THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 16TH/Sox born; Bo

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THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 16TH

 

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THE WHITE SOX ARE BORN

1900: A key date in the formation of the franchise: At a meeting in Chicago, American League president Ban Johnson announced that an A.L. team will be placed in Chicago. In an agreement with the National League, the A.L. agreed to put the Chicago team on the south side. In addition, the existing franchise agreed to let the Chicago A.L. team use the nickname “White Stockings,” which used to be their monicker. However, the agreement stipulated that the A.L. team could not use the word “Chicago” in their official name. The White Stockings joined Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo in the A.L.

 

TAKING A GAMBLE … AGAIN

1985: Seeking some left-handed depth and punch off the bench, the White Sox re-enlisted free agent Oscar Gamble, who was a key member of the 1977 Southside Hitmen. Gamble made the 1985 club and got into 70 games and hit .203 with four homers and 20 RBIs before being released Aug. 12, 1985 thus ending his 17-year career.

 

BO KNOWS COMEBACKS

1993: The comeback of Bo Jackson took another step forward when he went 3-for-4 while playing the outfield in the White Sox 3-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Florida Marlins in Sarasota, Fla. Jackson underwent reconstructive hip surgery on April 5, 1992 and was attempting to become the first player in history to appear in a big league game with an artificial hip. He would accomplish that feat less than a month later.

 

CLIPPING THE CUBS

2000: Paul Konerko capped a big day when he drove in the eventual winning run in the seventh inning of the White Sox 7-6 Cactus League victory over the Cubs at Tucson Electric Park. Konerko went 3-for-4 and drove in four to jack his spring average to .474. The Sox fell behind 4-0 but cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth on a two-run double by Magglio Ordonez and a run-scoring single by Konerko. Konerko’s heroics made a winner out of reliever Tanyon Sturtze and halted the Sox three-game Cactus League losing streak to their archrivals.