THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 20TH

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEBRUARY 20TH

 

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ONE LAST HURRAH FOR BILLY

1961: Billy Pierce agreed to a contract for the 1961 season in a telephone conversation with White Sox executive Hank Greenberg, according to the Chicago Tribune. 1961 turned out to be Pierce’s 13th and last with the White Sox. After going 10-9 to raise his Sox victory total to 186, Pierce was dealt to the San Francisco Giants.

 

BOOKISH BROSNAN BOOTED

1964: The White Sox requested waivers on pitcher Jim Brosnan for the purpose of giving the right-hander his unconditional release, according to a Chicago Tribune article of the day. Brosnan was the Jim Bouton of his day, having released “The Long Season,” a diary of his 1959 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals that gave the public rare insight into the life a big leaguer. Brosnan was acquired from the Reds for Dom Zanni on May 5, 1963. Brosnan went 3-9 with 4 saves and a respectable 2.84 ERA for the 1963 Sox. After getting his walking papers from the Sox, the author-pitcher never played in the big leagues again.

 

PETERS SIGNED

1968: Gary Peters became the last White Sox player to sign for the 1968 season when general manager got the left-hander to sign on the dotted line in Sarasota, Fla. Peters was coming off a year in which he went 16-11 with a 2.18 ERA. 1968 turned out to be a bummer for Peters. Despite a decent 3.76 ERA, Peters posted a career full-season low four wins against 13 setbacks.

 

OZZIE HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

2004: The Ozzie Guillen regime hit full stride when the White Sox first-year manager oversaw his first day of camp at the team’s spring training facility in Tucson, Ariz. According to the reports of the day, Guillen exuded the same spirited attitude he had as a player and was a stark contrast from his predecessor – the staid Jerry Manuel.