Chicago White Sox

Nickname: Original name of the National League's Chicago Cubs, named after the White Stockings that the players wore.Logo: Sox written in black in with o connected to the tail of the S and the X hanging off the O. There is a silver outline throughout the logo.Colors: Black, Silver, and WhiteManagers: (39) Clark Griffith 1901-1902 Nixey Callahan 1903-1904 Fielder Jones 1904-1908 Billy Sullivan 1909 Hugh Duffy 1910-1911 Nixey Callahan 1912-1914 Pants Rowland 1915-1918 Kid Gleason 1919-1923 Johnny Evers 1924 Eddie Collins 1925-1926 Ray Schalk 1927-1928 Lena Blakburne 1928-1929 Donie Bush 1930-1931 Lew Fonseca 1932-1934 Jimmy Dykes 1934-1946 Ted Lyons 1946-1948 Jack Onslow 1949-1950Red Corriden 1950 Paul Richards 1951-1954 Mart Marion 1954-1956 Al Lopez 1957-1965 Eddie Stanky 1966-1968 Les Moss 1968 Al Lopez 1968-1969 Don Gutteridge 1969-1970 Bill Adair 1970 Chuck Tanner 1970-1975 Paul Richards 1976 Bob Lemon 1977-1978 Larry Doby 1978 Don Kessinger 1979 Tony LaRussa 1979-1986 Doug Rader 1986 Jim Fergosi 1986-1988 Jeff Torborg 1989-1991 Gene LaMont 1992-1995 Terry Bevington 1995-1997 Jerry Manuel 1998-2003 Ozzie Guillen 2004-PresentStadium History: (3) Southside Park 1901-1910 Comiskey Park 1910-1990* U.S. Cellular Field 1991-Present** *-Known as White Sox Park 1910-1912 & 1962-1975 **-Known as Comiskey Park II 1991-2002World Champions: (3) 1906, 1917, 2005World Series Appearances: (5) 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005LCS Appearances: (3) 1983, 1993, 2005AL Champions: (1) 1901Division Champions: (5) 1983, 1993, 1994*, 2000, 2005 *-Strike ended season on August 12thWild Card: NoneRetired Numbers: (9) 2 Nellie Fox 2B 1950-1963 3 Harold Baines OF 1980-1989, 1996-1997, 2000-2001 4 Luke Appling SS 1930-1950 9 Minnie Minoso OF 1951-1957, 1960, 1964, 1976, 1980 11 Luis Aparicio SS 1956-1962, 1968-1970 16 Ted Lyons RHP 1923-1946 19 Billy Pierce LHP 1949-1961 42 Jackie Robinson (Retired by MLB) 72 Carlton Fisk C 1981-1993Hall of Famers: (26) Luis Aparicio SS 1956-1962, 1968-1970 Luke Appling SS 1930-1950 Cheif Bender RHP 1925 Steve Carlton LHP 1986 Eddie Collins 2B 1915-1926 Charlie Comiskey Owner 1901-1931 George Davis SS 1904-1909 Larry Doby OF 1959 Johnny Evers 2B 1922 Red Faber RHP 1914-1933 Carlton Fisk C 1981-1993 Nelie Fox 2B 1950-1963 Clark Griffith RHP, MGR 1901-1902 Harry Hooper OF 1921-1925 George Kell 3B 1954-1956 Al Lopez MGR 1957-1965, 1968-1969 Ted Lyons RHP 1923-1946 Edd Roush OF 1913 Red Ruffing RHP 1947 Ray Schalk C 1912-1928 Tom Seaver RHP 1984-1986 Al SImmons OF 1933-1935 Bill Veeck Owner 1958-1961, 1976-1980 Ed Walsh RHP 1904-1916 Hoyt Wilhelm RHP 1963-1968 Early Wynn RHP 1958-1962All-Star Games Hosted: (4) 1933*, 1950, 1983, 2003 *-Inaugural GameAll-Star Game MVP: NoneManager of the Year: (4) 1983 Tony La Russa* 1990 Jeff Torborg 1993 Gene Lamont 2000 Jerry ManuelRookie of the Year: (5) 1956 Luis Aparicio SS 1963 Gary Peters LHP 1966 Tommie Agee OF 1983 Ron Kittle OF 1986 Ozzie Guillen SSFireman Award: (1) 1990 Bobby Thigpen RHPHank Aaron Award: NoneCy Young: (3) 1959 Early Wynn RHP 1983 LaMarr Hoyt RHP 1993 Jack McDowell RHPMVP: (4) 1959 Nelie Fox 2B 1972 Dick Allen 1B 1993 Frank Thomas 1B 1994 Frank Thomas 1BLCS MVP:(1) 2005 Paul Konerko 1BWorld Series MVP: 2005 Jermaine Dye OFNo Hitters: (15) 9/20/1902 Nixey Callahan 9/6/1905 Frank Smith 9/20/1908 Frank Smith 8/27/1911 Ed Walsh 5/31/1914 Joe Benz 4/14/1917 Eddie Cicotte 4/30/1922 Charlie Robertson (Perfect Game) 8/21/1926 Ted Lyons 8/31/1935 Vern Kennedy 6/1/1937 Bill Dietrich 8/20/1957 Bob Keegan 9/10/1967 Joel Horlen 7/28/1976 Combined: Blue Moon Odom 5.0 Francisco Barrios 4.0 9/19/1986 Joe Cowley 8/11/1991 Wilson AlvarezCycle Hitters: (5) 6/27/1922 Ray Schalk 9/24/1977 Jack Brohamer 5/15/1984 Carlton Fisk 7/6/19999 Chris Singleton 4/27/2000 Jose ValentinFour HR Games: (1) 7/18/1948 Pat SeeryBest Season: 1917 (100-54) Worst Season: 1970 (56-106)Historical Moments: 1901: Entering their first season as a Major League franchise the White Sox were the defending champions of the Western League, and it was a clear that in the inaugural season of the American League the Chicago White Sox were the team to beat. It would only seem fit that the new league's best team plays in the first official game. The Sox would win that game 8-2 over the Cleveland Blues on April 22nd. With a team built around strong pitching the White Sox would go on to finish 83-53, witch was good enough for 1st place and the first ever American League Championship.1902: The White Sox are unable to defend their crown and fall to 4th place with a 74-60 record, finishing 8 games out of 1st Place.1903: The White Stockings struggle all season falling into 7th place with a disappointing record of 60-77.1904: With their name shortened to White Sox, the team climbs back in to contention finishing with in 6 games of first place with a solid 89-65 record that landed them in 3rd place.1905: The White Sox pitching staff helps carry a poor line-up all year as the Chisox hold off American League hitters to an incredible 1.99 team ERA. However it is not enough to get them a birth in the World Series as the Sox finish in 2nd Place 2 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics, posting a record of 92-60.1906: The hitting problems of the White Sox became so prevalent that the local newspapers gave the nickname of 'The Hitless Wonders". The Sox hit an embarrassing .230 as a team and just had 7 home runs from the entire team. However White Sox pitching was strong enough to carry the load and as the team compiled a 19-game August winning streak to catapult them into the driver's seat for the AL Pennant. The Sox would end up winning 93 games and held off the New York Highlanders by 3 games to earn a trip to their first World Series.1906: Not many people in Chicago noticed the White Sox hitting struggles and sudden rise to the top because across town the Chicago Cubs were compiling a Major League all-time best regular season record of 116-36. The Cubs sat tall and cruised into the first intra-city World Series, while the White Sox struggled until the very end. Going into the World Series no one gave the White Sox a chance, but for the hitless wonders more the bragging rights were on the line, and they wanted to show the entire cit of Chicago they belonged. With both teams being from the Windy City it was decided that the games would alternate between the Westside home of the Cubs, and the Southside home of the Sox. Game 1 was played in cold conditions with periodical snow flurries holding down turnout. The White Sox would catch the series' first break when Cubs catcher Johnny Kling who dropped a ball and allowed the Sox first run to score. The Sox would add another to hold on to a 2-1 win in enemy territory. In Game 2 the Cubs got revenge by invading the Sox home with a 7-1 white washing. The Sox would bounce back in the 3rd game as Ed Walsh frustrated Cubs batters all day to a 2-hit shutout. However in Game 4 it was the White Sox who were frustrated as they fell victim of a 2-hit shutout from Mordecai "Three Fingers" Brown.1906: With each team alternating wins on the other team's field in the first 4 games, the series would come down to a best 2 of 3 and the winner of Game 5 would in Cubs territorial West Side Grounds would clearly hold the upper hand. Things looked bleak early for the White Sox as the Cubs soared to a 3-1 lead after the 1st inning. For the White Sox to win they would need a rare offensive performance from the hitless wonders. Led by Frank Isbell who smacked 4 doubles, and George Davis who drove in 4 runs the White Sox scored 8 runs on 12 hits and beat the Cubs 8-6 to gain to gain a 3-2 lead in the series. In Game 6 back at Southside Park the White Sox knew if they were to claim the World Championship, and city bragging rights winning the 6th game was a must. The Cubs would score in top of the 1st, but the lead, and hopes of tying the series again, lasted for less than half an inning. The Sox loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning when George Davis hit one into the crowd of fans standing in right field. Wildfire Schulte claimed that as he tried to catch the ball, a fan pushed him from behind the rope that separated the standing-room crowd from the players. The umpires missed that little detail and awarded Davis a double. Jiggs Donahue then doubled to left field, driving in 2 more. In the 2nd the Sox would get the knock out punch with 3 more runs. The White Sox would go on to win 8-3 to claim their first ever World Series Championship.1907: Hitting would prove the weak spot again as the White Sox strong pitching was unable to get the hitless wonders into a World Series rematch against the Cubs. The White Sox would post an 87-64 record, but would finish in 3rd place 5 and half games out of first.1908: Ed Walsh would win 40 games falling just 1 short of the American League record held by Jack Chesboro. However the Sox hitting problems got worse, as the team hits a woeful .224 and only hits 3 Home Runs. The pitching would keep the team in the pennant race, but there were no miracles in store and the team finished in 3rd, one and half games behind the first place Detroit Tigers, with a record of 88-64.1909: The White Sox play mediocre baseball all season while finishing in 4th place with a record of 78-74.1910: On July 1st in front of a packed house the White Sox opened their new state of the art concrete stadium, White Sox Park; the stadium would play home for the Sox over the next 80 seasons. In the 1st game the Sox fans would go home disappointed as the St. Louis Browns blanked the hitless wonders 2-0. The year ends up being a disappointment as the pitching is no longer able to carry the poor hitting line up which hits an anemic .211. The Sox would go on to finish in 6th place with a 68-85 record.1911: The White Sox rebound off a losing season to climb back up to 4th place with a record of 77-74.1912: The White Sox continue to play mediocre baseball finishing in 4th place for the second straight season with a record of 78-76.1913: Following another mediocre 5th Place 78-74 season, the White Sox, join the New York Giants on a barnstorming tour of Europe including playing games in front of the British Royal Family.1914: The White Sox struggle most of the season finishing in 6th place with a disappointing record of 70-84.1915: On August 20th the White Sox purchase the contract of Shoeless Joe Jackson from the Cleveland Indians, as the White Sox make a run for the pennant before finishing in 3rd Place with a solid 93-61 record.1916: In his first full season with the White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson bats an impressive .341, and becomes an instant hit with Chicago fans. Along the way Jackson hits a league high 21 triples, and makes the Sox contenders again, as they finish with an 86-65 record, would fall just 5 games short of the pennant.1917: With a team built on pitching, and speed on the bases the White Sox were poised to become the class of the American League. On the mound Eddie Cicotte would dominate the AL Hitters all year compiling a 28-12 record with a league low 1.53. Also dominating the league on the mound for the ChiSox were Red Farber, and Reb Russell who each held AL batters to ERAs under 2.00. The White Sox would go on to win a franchise record 100 games, and would win the pennant by 9 games.1917: In the World Series the White Sox would be matched up against the New York Giants. The White Sox wore Red, White and Blue uniforms all season in a show of support to US forces that were fighting a World War in Europe. To further honor the troops the Sox decide to play "The Star Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 at Comiskey Park. It was the first time the song was played before, a game and it would soon go on to be common practice. The Sox would go on to win that game 2-1 on Happy Felch's 4th Inning HR. The Chisox would also take Game 2 with the help of 6 singles in the 4th inning, which brought in 5 runs. With the series shifting to New York for the next 2 games the Giants would bounce back to shut the Sox out twice to even the series at 2 games a piece. With the final 3 games set to alternate between Chicago and New York Game 5 would most likely be the key to claiming the World Championship. Things looked bleak for the Sox as the Giants took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the 7th. However, with the help of big 2-run double by Chick Gandil the Sox would even the score in the 7th, in the following inning Eddie Collins singled in the go ahead run. The Sox would tack on 2 insurance runs to capture the pivotal 5th game 8-5. In Game 6 back in New York the White Sox would score 4 runs thanks to 3 Giant errors to capture their 2nd World Championship 4-2. Little did anyone know at the time it would be the last World Championship for the White Sox in the 20th Century.1918: Injuries would a key play a role as the White Sox struggle all season and finish in 6th place with a disappointing 57-67 record.1919: As the White Sox returned to health it was like 1918 never happened and the Sox were once again the class of the American League. Eddie Cicotte was the key winning 29 games and posting an impressive 1.82 ERA. However, near the end of the season White Sox owner Charles Comiskey ordered manager Kid Gleason to rest Cicotte to prevent him from collecting on a bonus he would have received if he had won 30 games. This would not be the only time players on the Sox would be angry with Comiskey failing to provide a good bonus. The Sox would go on to win the AL Pennant by 3 and half games over the Cleveland Indians. After the Sox clinched the Pennant they learned that there bonus was the Champaign traditionally given to players after achieving such a lofty goal. There was no doubt the players were upset with management and it would open the door for gamblers who could prey upon this sentiment.1919: Heading into the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, (which was a best 5 of 9 series that season) many key White Sox players were angry with management, and it would lead to one of the worst scandals in the history of professional sports. One of the players most angered by the cheep ways of Charles Comiskey was 1B Chick Gandil who was once a hobo, and a street brawler. Gandil had many underworld connections, and wanted to cash in before his career was over. Gandil let it be known to these connections he would be willing to get a few teammates to throw the World Series if the money was right. Making the trip between the gamblers and Gandil were Abe Attel an ex-boxer, and Bill Burns a former Major League Pitcher who once played for the White Sox. Gandil was able to get several teammates to join in the scheme. Arnold Rothstein a well-known underworld gambler from New York was the cash supply behind the whole plan, but before he committed he wanted to get Eddie Cicotte involved. Cicotte, who was still steaming over losing his 30-win bonus agreed and the fix, was in. In total 8 players agreed to take part Gandil, Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Happy Felsh, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullen, Buck Weaver, and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Weaver and Jackson had only agreed to take the money but both planned to double cross the gamblers by playing their best in the series.1919: Eddie Cicotte who demanded his money up front was named the starter for Game 1 in Cincinnati. Meanwhile in New York Arnold Rothstein gave the order to Cicotte to hit the 1st batter to give him the signal the fix was in. With $5,000 on his pillow the night before, Cicotte hit Reds leadoff hitter Morrie Rath on the 3rd pitch of the game. It was clear from the start Cicotte was not himself and the Reds would take the opener 9-1. As the series was starting rumors began to fly that something was not right, and New York World reporter Hugh Fullerton, and legendary pitcher Christy Matthewson began to look at the games with extra scrutiny. The Sox would lose the 2nd game with co-conspirator Lefty Williams on the mound. The Sox would win Game 3 behind the stellar pitching of Davie Keer who was not in on the fix. However with Cicotte on the mound in Game 4 and Williams in Game 5 the Sox would lose each with several players committing key errors. Heading into Game 6 the Sox were backed against the wall down 4 games to 1. Making matters worse the players who were throwing the games were not paid their money yet and were getting restless. The fact the Sox were throwing games had become obvious to just about everyone by now. Based on these factors several of the Sox had decided to start playing their best and won Game 6 in extra Innings. Following up the dramatic win was Eddie Cicotte who won Game 7 after refusing to throw another, saying he was only paid to throw 2 games. However with the series returning to Chicago for Game 8 gamblers knew their bets were in danger so they threatened Left Williams that they would harm his wife unless he lost the 8th game. Williams would give up 4 runs, and only retire 1 batter before being removed in the 1st. The Reds would go on to win the game to wrap up the series. However, it was clear the series was not on the level, Weaver, and Shoeless Joe did have terrific numbers offensively, but the rest of the 8 players were bad in the field and at the plate, and were almost flaunting the fact they were throwing games. As it turns out many of the players wee never even paid for throwing the games, and had done it for nothing, and as baseball began an investigation a black eye that threatened the very existence of the sport had been caused for nothing.1920: Despite an ongoing investigation from the American League, and a criminal investigation from Chicago the White Sox managed to stay in the pennant race all season. However, as the season drew to an end it became apparent the 8 players would face criminal charges. As a Grand Jury called each player to testify, several players confessed including Eddie Cicotte, and Shoeless Joe. As Jackson left the courthouse a kid called out to him "Say it ain't so Joe", Jackson just crawled intro his car without saying a word. As the season in which the Sox finished 2 games out with 96-58 ended criminal charges were placed against the 8 Sox who by now were known as the Black Sox. While the trail was begging baseball hired a tough hard-handed judge named Kennesaw Mountain Landis as the first commissioner. The trial would take an odd turn as the confessions disappeared thus allowing the players to be acquitted of all charges. However, the vindication was short lived as all 8 players were forever banished from the game by Commissioner Landis, who used it to send a massage to any other players that thought about throwing games for money. None of the players were reinstated and are ineligible for the Hall of Fame. There is a movement to get Shoeless Joe, who hold the 3rd highest career batting average all time reinstated to gain hall of fame membership, but nothing has come of it yet, and he remains a pariah with his other 7 teammates, despite having the series best Average, and only HR.1921: With the loss of key players who were expelled from baseball, the White Sox struggled all season and finished in 7th Place with a 62-92 record.1922: On April 30th rookie Charlie Robertson frustrated the Detroit Tigers all game pitching the 1st perfect game in White Sox history. Several Tigers including Ty Cobb asked to inspect Robertson's uniform, because they thought he was doctoring the ball. However, Cobb himself could find no evidence when he patted down the Sox 26-year old rookie. The game would be Robertson's only moment of glory in a less then stellar 8-year career. The Sox would go on to finish the season with a 77-77 record finishing in 5th place.1923: The White Sox struggle all season landing in 7th place with a poor record of 69-85.1924: The White Sox fall from grace continues as the team finishes in last place for the first time ever with a 66-87 record. Following the season the White Sox, and New York Giants take another barnstorming tour of Europe.1926: The White Sox show signs of a rebound as the team manages to put up a solid 81-72 season, which was good enough for 5th Place.1927: Comiskey Park is expanded as a new outfield upper deck accommodates 23,200 additional fans. The Sox would go on to finish the season with a disappointing 67-87 record which lands them in 6th Place.1928: The White Sox continue to struggle as they finish in 5th place with a record of 72-82.1929: The White Sox continue to struggle as they finish in 7th place with a terrible record of 59-93.1930: The White Sox finish in 7trh place for the second straight season posting a horrible record of 62-92.1931: Following a Last Place 56-97 season, owner Charles Comiskey dies at his summer resort in Eagle River, Wisconsin, leaving an estate valued at $1,529,707 to his son J. Louis.1932: After a terrible 7th Place 49-102 season, J. Louis Comiskey attempts to rebuild the White Sox by purchasing Jimmy Dykes, Al Simmons, and Mule Haas from the Philadelphia A's for $150,000.1933: In connection with Chicago hosting the World's Fair Chicago Tribune editor Arch Ward proposed setting up a Major League "Game of the Century" involving the best player of each league facing each other. Baseball's owners were reluctant at first, but Ward was able to persuade the owners and the game was held on July 6th at Comiskey Park. The AL was managed by legendary manger Connie Mack, while John McGraw who was so excited about the All-Star concept that he agreed to come out of retirement just to mange the game headed the NL up. The AL would win the game 4-2 as Babe Ruth hit the game's lone Home Run. The game drew so much attention that owners who were once reluctant decide to make it an annual event and the All-Star Game was born. However, it was not a stellar year for the White Sox, who finished in 6th place with a record of 67-83.1934: Despite the addition of some star players form the Philadelphia Athletics the White Sox continue to struggle and finish in last place with a woeful 53-99 record.1935: After finishing in last place the year before the White Sox actually have a promising season finishing in 5th place with a 74-78.1936: The White Sox continue to improve finishing in 3rd place with a solid record of 81-70 that ends a 10-year string of losing seasons.1937: The White Sox post their second straight winning season landing in 3rd place again with a record of 86-68.1938:After 2 straight positive seasons the White Sox come back to earth posting a disappointing record of 65-83, while landing in 6th place.1939: On August 14th in front of 30,000 fans the White Sox played their first night game ever at Comiskey Park. The Sox would win the first game under the lights 5-2 over the St. Louis Browns. However, the passing of Owner J. Louis Comsikey a month earlier put a damper on the event. The Sox would go on to finish in 4th place with an 85-69 record.1940: Uncertainty surrounded the White Sox, as a Federal Judge awards Grace Comiskey, J. Lou's widow, her dower rights and denies the First National Bank of Chicago a petition to seek outside bids to sell the Sox. Despite the turmoil the Sox managed a respectable 4th Place 82-72 record.1941: The White Sox play mediocre baseball all season finishing in 3rd place with a .500 record of 77-77.1942: The White Sox struggle all season and land in 6th place with a record of 66-82.1943: Luke Appling collects his 2,000th hit in a season in which the White Sox finished in 4th Place with an 82-72 record.1944: The White Sox fall back down into 7th place struggling all season to post a disappointing record 71-83.1945: The White Sox continue to struggle finishing in 5th place with a record of 71-78.1946: In the middle of a 74-80 season, Manager Jimmy Dukes resigns ending a 12-year reign as the Sox skipper, which is still a franchise record.1947: The White Sox continue to reside in the middle of the pack as they finish in 5th place with a record of 70-84.1948: After several mediocre seasons, the White Sox hit bottom finishing in Last Place with a 51-101 record.1949: Despite posting another poor record of 63-91 the White Sox manage to climb out of last place landing in 6th.1950: 17 years after the first mid-summer classic the All-Star returned to Comiskey Park, and history was made again. In the 9th inning Pittsburgh Pirates star Ralph Kiner tied the game with a homer and for the 1st ever the game would go into extra innings. The NL would end up winning the game 4-3 on Red Schoendienst of the St. Louis Cardinals homer. The White Sox would go on to finish in 6th Place with a 60-94 record, in what would be the final season of Luke Appling's 20-year White Sox career.1951: The White Sox end a 7-year string of losing seasons as they land in 4th place with a record of 81-73.1952: The White Sox post a record of 81-73 for the second straight season, this time however, it would lift them up to 3rd place.1953: The White Sox continue to improve as they finish in 3rd place for the second straight season with a solid 89-65 record.1954: The White Sox continue a pattern of solid season, but for the 4th year in a row finish more then double digits behind the 1st Place team, as the Sox finish in 3rd Place with a solid 94-60 record.1955: The White Sox tallied a franchise record 29 runs at Kansas City on April 23rd. Sherm Lollar was 5-6 with a pair of home runs and five RBI while reserve outfielder Bob Nieman and infielder Walt Dropo drove in seven runs apiece in the 29-6 victory over the Athletics. The Sox would go down to the wire, before finishing 3rd in a 3-team race with a 91-63 record.1956: The White Sox finish in 3rd place for the 5th straight season posting a record of 85-69.1957: The White Sox come within 8 games of first place while finishing in 2nd place with a solid record of 90-64.1958: Bill Veeck and his partners gain majority control of the White Sox after a lengthy court battle with the Comiskey heirs. Veeck, owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns and the White Sox during his lifetime, consistently broke attendance records with pennant-winning teams and with outrageous door prizes, enthusiastic fan participation and ingenious promotional schemes. An inveterate hustler and energetic maverick, Veeck who introduced a midget player (Eddie Gaedel), Bat Day, fireworks, previously would shortly bring exploding scoreboards and player names on backs of uniforms to the White Sox. In Veeck's first season as owner of the Sox would finish 82-72 in 2nd place 10 games behind the New York Yankees.1959: 40 years after the Black Sox scandal almost destroyed the integrity of baseball, and forever put a scar on the White Sox franchise the Southsiders were still waiting for a return to the World Series to redeem themselves. Going into the 1959 season the ChiSox had showed improvement, but with the Yankees master of the AL domain not much was thought of the Sox chances for the pennant. However with Yankees struggling all season, suddenly the door opened. The White Sox had assembled a veteran ball club sprinkled with just the right mixture of youth. The press had given the team the nickname of the "Go-Go" Sox because of their exciting style of play. Veteran catcher Sherman Lollar led the club in HR, and RBI. Nelson Fox, the eventual 1959 American League MVP, in tandem with Luis Aparicio, gave Chicago the best double play combination in baseball. In addition Aparicio led the league in stolen bases. On the mound the Sox were paced by the Cy Young efforts of Early Wynn who led the way with 22 wins. However, to beat the Indians for the pennant one more piece was needed and that came in the form of slugging first baseman Ted Kluszewski who the Sox acquired form the Cincinnati Reds on August 25th. The move could not come at a better time since shortly after arriving Klu helped the Sox sweep the Indians to gain a 5 and half game cushion they would never relinquish. The Sox would go onto to win the pennant by 5 games with a 94-50 record.1959: In the World Series the White Sox would be matched up against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sox could not have gotten off to a better start in Game 1 with Ted Kluszewski hitting 2 homers and driving in 5 runs to spur the Sox onto an 11-0 white washing. In Game 2 the Sox would gain an early lead but the Dodgers would score 3 runs in the 7th and take the steam out of the Sox as the series headed to Los Angeles tied at one game apiece. The Dodgers would go on to take the next 2 games to gain a 3-1 series edge. However, the Go-Go sox still had some fight in them and they would win a thrilling 1-0 pitchers duel to send the series back to Chicago. Keying the 1-0 win was Dick Donovan's timely relief pitching and a clutch catch by Jim Rivera. In Game 6 a crowd of 47,653 gathered in Comiskey Park, as dark clouds and the threat of rain hung over the ball yard. The gloomy weather conditions were a precursor for the on field events. The drama ended quickly as the White Sox dream of a world title vanished as the Dodgers jumped out to an 8-0 lead after 4 innings. The final score of the game was 9-3 as the Dodgers brought the first World Series title to the west coast.1960: 31 years after the New York Yankees first wore numbers on the back of their uniforms, Bill Veeck the innovative Barnum of baseball would add players' names to the back of the uniforms. This practice would eventually spread to all but a few hold out teams. However, not all went smoothly as slugger Ted Kluszewski had his name spelled incorrectly. In another innovative turn Comiskey Park's scoreboard would explode with fireworks after every HR, and win. As for the Sox they remained competitive with an 87-67 record, but could only muster a 3rd place finish 10 games behind the Yankees.1961: Even with turmoil surrounding Bill Veeck's departure the White Sox put together another strong 87-75 season. Veeck despite owning several major league franchises was never a very rich man. He usually just scraped by every year just to hold on to the team. However, other owners around baseball hated his use of promotions, and the way he treated the game. They felt he did not take the game as serious as he should have. So help form other owners was out of the question, and Veeck's Sox partners would eventually force him out.1962: Despite a record of 85-77 the White Sox slide down to 5th place, finishing 11 games out of 1st in a competitive season for the American League.1963: The White Sox put together a solid 94-68 season, but have to settle for 2nd Place, behind the New York Yankees.1964: The White Sox were determined to leap frog the New York Yankees after 4 years of frustration, and by July it looked like that might happen, after the White Sox swept the Yankees in a key 4-game series at White Sox Park. However, the Yankees would start playing their typical pennant-winning ball and would catch-up to Sox quickly. Desperate to hold on the White Sox, would acquire Moose Skowron and Smoky Burgess. The moves would help the Sox finish with a 98-64 record, their best mark since the 1917 World Championship team. However it was not enough, as the Yanks would win 99 to take the pennant by 1 game.1965: Following another solid, but unfulfilling 2nd Place 95-67 season, Manager Al Lopez resigns ending a successful 9-year reign as White Sox skipper.1966: Under new Manager Eddie Stanky the White Sox play mediocre baseball all season while landing n 4th place with a record of 83-79.1967: After struggling to finish over .500 in 1966 the White Sox bounced back and were in the thick of a 5-team pennant race in 1967. The Sox would stay in the race all year spending most of the time at or near the top spot. However, a late season slump would see the Sox fade into 4th place with a solid 89-73 season, which landed them a slim 4 games out of first place.1968: To bolster sagging attendance, the White Sox play "home" games at County Stadium in Milwaukee against each AL opponent, going 1-8 in 9 games. The White Sox would not only struggle in Milwaukee, but they would struggle at Whit Sox Park, and on the road. After a slow start the White Sox tried to spark a comeback by coaxing Al Lopez out of retirement to Mange. However, not even Lopez could help the Sox who finished in 8th place with a 67-95 record.1969: The White Sox would finish the first season of divisional play with a woeful 68-94 record that was even worse then that of the expansion Kansas City Royals. However, as the season dragged a much worse loss to fans of the ChiSox nearly became a reality. Bud Selig and other Milwaukee interests spent most of the season making overtures to bring the Sox up to Milwaukee. The threat was real enough that White Sox even rescheduled a series against the Seattle Pilots to be played in Milwaukee. However Sox owner Arthur Allyn would sell the team to his brother John, and the Sox would remain in Chicago.1970: Despite the security that the team would remain in Chicago, the team hits rock bottom finishing in Last Place with a franchise worst 56-106 record.1971: The White Sox rebound nicely off their horrid 106-loss season with a 79-83 record that lands them in 3rd Place. Helping to spur the bounce back is Bill Melton, who becomes the first White Sox player to win an American League home run crown.1972: After the threat of the franchise shift and 4 miserable seasons the White Sox were as about as popular in Chicago as Eliot Ness was in a speak-easy 40 years earlier. However, one player would lift the Sox out of the doldrums and make White Sox fans care again. That player was Dick Allen who had earned the refutation of malcontent and was joining his 4th team in as many years. However, Allen who had the reputation of not playing 100% all the time would entire his first season in Chicago with something to prove. He would capture both the HR and RBI crowns on the way to earning AL MVP honors. Allen's heroics even put the Sox back into contention, as they would finish in 2nd place with a solid 87-67 record.1973: After a promising season the White Sox come back to earth finishing in 5th place with a disappointing record of 77-85.1974: The White Sox play mediocre baseball all season as they finish in 4th place with a .5000 record of 80-80.1975: After Bud Selig was rejected in his attempt to bring the White Sox to Milwaukee he pounced on the Seattle Pilots financial problems and brought them to Milwaukee after just one season in the Northwest. This would lead to a lawsuit against Major League Baseball by officials from the emerald city. With finical problems still plaguing the Sox, and owner John Allyn officials in Seattle began to make overtures towards the White Sox. However Chicago community leaders did not want to lose their American League presence and helped former owner Bill Veeck structure an offer to save the team. Most owners still did not like him, but they were so desperate to keep the White Sox in Chicago that they eventually agreed to let him take over the team after a 15-year exile. Amidst all the relocation rumors the White Sox would struggle finishing in 5th place with a 75-86 record.1976: In another poor season the White Sox finish in last place with a woeful 64-97 record. However, Bill Veeck put his stamp on the team as they introduce Navy Blue and White pajama style uniforms. However, the uniforms would pale in comparison to what Veeck introduced during the hot days of summer. Veeck came up with idea that on hot days his team would wear Bermuda shorts. These would not go over well as players became reluctant to slide fearing leg injuries, and would ban together to refuse on ever wearing them again.1977: Ever the innovator Bill Veeck came up with a new idea to compete. Since he couldn't afford to pay the best players, he would trade for players one year away from free agency and gamble they might make the team winners before leaving. This "rent a player" scheme was far-fetched and it ultimately failed, but the illusion had everyone believing in the summer of 1977. Nobody in the A.L. West Division had started quickly and the Sox soon climbed into the race. Winning 6 of 7 games in early May, the Sox were suddenly in 2ond place and just one-half game off the pace. They began an unwavering march towards improbable glory. A 15-9 record in May left the club 6 games over .500, still hanging in 2nd place. A 10-8 Sox victory on July 3 completed a 4-game sweep over the Minnesota Twins, and began the greatest July in White Sox history. The 22 victories tell only part of the story. Sox fans had never seen such a sight at Comiskey Park, for their White Sox were hitting HRs at a record pace. A barrage of 192 home runs by the '77 South Side Hitmen would obliterate the old franchise record of 138 round trippers. Every homer was greeted with standing ovations, and dugout curtain calls. Shelled opposing pitchers were serenaded by Sox fans to the taunting melody of Nancy Faust's organ rendition of Na Na, Hey Hey, Good-bye. The White Sox would take 3 of 4 in a key late July series to take a 5 1/2 game lead for 1st Place over the Kansas City Royals. However a week later in a series highlighted by a bench-clearing brawl the Royals would sweep the Sox. The sweep would turn out to be the turning point as the Sox struggled over the next 2 weeks, and saw the Royals fly past them on the way to the Western Division Title, as the Sox ended up in 3rd place with a 90-72 record.1978: With the loss of several key players to Free Agency the White Sox struggled for the start. Manager Bob Lemon would be fired by the middle of the season and replaced by Larry Doby. Lemon, would go on to take over the Yankees a few weeks after being fired, and would guide them to an improbable comeback, and World Championship. However, Doby could not work the same magic as the Sox finished in 5th Place with a 71-90 record.1979: Popular Music in culture has a tendency to grow in stages. First it is a fresh new phenomenon coming from some underground location. Then an all ready popular music act bridges it into the mainstream, if it is destined to catch on here is where it happens. After that success comes copycats, and if it experiences further success over saturation begins to occur. In the late 1970's disco had become so over saturated that one could not avoid it even the TV news was tuned to a new disco beat. This would lead to a backlash. Sensing his was Mike Veeck the son of White Sox owner Bill. He decided that between games of a July 12th Double Header against the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox would host a disco demolition. Admission for the twi-nighter was $1 and a disco record. The records were collected for a "Disco Sucks!" rally between games, concluding in a massive explosion to destroy all the disco records collected in Comiskey's center field. However, the rally got out of hand and the fans would run onto the field trying to find other things to be destroyed. This would lead to the White Sox forfeiting the 2nd Game. Disco Demolition wasn't the only bust in Chicago was the White Sox struggled all year to finish with a 79-83. Along the way the White Sox would change managers hiring Tony LaRussa in the middle of the season.1980: In the midst another bleak 70-90 season, owner Bill Veeck comes to the realization that he would not be able to save the White Sox, and puts them up for sale. With no serious investors in Chicago Veeck begins filtering with outside interest that would move the team if the purchased it. A group of Denver interests led by Eddie Debartolo had agreed to buy the team. However, Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn rejected the deal on the basis that Debartolo was the "right type of person". With the deal falling apart Veeck was forced to take the next best offer, which was from Jerry Riensdorf, who agreed to keep the team in Chicago. In one last sideshow by Veeck, 58-year old White Sox legend came out of retirement to become the first player to play in 6 different decades. Minoso, who made a similar comeback in 1976 to become the first 5-decade man, would be held hitless in 2 pinch-hit at-bats.1981: To help revitalize White Sox baseball one of Jerry Riensdorf's first moves as owner is to sign All-Star Catcher Carlton Fisk to a long-term deal. Despite Fisk struggling most of his first season in Chicago the White Sox are only 2 and a half games out when a player strikes interrupts the season for 2 months. After the strike was settled the Sox struggled and were never a factor in the race for the 2nd half title, as they posted an overall record of 54-52.1982: The White Sox make a serious push for the division title, before finishing 5 games out in 3rd Place with a solid 87-75 record.1983: 50 years after the first All-Star Game was played as a one-time affair in Comiskey Park, the White Sox once again hosted the mid-summer classic. Going into the game the AL had a losing streak that would make some of the bleak White Sox team of 1970 look good. The NL had won 11 straight, and 19 out of 20. The AL put all that frustration in one big 3rd inning. The AL would score 7 runs that inning highlighted by Fred Lynn of the Angels Grand Slam that was unbelievably the 1st Slam in All-Star history. The AL would go on to win the game 11-3.1983: Going into the All-Star Break the White Sox had begun to play good baseball after struggling most of the first 2 months of the season. Nearing the break the Sox finally climbed above the .500 mark after hitting the low water mark of 5 games below on June 13th. Maybe it was the electricity hanging over the city after the All-Star Game, but no matter what it was the Sox caught fire, sand would play there best baseball in over 20 years. The Sox climbed into first place on July 18 and never looked back. Their second half record was 59-26, a .694 winning percentage. Floyd Bannister was nearly unbeatable, winning 13 and losing 1. LaMarr Hoyt and Rich Dotson compiled the greatest number of wins in the entire league, 24 and 22 respectively. The surge was good enough to earn the White Sox 99 wins and their first ever division title. Also earning honors along the way were Manager of the Year Tony LRussa, Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle, and Cy Young LaMarr Hoyt. In the ALCS the White Sox faced the Baltimore Orioles, the White Sox got off on the right foot in Game 1 when LaMarr Hoyt went the full 9 innings and out dueled Scott McGregor 2-1. The Orioles would bounce back the next game to knot the series at one game apiece. However, with the remainder of the series set to be played at Comiskey there was no reason not to believe the Sox would not make the World Series. However, after the Sox were blown out in Game 3 the Sox needed desperately to win Game 4 just to force a 5th and deciding game. Game 4 was a scoreless tie after 9 innings, with Jerry Dybzinski killing the Sox's best scoring chance in the 6th inning, when he rounded 2nd base with his head down and steamed towards Vance Law who had been held up at 3rd by coach Jim Leyland, creating a force out that killed the Chicago rally. Britt Burns went out to pitch his 10th inning of work but it was clear ea he was out of gas. The Orioles would score 3 runs to win the game and the series.1984: On May 9th, the White Sox win the longest game in AL history, 5-4, against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comiskey Park, when Harold Baines ends the 2-day, 25-inning marathon with a HR. However, there were not many other highlights that season as the Sox finished in 5th Place with a disappointing 75-87 record.1985: In a game at Yankee Stadium on August 4th the White Sox must have been confused, as a stadium full of Mets fans came to cheer for the Sox. The reason was Tom Seaver who only needed to win the Sunday afternoon game to capture his 300th career win. Seaver was the Tom Terrific of old, and went the distance to earn his milestone. The day would go on to be known as milestone Sunday, after Rod Carew of the Angels delivered his 3,000th career hit. The Sox would go on to finish the season in 3rd Place with an 85-77 record.1986: In the middle of a disappointing 5th Place 70-92 season manager Tony LaRussa is fired. LaRussa would find work quickly as the Oakland Athletics hired him within a few weeks of the firing. LaRussa would go on to help build the A's into a serious contender, while the Sox continued to struggle.1987: The White Sox continue to struggle as they finish in 5th place for the 3rd time in 4 years with a record of 77-85.1988: After flirting with moving out of Chicago for 20 years the stadium issue finally came to a head, as the White Sox were in the last year of their lease, and made it be known that if they didn't get funding for a new stadium by June 30th they would move to Florida. Officials in St. Petersburg even sped up construction of the Suncoast Dome so it could be ready for the 1989 season. The leading politician was Illinois Governor Jim Thompson. The tragic death of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington prevented any real leadership on the issue from the city. They had agreed to the creation of a public sports stadium authority (jointly controlled) with the requirement that the park be built next to Old Comiskey Park to save on the costs of infrastructure improvements and preserve the history of the team at that south side location. The downstate politicians were openly hostile to any suggestion of new public spending in Chicago. Many of them were fans of the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. The Illinois State Legislature could build nothing without approval, and there simply weren't the votes to pass it. The odds did not look good for Chicago, Sox fans, or the governor. While fans in Florida began wearing shirts that said Florida White Sox, fans in Chicago began making trips to the state capital, to hold large "Save Our Sox" rallies. As the deadline for funding got close votes began to pile up. The vote was passed just as the deadline struck and the White Sox would remain in Chicago with a brand new stadium that would open in 1991. On the field it would not be as easy for the Sox who struggled again to finish in 5th place with a 71-90 record.1989: While ground was broken, on a new Comiskey Park, the White Sox continued to struggle, and finished in Last Place with a woeful 69-92 record.1990: In their 80th and final season at Comiskey Park, the White Sox came out of nowhere and challenged for the Western Davison title. Leading the way was the Sox bullpen that won many close games. Leading this was closer Bobby Thigpen who was automatic in relief saving a Major League Record 57 games. Perhaps the highlight of the season came on July 1st the 80th anniversary of the first game at the old stadium Andy Hawkins of the Yankees held the Sox hitless. However the game was 0-0 going into the 8th, all day Hawkins was a bit wild and when he walked a few hitters in the 8th he would get in trouble. He would walk in the first run and the Sox had a 1-0 lead despite being no hit. Then just as Hawkins seemed to escape without further damaged LF Jim Leyritz dropped a fly ball allowing 3 more runs to score. The Sox would go o to win the game 4-0 despite not getting a hit. The Sox would go on to post a 94-68 record, but it was not enough as the Oakland Athletics won 103games to capture the 3rd straight division title.1991: Stately new Comiskey Park officially opened its doors on April 18 before a sell-out crowd of 42,191 fans, the new home of the White Sox would welcome a club record 2,934,154 fans for the season. The season was another solid one, as a young and fast improving core of players won 87 games, and finished in 2nd place for the 2nd year in a row. Leading the way are Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura who have bust out 100 RBI seasons.1992: The White Sox finish with an 86-76 record, but must fell unfulfilled as they were never really in the pennant race, while finishing in 3rd Place.1993: The young White Sox were determined to come of age and win the division title. However, the Sox struggled early, managing only a 24-23 record through the end of May. However, the Sox would win 13 of their next 22 and suddenly found themselves all alone in 1st place, but the Sox rise to the division title was about to be threatened by a major controversy. Carlton Fisk was close to achieving the career record in games caught and although he was no longer the every day backstop, he remained a valued part of the Sox clubhouse. In late June, Fisk finally reached the record, and without warning he was suddenly, and unceremoniously released. However, the Sox would keep rolling posting a 35-21 record over the next 2 months. The Texas Rangers proved to be the Sox only competition but they simply weren't good enough to compete. The Sox took the first two of a showdown series with the Rangers on September 24 and 25. Texas crept out of town by salvaging the final game and avoided the humiliation of watching the Sox clinch the title against them. One night later Bo Jackson's moon shot homer against the Seattle Mariners clinched the West in front of a sold out crowd at Comiskey Park. The 94-67 AL Western Championship season helped earn MVP honors for Frank Thomas, and Cy Young honors for Jack McDowell. In the ALCS the White Sox faced the defending World Champion Toronto Blue Jays. After losing the first 2 games at Comiskey Park, the Sox bounced back to take the next 2 in Toronto to even the series behind the solid pitching of Jason Bere in Game 3, and the unlikely power of Lance Johnson in Game 4. However, Game 5 would turn out to be the key game of the series. Jack McDowell was roughed up again and the Jays won the game 5-3. Not even a return home could help the Sox as the Jays won 6-3 to capture the pennant and return to defend their World Title.1994: Coming of their first Weston Division title in 10 years the White Sox were heavy favorites in the newly formed AL Central. The Sox found an early challenge in the Cleveland Indians, and the two battled back and forth over the first few months of the season. Even if the Sox would wind up second to the Tribe there was the possibility that they could lay claim to the Wild Card that was to be used for the first time. However a dark cloud lay on the horizon and as the Sox hung on to 1st Place on August 12th, with a record of 67-46 as a player's strike was declared. Determined to break the players several owners led by Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf were willing to even give up the World Series in order to break the union. The two sides butted heads, and the rest of the season would wind up being cancelled.1994: Even with the White Sox coming off a division title, and fighting their way for a second one the White Sox player gaining the most attention was a first year rookie playing in Double A. This rookie was not your ordinary first year professional, he was NBA great Michael Jordan. Jordan, who retired from Reinsdorf's Chicago Bulls after 3 consecutive Championships, chose to honor his father who was murdered by pursuing a career in baseball. Jordan had not played baseball in 14 years, and it showed, none the less Jordan would be an attraction all year for the Birmingham Barons, and when the strike hit he would become earn the spotlight as fans hungry for baseball were forced to settle for the minor leagues. Eventually the desire to return to the NBA over powered Jordan, and he wisely returned to the Bulls and would capture 3 more NBA titles forever cementing himself as the greatest Basketball Player ever.1995: The strike that ruined the 1994 season had continued into spring training where replacement players were used. Eventually a judge would issue an injunction shortly before the scheduled start of the season with replacements in toe. The ruing delayed the start of the season, and shortened the schedule to 144 games, but resolved none of the issues the owner's led by Jerry Reinsdorf wanted. Reinsdorf would let several key players get away, and the Sox would fade early. The White Sox would end up finishing the season an incredible 32 games out of first with a 68-76 record.1996: The White Sox would rebound off a terrible season to finish in 2nd place with a respectable 85-77 record, following the season the White Sox would sign Free Agent slugger Albert Belle with hopes of rising back to the top of the AL Central.1997: The signing of Albert Belle brought excitement to Chicago. However, a big slugger like Belle was not what the Sox needed, as the team ignored their pitching problems. The White Sox would also enter the season hobbled as Robin Ventura missed most of the season because of a devastating ankle injury suffered in a Spring Training Game. The Sox would struggle early and the Indians grabbed a foothold on the division title. However, the Tribe would not a break away, and despite struggling to reach .500, the Sox were still in the race. As the trade deadline approached the Sox were in the market for the player that could help the team get over the top, or so the fans thought. Instead the White Sox decided to waive the white flag trading away several key pitchers ending any hope for a division title. Despite the trade, and finishing 80-81 the Sox were just 6 games behind the Tribe when the season ended.1998: Led by the power of Albert Belle, the White Sox set a new franchise record for Home Runs in a season. However the pitching still struggled and the Sox could only manage a distant 2nd Place finish with a record of 80-82.1999: With the loss of Albert Belle, and Robin Ventura to Free Agency, the Sox struggle all season and finished in 2nd place with a 75-86 record.2000: After a 75-86 season, not much was expected form the Sox in 2000. However, the White Sox would get off to a fast start and would lead the division into early June. However, with a 7 game road trip into Cleveland, and New York most expected the Sox would fade. The Chisox would thrive instead sweeping both the Indians, and Yankees to increase their Central Division lead. Upon returning home a large Comiskey Park crowd greeted them with a standing ovation. The Sox would go on to win that game against the Boston Red Sox and pull out to a double-digit division lead. The lead was good enough, and the Sox won an AL best 95-67 record to capture the AL Central title, and earn a trip to the postseason. In the Division Series the White Sox faced the Seattle Mariners. In Game 1 at Comiskey Park, the Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead on Ray Durham's solo homer and Magglio Ordoez' RBI triple. However, after the M's tied the score and sent the game into extra innings, where Edgar Martinez and John Olerud hit back-to-back home runs off closer Keith Foulke to edge the Sox, 7-4. The Mariners would also win Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead to Seattle. In Game 3 James Baldwin, pitching with a sore arm, threw 6 solid innings, but a squeeze bunt by pinch-hitter Carlos Guillen scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Mariners completed the sweep.2001: The White Sox get off to a slow start as they are hampered with controversy and injuries. In the off-season the Sox hoped to land the final piece of a Championship team by acquiring David Wells form the Toronto Blue Jays. However, the deal would turn into a big bust as Wells struggled with his weight and injuries all season. Making matters worse for the struggling Sox Wells questioned the legitimacy of Frank Thomas' injury. However, Wells would end up with egg on his face when Thomas was forced to end his season before May with surgery on his right triceps muscle. The Sox would fall 10 games below .500 and out of the race, Wells would also end up being lost due to injury in the middle of the season. However, after the loss of Wells the Sox seemed to play better, and would finish the season with an 83-79 record, landed them in 3rd Place.2002: Through the first 5 weeks of the season the White Sox appeared set to challenge for the AL Central holding a record of 21-13. However, the White Sox would struggle most of the next 2 and half months falling as far 10 games below .500 while all hopes of the playoffs vanished. However the Sox would end the season on a strong note landing in 2nd place with a 81-81 record, as Mark Buehrle won 19 games.2003: With the hopes of winning the AL Central the White Sox bolstered their pitching staff by acquiring Bartolo Colon from the Montreal Expos, while acquiring reigning AL Fireman Billy Koch from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Keith Foulke. Unfortunately for the Chisox both would have disappointing seasons, Colon would sport a mediocre 15-13 record, while Koch struggled all season saving just 11 games while posting a horrible 5.77 ERA, as Foulke added insult to injury by winning the fireman award in Oakland. However, all was not lost for the White Sox pitching staff as Esteban Loaiza a non-roster invitee to Spring Training had a career year posting a 21-9 record with a solid 2.90 ERA, while finishing second in the CY Young voting. While Loaiza led the way on the mound the White Sox offense was led by Frank Thomas who rebounded from a disappointing 2002 season to hit 42 homers and drive in 105 RBI. While Thomas was bouncing back, Paul Konerko was scuffling hitting around .200 for most of the season, as the White Sox hovered around .500 almost all season. After the All-Star Game, which was held at U.S. Cellular Field the White Sox went on a run winning 17 of 22 games, which would put them in a 3-way race for the division title. However, the Chisox could never quite get over the hump as the settled for 2nd place with a record of 86-76. Following the season the White Sox would fire Manager Jerry Manuel, replacing him with former fan favorite Ozzie Guillen, who played Shortstop for the White Sox over a decade.2004: With Paul Konerko leading the way with 41 home runs balls were flying out of US Cellular Field all season as the White Sox hit 242 home runs tying the New York Yankees for the most in all of baseball, as 6 Sox hit 20 or more home runs. To improve the pitching staff the White Sox would acquire Freddy Garcia in a trade with the Seattle Mariners giving them a true ace at the top of their young pitching staff. The power hitting ChiSox seemed ready to make a run for the division title when disaster struck as the season reached the midway point as both Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordoez were lost to season ending injuries. Without Thomas and Ordoez the White Sox would struggle through most of the summer posting losing records in June, July and August as they fell 9 games short of the division title with an 83-79 record that landed them in 2nd place for the third straight year.2005: With Ozzie Guillen's second year as manager, the Sox got off to a great start and finishing in first place in the AL central with a 99-63 record, the second best record in team history. With 4 pitchers with 14 plus wins, the sox had one of the most stellar pitching staffs in the MLB. Paulie led the in homers, with 40, and Runs batted in, with 100. Scott Podsednik led the team in stolen bases, 59,(He was also caught stealing 23 times) and batting average with .290. Frank Thomas spent most of the season on the disabled list. Mark Buehrle led the starting pitching staff with a 3.12 ERA. They went on to the playoffs, in front of the second place Indians(93-69), and swept the Red Sox in the ALDS, lost the first game of the ALCS to the angels, but won 4 straight to send them to the world series. Paul Konerko was the ALCS MVP. They swept the Houston Astros in 4 straight, to bring the team it's 3rd World Chamionship, the first in 88 years.2006- The White Sox looked to take the division again with new slugger Jim Thome in the line up. Jermaine Dye had a career season, & Konerko and Thome were both .300 hitters. Sadly, they had to resort to the Cubs motto: There's always next year.On The Air: Television: WGN (Channel 9), WCIU (Channel 26), Comcast Sports Net Chicago Radio: WMVP (1000 AM) Broadcasters: Ken Harrelson, Darrin Jackson, and Bill Melton-TV; Bryan Doglin, Ed Farrmer and John Rooney- RadioFord C. Frick Recipients*: (3) Harry Caray 1971-1981 Bob Elison 1931-1970 Milo Hamilton 1961-1965 *-Award grants entrance into the broadcasters wing of the Hall of FameSpring Training History: (21) Excelsior Springs, MD 1901-1902 Mobile, AL 1903 Marlin Springs, TX 1904 New Orleans, LA 1905-1906 Mexico City, Mexico 1907 Los Angeles, CA 1908 San Francisco, CA 1909-1910 Mineral Wells, TX 1911 Waco, TX 1912 Paso Robles, CA 1913-1915 Mineral Wells, TX 1916-1919 Waco, TX 1920 Waxahachie, TX 1921 Seguin, TX 1922-1923 Winter Haven, FL 1924 Shreveport, LA 1925-1928 Dallas, TX 1929 San Antonio, TX 1930-1932 Pasadena, CA 1933-1942 French Lick, IN 1943-1944 Terre Haute, IN 1945 Pasadena, CA 1946-1951 El Centro, CA 1952-1953 Tampa, FL 1954-1959 Sarasota, FL 1960-1997 Tucson, AZ 1998-PresentOn The Farm: AAA: Charlotte Knights AA: Birmingham Barons A: Winston-Salem Warthogs A: Kannapolis Intimidators Rookie: Bristol White Sox Rookie: Great Falls White Sox..

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