Date

01-06-2005

Needing catching help, Sox G.M. Ken Williams takes a gamble and inks catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a free agent contract. A.J., who had a reputation as a ‘clubhouse cancer,’ turns out to be a model teammate and his contributions to the 2005 World Series champs would be incalculable. Sox announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson pitches A.J. to the front office since he knew him for a number of years.

01-10-1992

One of the worst deals in team history takes place as Sox G.M. Ron Schueler trades pitcher Melido Perez and two minor leaguers to the Yankees for Steve Sax. Schueler envisions a devastating one two punch at the top of the order in Tim Raines and Sax followed by Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura. It never happens, as Sax suddenly forgets how to hit and is gone from the team by late April 1994. Making matters worse is that one of the minor league pitchers dealt is Bob Wickman, who’d go on to become a top relief pitcher and All Star.

01-12-2000

Sox G.M. Ron Schueler makes amends for some of his worst moves by shipping disgruntled pitcher Jamie Navarro to Milwaukee as part of a four player deal. In exchange he gets long ball hitting shortstop Jose Valentin and pitcher Cal Eldred. Both would play a large part in the unexpected divisional championship in 2000.

01-14-1963

It was the move that re-energized the franchise and led directly to back to back to back 90 or more win seasons in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Sox G. M. Ed Short traded shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder Al Smith to the Orioles for 3rd baseman Pete Ward, outfielder Dave Nicholson, shortstop Ron Hansen and relief pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. Ward would be named Co-Rookie of the Year (with teammate Gary Peters) and would supply power for the next few seasons. Nicholson, who struck out far to much, still had 22 home runs and 70 RBI’s in 1963. Hansen would be one of the best defensive shortstops in the league and hit as many as twenty home runs in a season, at a time when shortstops simply didn’t do that. Wilhelm became the top relief pitcher in the 1960's. In his six years with the Sox he’d win 41 games and save 98 while producing some astonishingly low ERA’s considering he threw the knuckleball.

01-14-2001

The Sox acquire David Wells from Toronto basically for Mike Sirotka. Over the coming weeks and months, Sirotka and the Blue Jays claim the Sox knew that Sirotka had a bad arm and couldn’t pitch. Sox G.M. Ken Williams defends himself by saying that he told the Jays he thought Sirotka might be hurt and offered pitcher Jim Parque instead. Commissioner Bud Selig rules in late March that the trade will stand. The whole episode becomes known as "shouldergate."

01-19-1909

Sox owner Charles Comiskey purchases a piece of land on the corner of 35th and Shields from Roxanna Bowen. The site would be used to build the original Comiskey Park on, in March 1910.

01-20-1965

Another big deal pulled off by Sox G.M. Ed Short which kept the franchise’s streak of winning seasons going. The Sox were part of a three team trade with the Indians and Athletics. When all was said and done, the Sox parted with outfielders Jim Landis and Mike Hershberger, pitcher Fred Talbot and catcher Cam Carreon. In return they got back power hitting catcher Johnny Romano, pitcher Tommy John and outfielder Tommy Agee. Agee would be named Rookie of the Year in 1966, John would be part of the Sox brilliant starting rotation, making the All Star team for the first time in 1968.

01-20-1984

Once again Sox G.M. Roland Hemond uses the free agent compensation rule to the White Sox advantage, plucking future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver from the Mets. In his two years with the Sox, Seaver would win 32 games, including his 300th one overall.

01-24-2003

Sometimes luck plays a part in things. On this date, Sox G.M. Kenny Williams signed free agent pitcher Esteban Loaiza to a contract. Loaiza was expected to round out the back end of the rotation...he did more than that. By seasons end he had won 21 games, started the All Star Game and led the A.L. in strikeouts.

01-25-1983

The Sox and General Manager Roland Hemond embarrass the Cubs by hinting that the Sox may select pitcher Fergie Jenkins after the Cubs leave him unprotected in the free agent compensation draft. The Sox were entitled to compensation after losing outfielder Steve Kemp to the Yankees. The Cubs are forced to trade Scott Fletcher, Dick Tidrow, Randy Martz and Pat Tabler to the Sox for a promise not to take Jenkins who was looking for his 300th win, along with Steve Trout and Warren Brusstar. The Sox then trade Tabler for Jerry Dybzinski. After it was all said and done, Cub G.M. Dallas Green was quoted as saying, “to say I’m relieved probably would be an understatement.”

01-27-2005

So who needs scouts? (just joking...) Sox G.M. Ken Williams signs Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi after watching video tape on him. Iguchi turns into a very solid second baseman and second hitter in the lineup delivering defense, home runs and RBI’s to a team that would go on to take the World Series.

01-29-1981

Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn gain control of the White Sox after American League owners turn down Bill Veeck’s attempt to sell to Eddie DeBartolo. Reinsdorf’s original partner is William Farley but he drops out because the Sox went out and signed free agents Ron LeFlore and Jim Essian. Farley didn’t approve of the team spending three million dollars for both. Reinsdorf originally was part of a group trying to buy the New York Mets. Einhorn was trying to get the San Diego Padres originally.

01-31-1909

Sox catcher Billy Sullivan secures a patent on the first chest protector. It contains a wind pad with compressed air. It was the forerunner of the modern catcher’s chest protector.

01-31-2003

U.S. Cellular company and the White Sox sign an agreement selling the naming rights to Comiskey Park. The deal is worth 68 million dollars and goes for 23 years. The money can only be used to renovate the stadium, which is done, transforming it into one of the finest looking facilities in baseball.

Date

Chicago White Sox Timeline