THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 17TH

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 17TH

 

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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, RED

1934: Legendary White Sox pitcher Red Faber, bound for the Hall of Fame, announced his retirement after 20 seasons with the franchise. According to his Society of American Baseball Research biography, Faber was upset with his 1934 contract offer from the White Sox. The Sox wanted to cut his pay by one-third to $5,000. Faber got his release with the hopes of joining another team but there no offers. A right-hander who took up the spitter after injuring his arm, Faber went 254-213 with a 3.15 ERA in 669 games (483 starts) for the Sox. The native of Cascade, Iowa was a four-time 20-game winner and he led the American League in ERA in 1921 and 1922. Faber was at his best in the 1917 World Series when he went 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA as the White Sox captured their first championship since 1906. Faber retired as the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, starts, complete games, innings, losses, walks and games. He was surpassed in most categories by Ted Lyons except games and walks. In 1964, Faber was inducted into the Hall. Faber had an interesting background, career and baseball afterlife. His SABR bio is worth reading at http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&am...49&pid=4233.

 

IT’S ABOUT TIME! APPLING VOTED INTO HALL

1964: Legendary White Sox shortstop Luke Appling was voted into the Hall of Fame in a “run off” election. After no player received the necessary 75 percent of the votes for election, the Baseball Writers Association of America held a “run off” election in which only the top vote-getter would gain induction. Appling topped the list with 84 percent of the vote. Why “Old Aches and Pains” was not voted in earlier is anybody’s guess. Appling, a shortstop, played 20 seasons for the Sox and retired as the franchise’s all-time leader in games, doubles, extra-base hits, at bats, runs, walks, hits, RBIs, singles and total bases. In addition, “Lucious Luke” won two batting titles, hitting a searing .388 in 1936, and he played in four in All-Star Games. In 1975, the White Sox retired Appling’s No. 4.