIs while winning a Gold Glove for the American League West champs. … Also on this date, Bo Jackson, who had spent the previous three seasons with the White Sox, signed with the Angels.

 

WHAT’S IN A NAME? MONEY AND A BETTER PARK

2003: The White Sox signed a naming rights agreement with Chicago-based wireless service provider U.S. Cellular that will pay the club $68 million over 20 years. According to the Sox, the agreement to change the name of their 12-year-old stadium from “New” Comiskey Park to U.S. Cellular Field was forged to “pursue dramatic, fan-focused renovations and improvements to the ballpark …” The money from the deal has transformed the park from a sterile edifice which was dubbed the “Mallpark” to a more classic-looking fan-friendly facility. Recent improvements included new videoboards, scout seats, green seats and a more modest and manageable upper deck.