This was the first White Sox team to make the post-season since 1959 and the team with the best record percentage wise since 1920. It would be their best team until winning the World Series in 2005 with a similar record. This was a very successful team that seemed to have a bright future, as it was led by many young pitchers and players. The blew the competition out of the water in 1983, winning the division by 20 games. Unfortunately, the White Sox wouldn't see the playoffs again until 1993 with a team led by Frank Thomas. Another interesting note is that Tony LaRussa was manager of this team and Jim Leyland was a coach, they would meet each other as opposing managers in the 2006 World Series.
Best Player: Carlton Fisk
Best Pitcher: LaMarr Hoyt
I gave this award to Hoyt, as he led the team in wins and innings pitched and won the actual AL Cy Young in 1983. But Richard Dotson led this team in ERA, providing 20 wins himself, and Floyd Bannister led the team in strikeouts. This was a very solid starting 3.
All-Stars: Ron Kittle
Rookie Card of the Year: Ron Kittle
This is a tough reward to decide on...basically it was between Greg Walker and Ron Kittle. Both were solid rookies, but were done by 1991. Ron Kittle was basically done as a full time player by 1986, and Greg Walker was done by 1987. Kittle started out brighter, but this 1983 season was his best. Greg Walker had solid seasons in 1985 and 1987. Since this is a baseball card blog, I will give this reward to Ron Kittle because once upon a time, his rookie card was actually sought after, not sure anybody ever cared about Greg Walker's card.
Part of the problem I am having with good quality pictures of Topps Traded cards, is that this is one of the few 80s sets that I own not a single card from. So I am stuck using autographed card photos I took from ebay.
Other rookie cards: Salome Barojas, Chico Escarrega (listed under retired players), Greg Walker
First White Sox cards (other than rookie cards): Floyd Bannister, Julio Cruz, Jerry Dybzinski, Jim Kern, Rudy Law, Vance Law, Sparky Lyle (listed under retired players), Dick Tidrow
Most-interesting non-Topps card: - well, there is one non-Topps card in this checklist, mop-up reliever Salome Barrojas. Not to interesting of a career, would be traded to the Mariners in the next season and finally appear in 6 games with the 1988 Phillies.
I thought a more interesting career for this team is Jerry Hairston. Hairston came up with the White Sox in 1973 and was traded to the Pirates in 1977, then sent to the Mexican League. He came back to the White Sox in 1981 and would be a solid bench player through 1987 with the White Sox. Even though he came back in 1981, his first card back wouldn't appear until the 1983 sets. His last card before? That would be in the 1976 Topps set. So Hairston went 6 seasons without appearing in a baseball card set, which may be some kind of record.
Starters
| __ | TO | 20 | C | Carlton Fisk | CHW |
| __ | TO | 72 | 1B | Tom Paciorek | CHW |
| __ | TT | 23 | 2B | Julio Cruz | CHW |
| __ | TT | 27 | SS | Jerry Dybzinski | CHW |
| __ | TO | 98 | 3B | Vance Law | CHW |
| __ | TT | 55 | LF | Ron Kittle | CHW |
| __ | TO | 514 | CF | Rudy Law | CHW |
| __ | TO | 177 | RF | Harold Baines | CHW |
| __ | TO | 310 | DH | Greg Luzinski | CHW |
| __ | TT | 124 | UT | Greg Walker | CHW |
| __ | SS | Scott Fletcher | |||
| __ | TO | 698 | 2B | Tony Bernazard | CHW |
Starting Pitchers
| __ | TO | 618 | SP | LaMarr Hoyt | |
| __ | TO | 46 | SP | Richard Dotson | CHW |
| __ | TT | 7 | SP | Floyd Bannister | CHW |
| __ | TO | 541 | SP | Britt Burns | CHW |
| __ | TO | 153 | SP | Jerry Koosman | CHW |
Relief Pitchers
| __ | TO | 434 | CL | Dennis Lamp | CHW |
| __ | FL | 230 | RP | Salome Barojas | CHW |
| __ | TT | 112 | RP | Dick Tidrow | CHW |
Other Players
| __ | TO | 669 | 1B | Mike Squires | CHW |
| __ | TO | 487 | UT | Jerry Hairston | CHW |
| __ | TO | 124 | C | Marc Hill | CHW |
| __ | 3B | Lorenzo Gray | |||
| __ | OF | Dave Stegman | |||
| __ | CF | Rusty Kuntz | |||
| __ | UT | Chris Nyman | |||
| __ | TO | 758 | 3B | Aurelio Rodriguez | CHW |
| __ | C | Joel Skinner | |||
| __ | UT | Casey Parsons | |||
| __ | 2B | Tim Hulett | |||
| __ | UT | Miguel Dilone | |||
| __ | RP | Juan Agosto | |||
| __ | TO | 278 | RP | Kevin Hickey | CHW |
| __ | TO | 24 | RP | Steve Mura | STL |
| __ | OP | 24 | RP | Steve Mura | CHW |
| __ | RP | Guy Hoffman | |||
| __ | TO | 22 | SP | Randy Martz | CHC |
| __ | RP | Al Jones | |||
| __ | TO | 772 | RP | Jim Kern | CHW |
Minor Leagues
| __ | TO | 409 | MN | Marv Foley | CHW |
Manager
| __ | TO | 216 | MG | Tony LaRussa | CHW |
That was an exciting team. Disappointing they didn't become a powerhouse through the rest of the 80's. I used to pretend I was Kittle and Fisk, a lot. There's some videos on YouTube showing the team celebrating winning the AL West
ReplyDeleteThe old AL West was bad until the A's put a team together later in the decade...just look at the records of the '85 Royals and '87 Twins. The White Sox should've filled the void in that time table, but never seemed to have the pitching that they had in 1983.
ReplyDeleteVicente Romo went from 1975 to 1983, beating Hairston by one year.
ReplyDeleteDanny Boone appeared on a 1982 Fleer card, then nothing until 1991 when he appeared on a Score "prospects" card. This was after playing in the Senior League.
My favorite Sox player was Mike Squires.
Hey thanks for that info. Vicente Romo didn't register with me because he only came back for the 1982 season. I forgot he played long before.
ReplyDelete