1911 T205 - Lena Blackburne

On this day in 1968, Lena Blackburne died.

Lena played with the Chicago White Sox in 1910, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1927 and 1929. What's so important about a die hard American League fan, whose batting average with the Sox (.209), is just five points shy of his career average of .214?

Well, he did coach the White Sox in 1927 and 1928. Blackburne also managed the Pale Hose from 1928 until 1929. Many players have come back to coach and manage. It's not that uncommon. In fact, the Sox just parted ways with a long time manager who was a long time player for the Sox and a new manager was just hired who also played for a long time on the South Side. Lena's contribution is just plain dirty, but not like Hal Chase or Chick Gandil were dirty. Blackburne's claim to fame was mud.

In fact, the secret reservoir of mud that he found is used on all official MLB balls to take the sheen off and to make the balls rougher, so pitchers can get a better grip on the ball, without scratching the leather. By 1938, all American League teams were using the compound and by the mid-fifties, Lena finally sold his compound to the National League, so that all MLB teams were using his discovery. An American League die hard fan, Blackburne refused to sell his compound to the NL. Each year, a thousand pounds of the mud is taken from the secret location and sold to MLB the following season.
Even the most marginal players can make a huge difference in the game. One play, one catch, one hit, one strike or one discovery can make all the difference.



White Sox February 29th birthdays:

1960 - Bill Long

1950 Remar Baking #17 - George Metkovich

On this day, George "Catfish" Metkovich is purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League.

Catfish would only spend one season with the White Sox, 1949, but he managed to play in ninety-three games during his tenure in Chicago. George's average with the Sox (.237) would be his lowest in the majors until 1953, where he split his time between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. The height of Metkovich's career was between stays in Chicago, with the Pirates. His best year was arguably 1951, but he managed to get a few MVP votes in 1952.

George had an eighteen year playing career between his time in the majors and minors.



White Sox February 28th birthdays:

1887 - Joe Fautsch
1898 - Jake Miller
1906 - Pete Daglia
1951 - Tom Spencer

2006 Upper Deck #561 - Cliff Politte

On this day in 1974, Cliff Politte was born.

Cliff arrived in Chicago through free agency in 2004. He stayed with the Sox for two and a half seasons. Smack dab in the middle of his stay on the South Side, he was an integral part of the bullpen during the World Championship run. Politte had a career year in 2005, with a 7-1 record, 2.00 ERA and fifty-seven strikeouts in sixty-eight games. Cliff's number fell back to earth in 2006 and went downhill from there. He was released by the White Sox in July 2006.








White Sox February 27th birthdays:

1916 - Don Hanski
1920 - Connie Ryan
1952 - Henry Cruz
1953 - Ron Hassey
1974 - Cliff Politte

1969 Topps #654 White Sox Rookie Stars (Carlos May/Don Secrist/Rich Morales)

On this day in 1944, Don Secrist was born.

Don has the distinction of making his debut in the first home game for the expansion Seattle Pilots on April 11, 1969. His first pitch in the majors was a wild pitch to Mike Hegan in the bottom of the sixth inning, which allowed Tommy Harper to move into second. Secrist ended up walking Hegan before getting Tommy Davis to ground out to second base. Don came back out in the seventh and appeared to settle down, getting Don Mincher to flyout to right field, Rich Rollins to ground out to the shortstop and Jim Gosger to fly out to center. The score was already 7-0 in the Pilots' favor, so nothing that Don Secrist did in his first game cost the Sox any ground. Wilbur Wood came out in the eighth and kept the score at 7-0, but the White Sox just couldn't manage to bring anyone across the plate.

Secrist's MLB career was over by June 27, 1970, when he was sent down to AAA Tucson. Don managed to stick around for a little over a season in the majors, as a reliever. His ERA was high, but only managed to record one decision over that time, a loss to the Minnesota Twins on July 16, 1969.


White Sox February 26th birthdays:

1898 - Lee Thompson
1944 - Don Secrist
1950 - Jack Brohamer

1982 Fleer #344 - Kevin Hickey

On this day in 1956, Kevin Hickey was born in Chicago, Illinois.

Kevin played three seasons with the White Sox, from 1981 until 1983, and was dealt, along with a very young Doug Drabek, to the New York Yankees in August 1984. After bouncing around a few organizations in the minors, Hickey stuck with the Baltimore Orioles and played with them in the majors from 1989 until 1991. He may be best remembered as "Schoup" from the movie Major League II.

Kevin was the Chicago White Sox batting practice pitcher from 2003 until his death on May 16, 2012.






White Sox February 25th birthdays:

1900 - Joe Burns
1908 - Al Hollingsworth
1940 - Danny Cater
1940 - Ron Santo
1956 - Kevin Hickey
1963 - Joel McKeon

1983 TCMA 1945 Play Ball #17 - Ed Lopat

On this day in 1948, the White Sox traded Ed Lopat to the New York Yankees in exchange for Bill Wight, Fred Bradley and Aaron Robinson. In doing so, the Pale Hose gave up their best starter over the past four seasons. Lopat went on to great things with the Yankees during the regular season and the World Series by frustrating hitters with his slow breaking curve balls.












White Sox February 24th birthdays:

1907 - Bob Seeds
1928 - Bubba Phillips
1978 - Dewayne Wise
1982 - Gustavo Molina
1990 - Jason Coats

1934 Goudey #74 - Bob Boken

On this day in 1908, Bob Boken was born.

Bob may have played for the majority of his career with the Washington Senators, but he played the most games with the Chicago White Sox. After a little over a season with Washington, Boken was traded to Chicago for Red Kress in the middle of the 1934 season.

While Bob's opportunities were on the rise with Chicago, his batting average and on base percentage decreased dramatically. Boken may have only played two seasons worth in the majors, but he played seventeen seasons in the minors, finishing up in 1947 in the Sunset League.


White Sox February 23rd birthdays:

1908 - Bob Boken
1914 - Mike Tresh
1958 - Juan Agosto
1963 - Bobby Bonilla

1992 Score #814 - Don Wakamatsu

On this day in 1963, Don Wakamatsu was born.

Wakamatsu's only MLB playing experience came during the course of eighteen games in the 1991 season. He had the pleasure of catching for knuckleball pitcher Charlie Hough.

Don's playing career ended at age 33, in the minors. He went on to become a coach for the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics. He then became the first Asian-American manager in the majors with the Seattle Mariners after the 2008 season. Fired in August 2010, due to Seattle's poor performance, Wakamatsu returned to coaching with the Toronto Blue Jays.


White Sox February 22nd birthdays:

1895 - Roy Graham
1907 - Dan Dugan
1907 - Marty Hopkins
1963 - Don Wakamatsu
1977 - J.J. Putz
1989 - Chris Bassitt

1930 Blue Ribbon Malt - Johnny Watwood

On this day in 1931, the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants played a ten inning exhibition game against each other in Houston, Texas, at Buff Stadium, which was the first time that any MLB teams played under the lights.













White Sox February 21st birthdays:

1896 - Dick McCabe
1961 - Joel Skinner
1990 - Brad Goldberg

1957 Topps #330 - Jim Wilson

On this day in 1922, pitcher Jim Wilson was born.

Jim came to the White Sox through a 1956 trade with the Baltimore Orioles. He spent the rest of 1956, 1957 and 1958 with the South Siders before calling it a career. His only home run in a White Sox uniform (second of his career) came on August 22, 1956 at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. In the top of the sixth, Luis Aparicio homered off George Susce. Wilson followed with a home run of his own, increasing the score to 6-1, in favor of Chicago. In the next two and a half innings, the White Sox managed to give up their lead and lose 7-6, with the bullpen giving up the final three runs.



White Sox February 20th birthdays:

1896 - Muddy Ruel
1900 - Al Williamson
1922 - Jim Wilson
1974 - Tom Fordham
1985 - Ryan Sweeney

1903 Sporting Life (W600) #678 - Doc White

On this day in 1969, Guy Harris "Doc" White died.

Before the 1903 season Doc jumped from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago White Sox, where he stayed until the 1913 season. The Phillies and White Sox got into a bidding war over White, with the Sox initially offering more money. When Doc accepted, the Phillies stepped in and tried to offer three times what Chicago did, but the League offices rejected the counter-proposal and awarded the Sox the pitcher.

Before starting with the White Sox, White completed his dentistry degree and opened up a private practice, hence the nickname "Doc".

While with the Sox, Doc set a record for consecutive shutouts in 1904 with five, which stood until 1968, when Don Drysdale broke the mark. An 89 year old White send Drysdale a congratulatory telegram upon tying the record. Doc's mark of 65 1/3 innings without issuing a walk in 1907 still stands as an American League record. The streak was broken by an intentional walk.

During his time with the White Sox, Doc also became a published composer of numerous songs, including the bestselling, "Little Puff Of Smoke, Good Night".
After a down year in 1913, White played in the Pacific Coast League until 1915.



White Sox February 19th birthdays:

1890 - Larry Chappell
1894 - Ernie Cox
1900 - John Kane
1943 - Gail Hopkins
1982 - Chris Stewart

2010 Topps Heritage #170 - Alex Rios

On this day in 1981, Alex Rios was born.

Rios was claimed off of waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2009. At his peak in early 2008, Alex signed a seven year contract with the Jays worth a guaranteed amount of $69,835,000: $5.9 million in 2009, $9.7 million in 2010, $12 million each in 2011 and 2012 and $12.5 million each in 2013 and 2014. By the end of 2008, Rios started his decline.

High expectations followed Alex into Chicago, where some people thought that a change of scenery and entering a situation where the burdens of winning weren't square on his shoulders could help him reach his full potential. There have been small flashes of brilliance, but nothing so far that has justified the climbing salary. Perhaps with a change in manager and coaches, Rios will finally see his potential on display consistently.


White Sox February 18th birthdays:

1889 - George Mogridge
1922 - Joe Tipton
1939 - Bob Miller
1944 - Syd O'Brien
1952 - Marc Hill
1960 - Bob Fallon
1964 - Kevin Tapani
1981 - Alex Rios

1991 Upper Deck #SP1 - Michael Jordan

On this day in 1963, minor league baseball flameout Michael Jordan was born.

While never making it to the majors, one of the greatest NBA players made a mini diversion into minor league baseball with the White Sox organization. The closest he came was a Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.

That didn't stop the press and especially the card companies from going gaga over Jordan's detour into baseball between three-peat championships with the Chicago Bulls. The company that struck first, well before Michael sniffed the minors, was Upper Deck. They even came out with this card right before Jordan won his first of six NBA titles.



White Sox February 17th birthdays:

1892 - Nemo Leibold
1897 - Ike Boone
1963 - Michael Jordan
1982 - Brian Bruney
1987 - Danny Farquhar

1984 Donruss #86 - Jerry Hairston

On this day in 1952, Jerry Hairston, son of Chicago White Sox catcher Sam Hairston, was born.

Except for a short stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates for part of the 1977 season, Jerry spent his fourteen year MLB career with the White Sox. Beginning in 1973, Hairston played a variety of roles for the Sox until he was purchased by the Pirates on June 13, 1977.

On September 10, 1981, the White Sox purchased Jerry from the Mexican League and he continued his MLB career in Chicago until the 1989 season. In 1988 and 1989, he signed near the player deadline and filled a pinch hitting role.




White Sox February 16th birthdays:

1897 - Paul Castner
1926 - Howie Judson
1942 - Tim Cullen
1952 - Jerry Hairston
1981 - Jerry Owens
1983 - Ramon Troncoso

1984 Fleer #65 - Jerry Koosman

On this day in 1984, the Chicago White Sox sent Jerry Koosman to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete a trade for Ron Reed on December 5, 1983.

Perhaps the greatest failure of the eighties for the White Sox was trading Jerry Koosman away. While Koosman did not have a winning record for the Phillies in 1984, he did manage to win fourteen games. Compare that record with the eight managed by all the fifth starters combined and Koosman's 3.25 ERA and you have the difference between a team on the rise and a team on the decline.

The AL West division was won with 84 games in 1984. Certainly plugging in Koosman for the season and having every other fifth starter that season concentrate in the bullpen could have made up the ten game deficit. It's plausible. Surely, Juan Agosto or Al Jones could have picked up the slack in the closing department over Ron Reed.

Nobody could have predicted how bad Britt Burns' 1984 season could have turned out. Even Mike Squires was called in to pitch once to clean up a bad Britt Burns performance. Jerry Koosman is quite possibly the lynchpin that unraveled the eighties Chicago White Sox dynasty.



 
White Sox February 15th birthdays:

1900 - George Earnshaw
1951 - Tommy Cruz
1963 - Barry Jones
1966 - Melido Perez
1987 - Ron Scahill

1994 Score #588 - Jeff Schwarz

On this day in 1992, Jeff Schwarz signed with the White Sox through free agency.

Jeff appeared in forty-one games during the 1993 AL West winning campaign. Schwarz had respectable enough numbers to warrant a return to the Sox in 1994, when the Sox were the favorites to go deep into the postseason. Jeff's numbers weren't as good as the season before and he was traded to the California Angels in late July 1994.

The Angels released him after the season and Jeff went on to play one year in Japan for the Yokohama BayStars in 1995.



White Sox February 14th birthdays:

1880 - Claude Berry
1975 - Damaso Marte
1985 - Tyler Clippard

1987 Topps #113 - Neil Allen

On this day in 1986, pitcher Neil Allen was traded from the New York Yankees, along with Scott Bradley and Glenn Braxton to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Ron Hassey, Chris Alvarez, Eric Schmidt and Matt Winters.

Like most of GM Ken Harrelson's dealings, this one seemed like a good idea and for awhile it was. During the 1986 season, Neil posted a 7-2 record with a 3.82 ERA. Things were looking up.

Then Allen started the 1987 campaign with an 0-7 record, with a 7.07 ERA. The White Sox released Neil at the end of August 1987. He signed with the Yankees, but managed an 0-1 record the rest of the season. He did bounce back in 1988 and made forty-one appearances for the Yankees. He ended his career with a short stint in Cleveland, where he had a 15.00 ERA in three games.


White Sox February 13th birthdays:

1883 - Hal Chase
1919 - Bobby Rhawn
1927 - Jim Brideweser
1964 - Dann Howitt

1981 Topps Traded #770 - Marc Hill

On this day in 1981, Marc Hill signed with the White Sox through free agency.

Marc played the backup role behind Carlton Fisk for parts of six seasons on the South Side. His average was low, but his fielding and versatility as an occasional corner infielder made up for it.











White Sox February 12th birthdays:

1893 - Earl Sheely
1937 - Stan Johnson
1941 - Mike Joyce
1943 - Paul Edmondson
1955 - Chet Lemon
1955 - Steve Mura
1986 - Todd Frazier
1988 - Josh Phegley

1960 Fleer #49 - Ed Walsh

On this day in 1905, Ed Walsh Jr. was born. His father, Ed Walsh, was in his second season as a pitcher for the White Sox.

Jr. started pitching for the White Sox on July 4, 1928 with a loss to the Browns at Comiskey Park. He went on to a 4-7 record that year, his best in the majors. The lineage was present but the talent wasn't quite up the standards that his father set. By 1930, Ed was mostly working out of the bullpen, a place for failed starters in that era.

He spent 1931 in the minors, but was called up for one last shot with the White Sox in 1932. His best start that season was on September 17th, where he went eight innings against the Philadelphia Athletics at home, leaving the game tied at four. The Sox ended up winning the game, but Little Ed ended up with a no decision.

Ed played in the minors until 1937, when he contracted rheumatic fever while playing in the American Association League in Minneapolis. He was confined to bed the entire summer and eventually was taken to his parents home, where he lapsed into a coma and died a week later. Ed Walsh Jr. died of acute heart ailment induced by chronic rheumatism.

The 1960 Fleer card may be referring to Big Ed, but the picture on the front is actually of Little Ed, making it one of four cards featuring the late '20s/early 30s pitcher.


White Sox February 11th birthdays:

1905 - Ed Walsh
1941 - Sammy Ellis
1972 - Brian Daubach
1980 - Matt Lindstrom

1955 Bowman #135 - Lloyd Merriman

On this day in 1955, Lloyd Merriman was purchased by the Chicago White Sox from the Cincinnati Redlegs.

On April 12, 1955, Lloyd pinch hit for the starting pitcher, Virgil Trucks, and hit a fly ball to center to end the top of the seventh inning at Cleveland Stadium. It would be the only game that Merriman would appear for the White Sox. Four days later, on April 16th, Lloyd was purchased by the Chicago Cubs.


White Sox February 10th birthdays:

1904 - Hal Anderson
1915 - Ralph Hodgin
1946 - Bob Spence
1959 - Al Jones
1963 - Dane Johnson
1988 - Jeanmar Gomez
1992 - Omar Narvaez

1952 Topps #283 - Phil Masi

On this day in 1950, the Chicago White Sox purchased Phil Masi from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A Chicago native, Phil ended his career with his hometown team. Masi spent 1950, 1951 and part of 1952 with the White Sox, all at the catcher position. His numbers started to dip in 1952 and he became a third string catcher behind Sherm Lollar and Bud Sheely that season. Darrell Johnson nearly surpassed Phil in catching appearances during his last season.

Masi's final two home runs came in back to back plate appearances (in the second and fourth innings) on June 24, 1951 off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Chuck Stobbs in Fenway Park.




White Sox February 9th birthdays:

1934 - Ted Wills
1951 - Eddie Solomon
1961 - John Kruk
1969 - Ramon Garcia
1984 - Dioner Navarro

2011 Topps #243 - Omar Vizquel

On this day in 2010, Luis Aparicio approved the Chicago White Sox temporarily unretiring his number 11, for Omar Vizquel to wear during his duration with the team, as skipper Ozzie Guillen was unwilling to give up Vizquel's usual number 13.


White Sox February 8th birthdays:

1914 - Bert Haas
1921 - Willard Marshall
1951 - Steve Dillard
1975 - Jim Parque

1975 Topps #579 - Skip Pitlock

On this day in 1973, the San Francisco Giants traded pitcher Skip Pitlock to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Chuck Hartenstein and Glenn Redmon.

Skip had a 3-3 record with the 1974 White Sox, but in 1975, Pitlock faced just one batter, Billy Williams, who laced an RBI single to center field, scoring Joe Rudi, in Oakland. Skip had replaced Stan Bahnsen in the third inning of an April 10th game, but after giving up the RBI single to Billy Williams, was replaced by Goose Gossage. It would be the last time Pitlock would pitch in the majors. In June 1975, he was traded to Oakland, along with the last man he relived in the major leagues, for Dave Hamilton and Chet Lemon.




White Sox February 7th birthdays:

1866 - Tom Daly
1884 - Barney Reilly
1894 - Charlie Jackson
1928 - Al Smith
1937 - Juan Pizarro
1939 - Frank Kreutzer
1958 - Ralph Citarella

1928 Zeenut #90 - Ike Davis

On this day in 1928 the White Sox sent Ike Davis to the Portland Beavers to complete a November 1927 deal that landed the South Siders infielder Bill Cissell.

Ike first played with the White Sox in 1924 and he became their everyday shortstop in 1925, but Ike would never again reach the majors after that season. Bill Hunnefield took over regular duties at shortstop for the 1926 and 1927 seasons, before moving to second base as a primary position when the Sox traded Ike Davis, Ike Boone and Bert Cole for their new everyday shortstop Bill Cissell.







White Sox February 6th birthdays:

1901 - Glenn Wright
1927 - Smoky Burgess
1949 - Richie Zisk
1958 - Bill Dawley

1954 Wilson Franks #7 - Johnny Groth

On this day in 1954, Johnny Groth was traded from the newly moved Baltimore Orioles to the city of his birth, Chicago.

Johnny played in the last Browns game at Busch Stadium on September 27, 1953. He struck out to lead off the top of the eleventh against Chicago White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce, who ended up pitching the entire game. Pierce's only blemish was a double to Groth in the third inning, who ended up scoring on an Ed Mickelson single to right field. It would be the Browns last lead in St. Louis. The White Sox eventually won the game in the eleventh inning and the Browns prepared for their move to Baltimore for the 1954 season.

Groth batted a respectable .285 for the White Sox in 157 games, spread out between 1954 and the first half of 1955. Johnny was traded to the Washington Senators on June 9, 1955, along with Bob Chakales and Clint Courtney for Jim Busby, effectively ended his career with his hometown team.



White Sox February 5th birthdays:

1891 - Roger Peckinpaugh
1929 - Al Worthington
1968 - Roberto Alomar

1978 TCMA Knoxville Knox Sox #10 - Rusty Kuntz

On this day in 1955, Rusty Kuntz was born.

Rusty was chosen in the eleventh round of the 1977 draft by the White Sox. After two minor league seasons, Kuntz made his MLB debut with the Sox on September 1, 1979.

Rusty got his first hit on September 23, 1979, in Seattle, against the Mariners, in the top of the ninth inning, off of Rick Honeycutt. It was a single to center field, but he was forced out at second base to end the game when Alan Bannister grounded to third. This would be Rusty's last appearance of the 1979 season.

Kuntz played sparingly for the Pale Hose until June of 1983, when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for minor league third baseman Mike Sodders. Rusty went on to win a World Series Championship with the 1984 Detroit Tigers.

White Sox February 4th birthdays:

1898 - Johnny Mann
1908 - Hank Garrity
1955 - Rusty Kuntz

... two smiling first basemen. And that made me smile.

1997 Topps #32 - Kevin Tapani

On this day in 1996, Kevin Tapani signed a one year contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Kevin would go on to a respectable 13-10 record in thirty-four games for the Sox that season. Tapani was the definition of workhorse that year, logging in 225 1/3 innings. After the 1996 season, Kevin signed with the Chicago Cubs, where he played the rest of his MLB career.









White Sox February 3rd birthdays:

1915 - Buck Ross
1925 - Harry Byrd

1985 Coke #22 - Joel Skinner (J.C. Martin)

On this day in 1982, Joel Skinner was chosen by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent compensation pick from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Joel was blocked by Carlton Fisk and Marc Hill for most of his South Side career. In 1986, he was deemed expendable when Ron Karkovice came up from the minors. Skinner went on to the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians.









White Sox February 2nd birthdays:

1878 - Hub Hart
1884 - Ray Demmitt
1887 - Mutz Ens
1887 - Walt Kuhn
1895 - George Lees
1900 - Willie Kamm
1900 - Frank Mack
1907 - Jerry Byrne
1937 - Don Buford
1952 - Warren Brusstar

1912 Max Stein Postcards - Buck Weaver

On this day in 1914, the first exhibition game played in the Egyptian desert was played between the New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox, in Cairo, Egypt. The White Sox and Giants played ten innings and wound up with a 3-3 tie. It was the first of fifty-six games as part of a world tour promoting baseball.

Buck Weaver battled Jim Thorpe for the "MVP" of the Desert Sands League, where Buck Weaver helped turn the tour's only triple play, which he almost performed unassisted.
Buck sitting with his white stockings out and a big grin, in Egypt.



White Sox February 1st birthdays:

1875 - Billy Sullivan
1892 - Tom McGuire
1903 - Carl Reynolds
1987 - Austin Jackson