THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 5TH/City rivalry born

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 5TH

 

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THE CITY SERIES IS BORN

1903: White Sox president Charles A. Comiskey and Cubs (then known as the Colts) president James A. Hart agreed to play a “City Series” between the Chicago franchises. The agreement covered 15 games in the spring and fall for what was dubbed “the local baseball championship” in the next day’s Chicago Tribune. The Series was held virtually every year until 1943. According to “Total White Sox,” the City Series in that form was halted after the 1942 set because interest was waning due to the White Sox domination in the showdown. The rivalry was revived in later years in the name of charity exhibition games with the Sox still dominating the series. In recent years, Cactus League and interleague play have rendered the charity games obsolete.

 

ONE DOG AND ONE LAST PACT FOR PUDGE

1993: The White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year contract with catcher Carlton Fisk and signed outfielder Lance Johnson to a three-year pact with two options. The contracts would turn out to be the last of Fisk’s decorated career and the last with the White Sox for Johnson. Fisk, at age 45, was on the brink of becoming the career leader in games caught. Shortly after eclipsing that record, Fisk was let go by the White Sox, effectively ending his career. Johnson, affectionately dubbed the “One Dog” by White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson, was coming off a season in which he hit .279 with 41 steals and a league-best 12 triples while covering a lot of ground in center field. Johnson was extremely productive in 1993, 1994 and 1995 both offensively and defensively but his options were not picked up after the 1995 season and he eventually signed with the Mets

 

[knightni]

Lance Johnson's arm made Podsednik look like Vlad Guerrero.