Ever wonder what happened on this day in White Sox history? Let's dive in!
January 11th is a date filled with interesting tidbits from the South Siders' past.
In 1881, imagine baseball… on ice! Yes, you read that right. Chicago hosted a series of Tuesday baseball games in January. Both professional and amateur players took to the ice, making it a regular winter event for years. Talk about dedication!
Fast forward to 1949, when Mike Tresh, after 11 years and 981 games as the South Siders' catcher, was traded to Cleveland. He only played one more year in the majors. Here's a surprising fact: Tresh ranks 6th in all-time games caught for the White Sox, but his career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 2.1 is significantly lower than other players on the list, like Billy Sullivan, who had an 8.4 WAR. Could this be a sign of how the value of players has changed over time?
Now, let's talk about the 'White Sox Pope.' In 1962, Donn Pall was born in Chicago. He earned the nickname 'The Pope,' and he even attended the infamous Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979 as a 17-year-old. He got to live his dream, spending most of his career with the White Sox from 1988 to 1993. And here's a fun connection: The 'other' pope, Leo, is only seven years older than Pall. Could you imagine one pope watching the other pitch for the White Sox?
1973 marked a significant shift in baseball. The designated hitter rule was adopted, but only for the American League teams, and it was initially a three-year experiment. That 'experiment' lasted nearly 50 years before the National League embraced the rule in 2022. Just three months later, Mike Andrews became the first White Sox DH, stepping up to the plate on Opening Day. He went 1-for-3, with a double and a walk.
Finally, in 2000, Carlton Fisk was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Interestingly, he wore a Boston Red Sox cap on his plaque, even though he played 343 more games with the White Sox. Also, on this day, former White Sox manager and Hall of Famer Bob Lemon passed away at the age of 79. Lemon led the '77 South Side Hit Men to a successful season, with 90 wins. He later managed the Yankees to a World Series win. He had a remarkable 61-year career in baseball as a player, manager, coach, and scout. What do you think about the impact of these players on the history of White Sox?
