THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: APRIL 1ST

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: APRIL 1ST

 

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COULDN’T HE HAVE PLAYED HOOPS IN CHICAGO???

1962: The White Sox signed pitcher Dave DeBusschere, better known for his basketball prowess, out of the University of Detroit. The 6-foot-6 right-hander was an All-American hoopster but a $75,000 bonus got him to put his name on a Sox contract. DeBusschere went 10-1 in the Sally League in 1962. DeBusschere was up and down with the Sox in 1962 and showed big league potential in 1963 when he fired a six-hit shutout against Cleveland on Aug. 13. The Detroit Pistons wanted DeBusschere so badly they made him player-coach at age 24, prompting him to give up baseball.

 

HERRMANN SENT PACKING

1975: The White Sox traded popular catcher Ed Herrmann to the New York Yankees for minor leaguers Ken Bennett, Terry Quinn, Fred Anyzeski and John Narron. The trade, which was prompted by a salary-demand of $32,000, ended Herrmann’s seven-year career on the Southside. The highlight of Herrmann’s stay came in 1974 when he was named to the American League All-Star team.

 

(1 and) O (in) CANADA!

1997: The White Sox trimmed the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in 10 innings in the season-opener in Toronto. Tony Pena’s single in the 10th inning scored Ray Durham from first base with the eventual winning run. Norberto “Paco” Martin forced extra-innings with a pinch-home run in the ninth inning. Tony Castillo, a former Blue Jay, got the win while Roberto Hernandez notched the save. The game marked the White Sox debut of Albert Belle, who went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI.

 

WHITE SOX ON THE MARK

2002: The White Sox built a big lead and held on to win the opener 6-5 in Seattle. Mark Buehrle started and turned in six stellar innings in outdueling Freddy Garcia. Sandy Alomar Jr.’s two-run double in the sixth gave the Sox the lead for good. The Sox made it 6-1 in the seventh thanks to a two-run double by Paul Konerko, an RBI single by Jose Valentin and a homer by Carlos Lee. The Sox pen allowed the Mariners to get to within one but Keith Foulke got Mike Cameron to fly out with the bases loaded to end the game for the save.

 

JOSE STRIKES GOLD

2006: The White Sox agreed to terms with Jose Contreras on a three-year, $29 million contract extension. Contreras earned the extension by going 15-7 with a 3.81 ERA. He finished the 2005 regular season with an eight-game winning streak. In addition, Contreras went 3-1 and started Game 1 of each postseason series for the 2005 Sox. Under the terms of the extension, Contreras will earn $9 million in 2007 and $10 million in both 2008 and 2009. … Also on this day, the Sox placed reliever Dustin Hermanson on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Boone Logan.