Hall of Fame election season is upon us! As members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America begin to publicize their ballots, we will gain a clearer understanding of this winter’s landscape leading into a January announcement of the class of 2020.
Jay Jaffe’s JAWS system has become the closest thing to an accepted standard by which we can compare current candidates to players who have already been enshrined in Cooperstown.
Paul Konerko was drafted 13th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Chaparral HS in Scottsdale, AZ in 1994. Although he was drafted as a catcher, Konerko shifted from behind the plate while still in the minors. He dabbled at third base, and in left field, but settled at first. Konerko’s offensive production carried him to Baseball America Top-100 prospect status each year from 1995-1998 with a peak rank of #2 before his final season in the minors.
The Dodgers gave Konerko brief tastes of the big leagues in 1997 and 1998. Despite his minor league success, he failed to impress. With veteran first baseman Eric Karros entrenched, and his own viability at other positions very much in question, Konerko became expendable. In July, 1998 the Dodgers traded Konerko to the Reds for All Star closer Jeff Shaw and promising left-hander Dennys Reyes.
The 22-year-old Konerko similarly failed to impress during his brief stint with Cincinnati. With Sean Casey, himself 23, in the process of establishing his career with the Reds, Konerko was again blocked. In November, 1998, the Reds dealt Konerko to the White Sox for another future All Star, and Franchise Phenom (for Seattle), center fielder Mike Cameron.
Home on the South Side
The White Sox immediately installed Konerko in their every day lineup beginning in 1999. Given the opportunity to settle into the big leagues, Konerko quickly established himself as an above-average hitter. From 1999-2002, Konerko averaged .294/.356/.499, 118 OPS+, 26 homers, and 95 RBI. He was an integral part of some ferocious White Sox lineups including the 2000 A.L. Central champions.
After making his first All Star team in 2002, Konerko struggled mightily in 2003. As the Sox battled for a playoff spot, Konerko limped to a miserable 83 OPS+ and -0.6 bWAR. The Sox finished four games behind the Twins. Fans and media alike were highly critical of their star first baseman.
Konerko rebounded in a big way in 2004. He set career highs with 41 homers and 117 RBI. At age 28, Konerko received MVP votes for the first time in his career. The toughness and resiliency he showed in bouncing back from his failed 2003 season endeared him to White Sox fans as never before.
2005
Coming off a huge season in 2004, Konerko was poised to lead the 2005 White Sox on one of the most improbable championship runs in history. Konerko produced a near carbon copy of 2004 with another 40 homer, 100 RBI campaign. The Sox won 99 games and the A.L. Central title. Konerko made his second All Star team and finished sixth in the MVP race.
“Paulie” was an absolute force during the 2005 post season. He clubbed two homers and drove in four runs in Chicago’s sweep of the Red Sox in the ALDS. His tie-breaking two run shot in sixth inning of Game 3 was an exclamation point on a dominant series for the Sox.
Konerko added two more homers and seven RBI in the ALCS as the Sox defeated the Angels in five games. He was named the series MVP.
Chicago held the home field advantage in the World Series against the Houston Astros. The Sox took the opener, but the Astros threatened to tie the series in Game 2. With Houston leading 4-2 with two outs in the seventh, Konerko stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.
The Sox hung on to win Game 2. They completed the sweep in Houston to win the franchise’s first world series championship since 1917. Paul Konerko was an instrumental figure in ending the 87-year drought between White Sox championships– the second-longest such drought in baseball history.
Captain
Following the glory of 2005, the White Sox named Konerko the fourth Team Captain in franchise history. His first-class work ethic and integrity would continue to cement his legacy as one of the most beloved players in White Sox history.
From 2006-2012, Konerko remained one of the most consistently productive hitters in baseball. He averaged .287/.369/.510, 129 OPS+, 30 homers, and 92 RBI. Konerko made four more All Star teams, and received MVP votes three times during this stretch.
The Sox made the playoffs just once more during Konerko’s tenure as A.L. Central champions in 2008.
Despite declining production, Konerko hung around in a leadership capacity in 2013-2014 before retiring after 16 seasons with the White Sox.
Hall of Fame?
Paul Konerko is one of the greatest, and most popular players in White Sox history. He is the starting first baseman and fifth place hitter on our all-time White Sox team here at Franchise Phenoms. His place in White Sox lore is firmly established.
Unfortunately for Konerko and White Sox fans alike, it appears that 2020 will be his lone year on the ballot. He falls well below the established standards for Hall of Fame first basemen.
Even if Konerko never earns enshrinement in Cooperstown, there is little doubt that he will go down in history as one of the all-time great White Sox. For Chicago fans who lived through the lean years between championships, and for those who witnessed the improbable euphoria of 2005, Paul Konerko’s memory will endure.
Hall of Fame election season is upon us! As members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America begin to publicize their ballots, we will gain a clearer understanding of this winter’s landscape leading into a January announcement of the class of 2019.
Jay Jaffe’s JAWS system has become the closest thing to an accepted standard by which we can compare current candidates to players who have already been enshrined in Cooperstown.
Lance Berkman was born and raised in the Texas Triangle. A graduate of Canyon High School in New Braunfels, TX northeast of San Antonio, Berkman played his college ball in Houston at Rice University. The Houston Astros selected Berkman 16th overall in the 1997 draft. A Baseball America Top-100 Prospect from 1998-2000, Berkman advanced quickly through Houston’s minor league system. He made his big league debut in July, 1999.
A switch-hitter with power and patience, Berkman quickly established himself as one of the top hitters in the National League. In 12 seasons with the Astros, Berkman hit .296/.410/.594, 146 OPS+. He led the league in doubles in 2001 (55) and 2008 (46) and RBI in 2002 (128).
Berkman contributed to four Astros playoff teams including the 2005 National League Champions. He was the best player by bWAR on the 2001 N.L. Central Champions, and the 2004 N.L. Wild Card winner.
With the team struggling in 2010, the Astros traded Berkman to the Yankees at the trade deadline. Serving primarily as a DH, Berkman helped New York secure the Wild Card spot.
Berkman signed with the St. Louis Cardinals heading into 2011. It would turn out to be one of the best offensive seasons of his career. The 2011 Cardinals turned a Wild Card berth into the 12th World Series championship in franchise history. Berkman was a driving force in their victory over the Texas Rangers, hitting .423/.516/.577 with nine runs and five RBI in the seven-game series.
The Cardinals won the Wild Card again in 2012, but Berkman played just 32 games as injuries took their toll. He finished his career with the Texas Rangers in 2013.
Hall of Fame?
Lance Berkman was a marvelous all around player during his 15-year career. With a career line of .293/.406/.537, 144 OPS+, Berkman was clearly one of the most dominant hitters of his era. He was also a versatile defensive player who played at least 166 games at all three outfield spots as well as first base during his career.
He was a six-time All Star who received MVP votes in seven seasons including third-place finishes in 2002 and 2006.
In his first year on the ballot, it is unclear how the voters will treat Berkman. He spent much of his career surrounded by fellow Hall of Fame caliber talents. As a result, it is possible that he was underappreciated during his career.
Berkman ranks as the 20th best left fielder by JAWS. His career 144 OPS+ puts him well above the average for Hall of Fame left fielders. Minimal defensive value, and a comparatively short career, are probably enough to keep him out of Cooperstown.
On a loaded ballot, it’s possible Berkman fails to achieve the 5% needed to remain eligible beyond this year. He probably deserves better than that, but either way, it’s hard to see him standing out among the other stellar hitters on the ballot at this time.
14. Andy Pettitte
JAWS: 47.2 (61.8 Average HOF SP)
Andy Pettitte was a 1990 graduate of Deer Park High School in Texas. The New York Yankees selected him as a draft-and-follow candidate in the 22nd round that June. Pettitte enrolled in San Jacinto College in Houston and showed enough in the spring of 1991 that the Yankees signed him that May. Pettitte climbed methodically through the Yankees system.
By 1995, Pettitte was considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. He made his debut that season, finishing third in the Rookie of the Year voting, and helping New York to the Wild Card.
The Yankees made the playoffs every season from 1995-2003. With Pettitte providing a steady presence in their rotation, New York won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Pettite finished sixth, or better, in the Cy Young four times during this period.
After a tough loss to the Marlins in the 2003 World Series, Pettitte became a free agent. Entering his age-32 season, Pettitte returned home to pitch for the Houston Astros. From 2004-2006 with the Astros, Pettitte was one of the best pitchers in the National League. He helped the team to Wild Card berths in 2004-2005, and the National League pennant in 2005.
After the 2006 season, Pettitte returned to the Yankees. He spent most of the next seven years pitching for the Yankees, although he sat out the 2011 season entirely. Pettitte pitched for four more Yankees playoff teams during this stretch, and won his fifth World Series in 2009.
Hall of Fame?
Andy Pettitte finished his 18-year career with a record of 256-153, 3.85 ERA, 117 ERA+, and 3.74 FIP. He was a three-time All Star who finished sixth, or better, in the Cy Young voting five times.
In his first year on the ballot, Pettitte’s Hall of Fame candidacy is probably the dividing mark for the members of the storied Yankees dynasty of that era. While Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are no doubt first-ballot Hall of Famers, the team’s success did little for the candidacies of Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams, both of whom have already fallen off the ballot.
Pettitte is pretty clearly in the middle of those five. He will surely show better than Posada or Williams, but won’t achieve the same type of perhaps unanimous support as Jeter or Rivera.
Pettitte falls considerably short of the average Hall of Fame starting pitcher. He is probably one of the top-100 starters in history, but that hardly ensures enshrinement in Cooperstown.
My gut feeling is that history will struggle with how to properly view Pettitte’s career. At different times, he was both one of the best pitchers in the game, and highly overrated. There is little doubt that if he had played for another organization, his resume would fall short as his win-loss record and postseason exploits are pillars of his case. At the same time, how many of the five Yankees championships he helped secure would have been won without him?
Of course, we have not even mentioned Pettitte’s admitted use of Human Growth Hormone in the middle of his career. For a player whose case is fringy to begin with, his PED use is probably too much to overcome in the current climate. If he can hang around on the ballot for a full ten-year stretch, it is possible that changing views on both PED’s, and the modern starting pitcher, could help his chances in the long run. For now, it’s hard to imagine him getting in any time soon.
13. Gary Sheffield
JAWS: 49.3 (56.8 Average HOF RF)
Gary Sheffield was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. A 1986 graduate of Hillsborough High School, Sheffield was drafted sixth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers. Originally a shortstop, Sheffield proved to be a highly advanced offensive player in his ascension through the Brewers system. He made his big league debut late in 1988 at just 19.
The club shifted him to third base, in the big leagues, and outside of a three-win season in 1990, Sheffield struggled through most of his time with the Brewers. By the end of the 1991 season, his career OPS+ was 95 while averaging just 90 games in his three full seasons.
In Spring Training, 1992 the Brewers traded Sheffield to the San Diego Padres. With a clean start in a new organization, Sheffield thrived. He won the N.L. batting title in 1992 with a line of .330/.385/.580, 168 OPS+. In 1993, the Padres struggled, Sheffield slowed, and the All Star third baseman was traded to the Florida Marlins for a package including future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman.
Sheffield spent more time with the Marlins that anywhere else in his career. The Marlins moved him to the outfield where he would remain for the rest of his career. From 1993-1998, he hit .288/.426/.543, 156 OPS+ and produced 13.2 bWAR. He led the N.L. in OBP (.465) and OPS+ (189) in 1996.
An expansion team in 1993, the Marlins struggled to find their footing until 1997. That year they won 92 games and the N.L. Wild Card en route to the World Series. As the team’s best hitter in the regular season as well as the playoffs, no one played a larger role in Florida’s first World Series championship than Gary Sheffield.
Marlins ownership infamously tore down their championship core heading into 1998. Sheffield was traded to the Dodgers as part of a massive package that temporarily resulted in Mike Piazza joining the Marlins.
From 1998-2001 in Los Angeles, Sheffield remained one of the best hitters in baseball. He posted a .312/.424/.573, 160 OPS+ line producing 17.0 bWAR. The Dodgers never made the postseason during Sheffield’s tenure and traded him to the Braves before the 2002 season.
Sheffield posted 151 OPS+ over his two seasons in Atlanta. The 2002-2003 Braves had nearly identical seasons winning 101 games, the N.L. East title, and ultimately losing in the first round of the playoffs.
A free agent after the 2003 season, Sheffield signed with the New York Yankees. From 2004-2006 he produced 135 OPS+ and was part of three straight A.L. East championships.
After he was derailed by injuries in 2006, the Yankees traded him to the Detroit Tigers. Primarily a DH during his two seasons in Detroit, Sheffield was still an above-average hitter, but had slowed considerably. The Tigers released him prior to the 2009 season as the slugger sat with 499 career homers.
Sheffield quickly signed with the New York Mets. He played 100 games in the final season of his career, hitting 10 homers to give him a career total of 509.
Hall of Fame?
In his remarkable 22-year career, Gary Sheffield hit .292/.393/.514, 140 OPS+. His 509 career home runs rank 26th all-time. Sheffield was a nine-time All Star who won five Silver Sluggers. He received MVP votes seven times including three seasons in which he finished second or third (1992, 2003, 2004).
Sheffield ranks as the 23rd best right fielder in history by JAWS. Although he ranks above 11 Hall of Famers at the position, he stands little chance of induction at this time.
In 2004, Sheffield admitted to steroid use as part of the BALCO investigation. Players with better statistical resumes who have been linked to steroid use have failed to secure the support necessary for election. Like Pettitte, this reality is probably too much for Sheffield to overcome.
Now in his fifth year of eligibility, Sheffield has some time for the ballot, and sentiment, to shift in his favor. After securing just 11% of the vote in 2018, he may have too far to go in too short a time.
12. Sammy Sosa
JAWS: 51.2 (56.8 Average HOF RF)
Sammy Sosa was born and raised in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. He signed as an amateur free agent with the Texas Rangers in July, 1985. As a young player, Sosa was wiry strong and explosive, but raw. His tantalizing physical tools allowed him to climb through the Rangers system. Despite the obvious flaws in his game, notably a hyper-aggressive approach at the plate, Sosa made his big league debut with Texas at 20.
That same season, the Rangers used Sosa as part of a package to land White Sox Franchise PhenomHarold Baines at the trade deadline. Sosa continued to flash his physical talent with the White Sox, but failed to make significant progress in refining his game. Sosa was essentially a replacement-level player during his time with the White Sox.
Prior to the 1992 season, the Sox made a decision that would alter the fate of both Chicago franchises. They traded Sammy Sosa to the Cubs as the headline piece for All Star outfielder George Bell. At 32, Bell had just two seasons left in the big leagues while the 23-year-old Sosa would go on to become one of the best players in Cubs history.
Sosa steadily improved during his early years with the Cubs, settling in as an above-average hitter by 1993. In 1995, Sosa began a streak of nine straight seasons in which he would received MVP votes. He was a 30/30 player in both 1993 and 1995. He hit 40 homers for the first time in 1996.
Everything changed for Sammy Sosa, and Major League Baseball, in 1998. During that famed summer, Sosa and Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire embarked on their epic chase of Roger Maris‘s single-season home run record. McGwire finished with 70 to set the new record, but Sosa also broke the old record with 66 of his own. Sosa led the league in runs (134) and RBI (158). The Cubs won the N.L. Wild Card, and Sosa the MVP.
Sosa remained one of the most feared sluggers in baseball for years. He hit 63 homers in 1999, and 64 in 2001, making him the only player in history with three 60-homer seasons. When the Cubs won the N.L. Central in 2003, Sosa was still their best hitter.
In 13 seasons with the Cubs, Sosa hit .284/.358/.569, 139 OPS+, and 545 homers.
His final years in Chicago were marred by a suspension for corking his bat, increased suspicion about steroid usage, and alienation of the organization he had carried for a decade.
Sosa was traded to Baltimore before the 2006 season. He sat out 2007. He then returned to hit 21 homers for the Rangers in 2008 allowing him to eclipse the 600 mark for his career.
Hall of Fame?
In his 18-year career, Sammy Sosa hit .273/.344/.534, 128 OPS+. His 609 career homers rank ninth all-time. Sosa was a seven-time All Star who won six Silver Sluggers. He received MVP votes nine times. He finished second in 2001, and won the award during his incredible 1998 season.
Sosa ranks as the 18th best right fielder by JAWS, five spots ahead of Sheffield, and above two more Hall of Famers. Despite his on-paper advantages, he has actually fared worse than Sheffield up to this point in the process.
Even more so than Sheffield, Sosa is a poster boy for the steroid era. Despite suspicions that engulfed the late stages of his career, and a June, 2009 New York Times report claiming he tested positive in 2003, Sosa has remained evasive on the subject in retirement. The issue remains the cause of friction with Cubs ownership to this day.
Now in his seventh year on the ballot, Sosa has even less time for things to swing in his favor than Sheffield. He earned just 7.8% of the vote in 2018.
11. Todd Helton
JAWS: 53.9 (54.7 Average HOF 1B)
Todd Helton was the 8th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies out of the University of Tennessee in the 1995 draft.
He played his entire 17-year career with the Rockies. His career line of .316/.414/.539, 133 OPS+, and 61.2 bWAR makes him the best player in franchise history.
I have already posted a detailed recap of Todd Helton’s career as part of the Rockies Mount RushWAR.
Hall of Fame?
Todd Helton was a five-time All Star who won four Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves.
Helton has a strong case for enshrinement in Cooperstown. By JAWS, Helton ranks as the 15th best first baseman in history. While that places him just below the lofty average mark for the position, he is surrounded by Hall of Famers on the list.
2019 is Helton’s first year on the ballot. Now in his ninth year on the ballot, Larry Walker’s results provide a potential guide for the way Helton’s candidacy may be viewed. Although modern metrics strip away ballpark context, baseball writers have long struggled to separate the Coors Field effect when evaluating Rockies players for awards. Hitters are often over-penalized and pitchers under-rewarded.
Walker is running out of time in his bid to be elected by the writers, but Helton figures to benefit in the long run as the writers grapple with Walker’s candidacy. At some point, these two players will force BBWAA members to determine what, exactly, a Rockies hitter would have to do to earn their vote. How preposterous do the numbers have to be?
In my world, both Helton and Walker are Hall of Fame players. I am cautiously optimistic that they will each be recognized as such at some point in the future.
In the Watch List series, we will examine four current players from each franchise with the best chance of one day cracking their All-Time Team.
Eloy Jimenez
Position: OF
2019 Age: 22
Career bWAR with Sox: 0
Although he has yet to make his big league debut, the legend surrounding White Sox outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez has already begun to grow.
Jimenez played the entire 2018 season at age 21, and dominated the upper minors all year. In a season split between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, Jimenez established himself as the best outfield prospect in the minors. In 108 games he combined to hit .337/.384/.577 with 28 doubles, 22 homers, and 32 walks against just 69 strikeouts.
Although he was clearly ready for a promotion late in the summer, the White Sox opted to shut him down at the conclusion of Charlotte’s season. In the process, the Sox will secure an extra season of control over Jimenez during what figure to be his prime years.
Jimenez remains on track to be a standout hitter at the big league level as soon as next season. As a corner outfielder he may not provide much defensive value, but he should be able to hold his own on that front.
It remains to be seen if the present drama over his delayed promotion to the big leagues will factor into any future contract extension discussions. Regardless, Jimenez is as good a bet as any current player to have a long, dominant career on the South Side.
Outlook
The reserve outfielders on the White Sox All-Time Team are no slouches, but Jimenez clearly has the talent to perform at that level, or better, for years to come. Harold Baines has a lengthy career, and strong White Sox legacy to overcome. Meanwhile, Magglio Ordonez posted better rate numbers than Baines, but his White Sox career was significantly shorter. Jimenez could, theoretically, follow a similar career path to either player. In a perfect world, he would combine the best attributes of both to push for a spot among the Sox All-Time starting nine.
Jose Abreu
Position: 1B
2019 Age: 32
Career bWAR with Sox: 18.7
When Jose Abreu signed a free agent with the White Sox in October, 2013, nobody seemed to be sure exactly how his dominance in Cuba would translate to the highest level of the game.
Abreu proved to be an immediate impact player. In 2014, he led the AL in OPS+ (173) and slugging (.581) on the way to the All Star game, Rookie of the Year honors, and a 4th place finish in the MVP voting.
Unfortunately, 2014 has represented Abreu’s career year up to this point. Given that he was 27 years old at the time, it may stay that way.
On the other hand, Abreu has been remarkably consistent since. With about two weeks remaining in the 2018 season, Abreu sits with a career 138 OPS+, while averaging 3.7 bWAR/season.
Outlook
Abreu’s career to date demonstrates the potential to end up in the same category as Baines, Ordonez, and even starting first baseman Paul Konerko among the great sluggers in White Sox history.
At this point, Abreu’s greatest hurdle appears to be father time. He has a chance to be a free agent after the 2019 season. Were he to depart after next season, he would almost definitely fall short of the bar needed for inclusion on the All-Time Team. A contract extension appears to necessary for him to get there. In the event of an extension, he would probably need to remain a well above-average hitter into his mid-30s to secure his place.
None of that is impossible, but it’s hardly probable. Even still, the first five years of his career have produced enough of a foundation for Abreu to sit near the top of the White Sox Watch List.
Yoan Moncada
Position: 2B
2019 Age: 24
Career bWAR with Sox: 3.1
Like his countryman Abreu, Yoan Moncada is among the highest profile Cuban players in recent years. After signing as a free agent with the Red Sox in March, 2015, Moncada quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in the minor leagues. The White Sox acquired him from Boston in December, 2016 as part of the deal that sent Franchise Phenom Chris Sale to the Red Sox.
After a cup of coffee with Boston, the White Sox brough Moncada to the big leagues for good in July, 2017.
At this point, Moncada clearly has work to do in order to realize his considerable potential. He figures to finish the 2018 season with a little over 200 career games in the big leagues, and a career OPS+ on the low side of average. He is on pace to the lead the American League in strikeouts this year. His defense at second base is currently adequate at best.
While it’s fair to say that some of the shine has worn off of Moncada since his days as a top prospect, there is still reason to be hopeful. His loud tools, including 60-grade power, and 70-grade speed, landed him a massive $31.5 million signing bonus as an amateur. Despite his slow adaptation to the big leagues, those tools remain the basis for his potential to be an all-time great for the White Sox.
His current 162 game average clearly demonstrates a talented, but flawed player. The .228/.315/.397 line is carrying the heavy weight of 231 strikeouts. At the same time, he is averaging 74 walks, 28 doubles, 7 triples, and 20 homers.
Outlook
While the current version of Moncada is a far cry from an all-time great, there is hope. Moncada would hardly be the first player to consolidate his skills, and emerge as a much better player in his prime. Any meaningful improvement in his strikeout rate, for example, would beget tremendous improvements across the board on offense.
Similarly, there is significant room for improvement on defense. Improved focus and technique at second base, or perhaps even a position switch to the outfield, could suddenly make Moncada a much more valuable player.
At this point, the Sox control Moncada’s rights through the 2023 season. With the team in the middle of a massive rebuild, they remain heavily invested in his development. If he realizes his ridiculous potential, it will likely be in Chicago.
I’m willing to bet on the tools, and skills, he has already shown. I fully expect Moncada to be a star-caliber player at some point in his career. In order to have a chance to edge out Hall of Famers such as Luis Aparicio, and Nellie Fox, he will have to make those adjustments sooner, rather than later.
Michael Kopech
Position: RHSP
2019 Age: 23
Career bWAR with Sox: 0.1
Michael Kopech was the 33rd overall pick in the 2014 draft. The Boston Red Sox bet on Kopech’s impressive physical tools including elite arm strength, and a projectable frame.
In his methodical climb through the Boston system, Kopech’s projection slowly became reality. His velocity continued to climb, regularly reaching triple digits. The life on his heater helps make the pitch an elite offering. While Kopech struggled with the finer points of pitching including control and changing speeds in the low-minors, the talent was obvious.
By the end of 2016, Kopech was clearly making progress across the board. In December, Kopech joined Yoan Moncada as the headliners in the White Sox return for Chris Sale.
For much of 2017-2018, Kopech was largely the same pitcher. A flame-thrower with filthy stuff whose shaky control threatened to undermine the entire package as a starter.
Midway through 2018, Kopech’s command took a quantum leap. He mowed down Triple-A hitters in July and August before earning his first start in the big leagues on August 21. The command largely survived the trip to Chicago, and Kopech flashed moments of dominance in his first three starts.
After he was roughed up in his fourth outing on September 4, it was announced that Kopech had been diagnosed with a UCL tear. With Tommy John surgery lurking, Kopech now stands to face the long road to recovery while missing the entire 2019 season.
Outlook
I must confess that I am not particularly optimistic about Kopech’s chances to be an all-time great for the White Sox. While I expect that he will continue to show dominance when healthy, it remains to be seen how often he will be able to manage that. In any case, we won’t know anything new until 2020.
Wrapping Up
Despite all of the questions surrounding Kopech, his immense physical talent gives him the edge for the final spot on this list.
Starting pitchers Carlos Rodon, Lucas Giolito, and Reynaldo Lopez have all shown flashes, but due to lesser stuff, and shorter length of team control remaining, none of them are better bets than Kopech.
Reliever Nate Jones holds a career 137 ERA+, but has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons. He probably needs 2-3 more healthy, and effective, seasons to be considered.
Shortstop Tim Anderson is not far from Moncada at this stage in their careers. He has been similarly inconsistent on defense, and his hacktastic approach makes it less likely he develops into a superstar than his double-play partner.
In Just A Bit Outside we examine the four best players who were not chosen for their franchise’s All-Time Team.
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent prior to the 1960 season. He spent parts of four seasons with the Red Sox before he was sold to the Pirates in September 1964. Wood established himself as an effective reliever for Pittsburgh in 1965. The Pirates traded him to Chicago in October, 1966.
Wood relied on his knuckle ball to become a mainstay for the Chicago pitching staff from 1967-1978. He was incredible durable and versatile during his White Sox career.
Wood led the league in appearances three straight seasons from 1968-1970.
He shifted to the starting rotation in 1971. He immediately established himself as one of the best starters in the game, leading the AL with a 189 ERA+.
Wood also continued to eat innings at an elite level. During his White Sox career, Wood led the league in games started four times and innings pitched twice.
Beyond his durability, he remained an excellent pitcher for several seasons. He led the AL in wins twice with back-to-back 24-win seasons in 1972-1973.
Wood was a three-time All Star, finished in the top-five in the Cy Young voting three times, and received MVP votes in three seasons as well.
From 1967-1978, Wilbur Wood produced 50.3 bWAR, 7th best in franchise history.
With a career 116 ERA+ over 2524.1 innings, Wood is clearly among the best pitchers in White Sox history. He was the last player cut from the White Sox All-Time Team.
Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Cicotte signed as an amateur free agent with the Detroit Tigers before the 1905 season. He pitched just three games for the Tigers. His contract was then purchased by the Red Sox before 1908. He proved to be an effective starter during his five seasons with Boston. The White Sox purchased him from the Red Sox in July, 1912.
Cicotte broke out for the White Sox, posting a 186 ERA+ in 1913. His 7.5 bWAR was tied for third best among AL pitchers that year.
Cicotte remained a solidly above-average pitcher in his early 30s, averaging 123 ERA+ from 1914-1916.
1917 was his career year. He led the league in wins (28), ERA (1.53), and innings (346.2). His 11.5 bWAR was the best of his career, and tops in the American League that season. The 1917 White Sox won the American League, and defeated the New York Giants in six games to win the World Series. Cicotte was 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings during the fall classic.
1919
The White Sox returned to the World Series in 1919. Cicotte was again the team’s ace pitcher winning 29 games and finishing with a 176 ERA+ over 306.2 innings.
In the best-of-nine 1919 World Series, the White Sox took on the NL Champion Cincinnati Reds. The usually reliable Cicotte was drilled for six runs in 3.2 innings, and took the loss in the opener.
With the Sox trailing two games to one, manager Kid Gleason gave Cicotte the ball again in Game Four. This time it was two-unearned runs, resulting from his own fielding errors in the top of the fifth inning, that sealed his fate. The Reds won 2-0 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
In an attempt to redeem himself, Cicotte tossed a complete game gem in Game Seven, and the Sox won 4-1. Unfortunately, the team dropped the next game, and the series to the Reds.
In the aftermath of the series, rumors began to circulate that members of the White Sox team, including Cicotte, had conspired with gamblers to throw the series.
Cicotte won 21 games in 1920, his last season in the majors. As the season concluded, Cicotte became the focal point of an investigation into allegations that the 1919 World Series was a sham. Cicotte, and seven of his teammates, were indicted by a grand jury in Cook County Court for their role in the conspiracy. Although the players were acquitted in court, new MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned the players from ever again playing big league baseball.
Legacy
Cicotte’s playing career alone would place him firmly in consideration for the White Sox All-Time team. His 50.3 bWAR ranks 8th in franchise history. His 133 ERA+ is 5th in Sox history.
Unlike his Black Sox teammate Shoeless Joe Jackson, Cicotte was not selected for the White Sox All-Time Team. While both players were banned from baseball following the 1920 season, some historians have questioned Jackson’s true role in the scandal.
Cicotte’s involvement is beyond dispute. He offered an official confession to his guilt that was later lost by court officials. Unlike Jackson, his record of play in the series, including two suspect loses, offers no argument for his overall innocence. As a result, one of the most dominant pitchers in White Sox history is Just A Bit Outside the All-Time Team.
Doc White
Doc White was signed out of Georgetown University by the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 1901 season. White made 67 appearances, working to a 110 ERA+ in two seasons with the Phillies.
In 1903, the White Sox convinced White to jump to their club in the fledgling American League. White was an instant success in Chicago.
From 1903-1906, White was one of the best pitchers in the American League. He went 68-47 with a 142 ERA+ over his first 1007.2 innings with the White Sox.
1906
In 1906, the 27-year-old lefty had his career year. He posted league-best marks in ERA (1.52) and WHIP (0.90) over 219.1 innings. His 6.1 bWAR was the top mark for the pitching staff that led the White Sox to the World Series.
Along with Franchise Phenom, Ed Walsh, White anchored Chicago’s pitching staff against the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs.
In Game Two of the series, White was removed for a pinch-hitter after allowing four unearned runs in three innings. White was hung with the loss, and the series was tied after two games.
In Game Five, with the series tied at two games apiece, player/manager and Franchise Phenom, Fielder Jones rode Walsh and White to victory. Walsh battled through six innings, but shoddy White Sox defense (the team made six errors in the game), kept the Cubs chances alive. After surrendering a leadoff double in the bottom of the 7th, Walsh was pulled in favor of White. White allowed just one hit and a walk the rest of the way to earn the save, and secure the White Sox victory.
Back on the South Side the following day, Jones gave the ball to White yet again, this time to start. In a match-up of the best pitchers from their respective leagues, the Cubs countered with Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. The Sox got to Brown early and often, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after two innings. White went the distance, scattering 11 runners, and allowing three runs. In just their sixth year of existence, Doc White helped pitch the White Sox to the first World Championship in franchise history.
After the Championship
White backed up 1906 with another solid season in 1907. He led the league in wins (27) and K/BB rate (3.71).
1908 was the first below-average season of White’s career at 90 ERA+, but he still won 18 games.
At age 30, White had one more strong season in him. He threw 177.2 innings at a 138 ERA+ in 1909.
Although he hung on for parts of four more seasons, he was slightly below-average overall during the final stretch of his career.
In 11 years for the White Sox, Doc White won 159 games, and pitched 2498.1 innings for an ERA+ of 114. His 37.6 bWAR is 14th in White Sox history.
George Davis
George Davis grew up near Albany, New York. He signed with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League before the 1890 season. In three seasons for Cleveland, he was a solid above-average regular, splitting his time between third base and the outfield.
In February, 1893, the Spiders traded Davis to the New York Giants for star slugger Buck Ewing. While Ewing’s best days were behind him, Davis would emerge as a star in New York.
From 1893-1901, Davis laid the groundwork for a Hall of Fame career with the Giants. He averaged .332/.394/.468, 132 OPS+, and 5.0 bWAR during that stretch.
White Sox Career
Like many players of his day, including Doc White, Davis became wrapped up in an emerging drama between the National League and the new American League. Despite the contractual reserve clause that bound players to their teams as long as the team chose to retain them, many players began jumping to teams in the other league whenever they wanted a new contract.
Davis jumped to the White Sox where he had a solid season in 1902. He attempted to return to the Giants in 1903, but the subsequent legal dispute limited him to just four games that season. He was returned to Chicago for 1904. The SABR Bio on George Davis outlines the drama well.
Davis then finished his career with Chicago from 1904-1909. Although his offensive production with Chicago slipped well below that of his peak with the Giants, Davis remained the regular shortstop for the bulk of his time with the Sox. Defensive metrics, applied retroactively to his career, view his work in the field very favorably.
From 1904-1907, bWAR paints the picture of a star shortstop who was among the league’s best at the position. Davis averaged 6.9 bWAR during that stretch, and was the best player on the 1906 World Champs.
All told, George Davis is one of the best shortstops in the histories of both the New York Giants, and the Chicago White Sox. His 33.0 bWAR is 16th in White Sox history. His 44.6 bWAR in New York ranks him 12th all-time for the Giants.
The Mount RushWAR series will allow us to take a more in-depth look at the careers of the four players with the highest bWAR in franchise history.
Luke Appling (74.4)
Background
Luke Appling grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Fulton High School and Oglethorpe University in Atlanta before embarking on his professional career. He was acquired by the White Sox in August, 1930 when the team purchased his contract from the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association. He made his big league debut shortly after signing, and emerged as a semi-regular player the following season.
White Sox Career
Despite below-average offensive production in his first two full seasons, the White Sox continued to invest playing time in Appling.
Peak
In 1933, at age 26, Appling hit his stride as a big leaguer hitting .322/.379/.443. His 5.1 bWAR ranked ninth in the American League that season.
1933 began a stretch of 11 seasons where Appling averaged .320/.408/.410, 115 OPS+, and 4.9 bWAR. He was a five-time All Star during his prime years. He finished second in the MVP voting twice during this stretch.
In 1936, Appling was runner-up to Lou Gehrig. He hit .388 to win his first batting title, and finished fifth in the American League with 6.9 bWAR.
In 1943, Appling finished behind Spud Chandler. He hit .328 to win his second batting title. He also led the league in OBP at .419. His 7.6 bWAR was second in the league trailing only Lou Bodreau.
When Appling missed 1944 while serving in the Army during the late stages of World War II, it seemed his career might be over. He missed most of 1945 as well. He was discharged with enough time remaining to return to Chicago for 18 games.
As it turned out, Appling had four seasons of star-caliber play remaining. From 1946-49, Appling put an authoritative stamp on his Hall of Fame career. In his age 39-42 seasons, Appling averaged .308/.408/.384, 120 OPS+, and 4.8 bWAR. He made the All Star team two more times during this period, and received down ballot MVP consideration each year.
Appling was released by the White Sox at the conclusion of a 1950 season after just 144 plate appearances that year.
Legacy
Despite his status as one of the all-time great White Sox players, the teams that Appling played for were decidedly mediocre. Appling played on just five winning teams in 20 seasons. He never played in the postseason.
Appling remains the White Sox all-time leader in games played (2422), hits (2749), singles (2162), and times on base (4062).
Appling is among the most accomplished, and durable shortstops in big league history. He ranks among the top-10 shortstops in Major League history in games played (8th), putouts (7th), and assists (6th).
Luke Appling biography from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Ted Lyons (71.5)
Background
Ted Lyons grew up in Louisiana. He attended Vinton High School before heading to Baylor University. Lyons was an excellent athlete who lettered in basketball and track at Baylor in addition to baseball. He signed with the White Sox in the spring of 1923 as he was finishing up school. He reported directly to the big club, and appeared in nine games that season.
White Sox Career
At 23 years old, Lyons made the team again out of spring training in 1924 and never looked back. He pitched 216.1 below-average innings in his first full season.
Lyons established himself as a legitimate star in 1925. He pitched 262.2 innings and led the league with 21 wins and five shutouts. His 5.4 bWAR was sixth among AL pitchers.
Lyons remained remarkably effective throughout the remainder of his career. In the 19 seasons he played from 1925-46, Lyons posted an ERA+ below league-average just twice (1933-34).
Peak
Lyons hit his peak in 1927. The 26-year-old right-hander led the league with 307.2 innings, 30 complete games, and 22 wins. His 143 ERA+ mark was only the fifth best season of his career by that measure, but he failed to clear 191 innings in the other four. The combination of excellent performance and a high volume of innings helped him produce a career-best 7.4 bWAR, fourth best in the AL that year. He finished third in the 1927 MVP race behind Lou Gehrig and Harry Heilmann.
In 1930, Lyons again led the league in innings (297.2) and complete games (29).
He made his only All Star team in 1939. At the age of 38, Lyons led the league in FIP (3.22), WHIP (1.09), and K/BB (2.50) while posting a career-best 173 ERA+.
He continued his “decline” phase by leading the league in ERA (2.10) and ERA+ (171) over 180.1 innings in 1942.
Duty Calls
Lyons joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and spent his age 42-44 seasons pitching for Uncle Sam.
He made five final appearances in early 1946 before being hired to replace Jimmy Dykes as manager of the White Sox. He managed through 1948, finishing with a career record of 185-245.
Legacy
Like Appling, Ted Lyons played through arguably the bleakest era in White Sox history. He played on just six winning teams in 21 seasons, and never played in the postseason.
Although he ranks second in career bWAR for the White Sox behind Appling, he is actually second in pitching bWAR to Red Faber who edged Lyons for inclusion in the team’s starting rotation. In an interesting twist, Lyons was a significantly better hitter than Faber during their careers, helping him to secure his spot on Chicago’s Mount RushWAR.
Lyons remains Chicago’s franchise leader in wins (260), innings pitched (4161), games started (484), and complete games (356)
Lyons was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955. Known more for his control (he had the lowest walk rate in the AL four times during his career) and durability than his power stuff, Lyons is something of an odd Hall of Famer to be sure. Although he had excellent command of the strike zone, Lyons actually walked more batters (1121) than he struck out (1073) in his career. Despite that imbalance, he finished with a career 118 ERA+.
With the modern game increasingly dominated by power pitchers and power hitters, Ted Lyons serves as a reminder of how much the game has evolved in the past century.
Ted Lyons. Behind the Plaques from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Frank Thomas (68.3)
Background
Frank Thomas played his high school ball in Columbus, Georgia. He attended Auburn University where he played baseball for three seasons, and football for one. After going undrafted out of high school, Thomas was selected seventh overall by the White Sox in the 1989 draft.
White Sox Career
Thomas more than held his own in the Florida State League after signing in 1989. He then shredded the Double A Southern League for 109 games in 1990 before making his Major League debut in August. He immediately proved himself as an impact player, posting a 177 OPS+ in 60 games during his rookie year.
By his age 23 season, Frank Thomas was already the best hitter in the American League. In 1991, he paced the AL in walks, OBP, and OPS+. He finished third in the MVP voting behind Cal Ripken Jr. and Cecil Fielder, despite producing 4.2 more bWAR than the latter.
Over the course of the next decade, “The Big Hurt” would stake a claim to the title of best hitter in baseball.
From 1991-2000, Thomas averaged a line of .320/.439/.581, 168 OPS+, and 5.1 bWAR per season. He led the AL in walks and OBP four times, and OPS+ three times. He also led the league in runs, slugging, and doubles once each during that stretch.
In 1993, Thomas won the first of his back-to-back MVP’s. He hit .317/.426/.607 with 41 homers, 128 RBI, and 106 runs. He was the best player on one of the best teams in White Sox history. The Sox won the AL West with a 94-68 record. They were defeated in six games in the ALCS by the eventual world champion Toronto Blue Jays. Thomas was a monster in the series, hitting .353/.593/.529.
The 1994 Chicago White Sox were on track to deliver on the promise of the team’s near miss the season before. When the Players Association went on strike on August 12, the White Sox were leading the AL Central with a 67-46 record. In what would prove to be his career year, Thomas ran away with his second straight MVP after hitting .353/.487/.729, 212 OPS+, and 6.4 bWAR.
Much has been made of the impact of the 1994 strike on the fortunes of the Montreal Expos franchise. There is a case to be made that the White Sox franchise was impacted in a similar fashion. Both teams were legitimate World Series contenders with star caliber players whose fans were robbed of the opportunity to watch them compete in October.
Thomas continued to dominate the American League through the late 1990s, but the White Sox would not make the playoffs again until 2000.
The 2000 White Sox won the AL Central with a league-best 95-67 record. The Big Hurt was once again a driving force behind the team’s success. He hit .328/.436/.625, 163 OPS+, and produced 6.0 bWAR. As the best player on the best team in the league, Thomas finished second in the MVP voting behind Jason Giambi. In a stunning turn of events, the Sox were swept by the Seattle Mariners, winner of the AL Wilcard, in the ALDS.
Decline
As he entered his mid-30s, Thomas would have an increasingly difficult time keeping his massive body healthy. In his final five seasons with the White Sox, Thomas remained incredibly productive if increasingly unavailable.
From 2001-2005, Thomas averaged just 86 games per season. Despite an assortment of aches, and serious injuries, Big Frank still managed to produce a 135 OPS+ when he was in the lineup.
2005 would prove a bittersweet ending to his tenure on the South Side. Thomas limped through 124 productive plate appearances before playing his last game in late-July and succumbing to season-ending surgery. The White Sox went on to capture their first World Series since 1917 without the greatest hitter in franchise history. Thomas was visible with the team in October, and as thrilled as anybody when the team clinched in Houston.
After the White Sox
With his health in question, the White Sox allowed Thomas to depart via free agency after the 2005 season. He landed in Oakland where he finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2006. Thomas dominated as the AL West Champion Athletics swept Minnesota in the ALDS. He struggled badly in the ALCS when A’s were swept by Detroit to end their season.
He was productive again in 2007, this time for the Blue Jays. He was released by Toronto early in the 2008 season before hooking up with Oakland again for the final 55 games of his Hall of Fame career.
Legacy
In 16 seasons with the White Sox, the Big Hurt was a five-time All Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and two-time American League MVP. He is, without question, the greatest hitter in franchise history.
Thomas is the White Sox all-time leader in home runs (448), RBI (1465), OBP (.427), slugging (.568), runs (1327), doubles (447), walks (1466), OPS+ (161), and offensive bWAR (75.0).
His 1667 career walks are 10th most in Major League history. He also ranks among the top-20 in slugging (19th), home runs (20th), OBP (20th), and OPS+ (20th).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWrwOrjIkS4
Frank Thomas Career Highlights. Sports Productions on YouTube
Eddie Collins (66.7)
Background
Eddie Collins grew up in New York. He graduated from Irving High School in Tarrytown on the east bank of the Hudson River. Collins attended Columbia before signing to play for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1906. When he made his debut later that season, Collins became an exceedingly rare player in the annals of big league baseball: a teenager who was also an Ivy Leaguer.
Athletics Career
Collins appeared in the big leagues again in 1907, but spent most of his age-20 season in the minors. By 1908, he was a semi-regular player, and above-average hitter for Philadelphia. By 1909, he was a star.
From 1909-1914, Collins anchored the Athletics lineup. He averaged .345/.432/.447, 163 OPS+, and an incredible 8.9 bWAR per season. As a member of Connie Mack’s vaunted $100,00 infield, Collins was the best player on three World Series Championship teams in 1910, 1911, and 1913.
Collins finished sixth, or better, in the MVP voting three straight seasons before finally winning the award in 1914. After the A’s were swept by the Boston Braves in the 1914 World Series, Connie Mack and the Athletics agreed to sell Collins to Charles Comiskey’s White Sox for $50,000. It was the first time in history that a reigning MVP was traded in the off-season.
White Sox Career
With Chicago, Collins picked up right where he left off. 1915 was his third straight season of 9+ bWAR. He hit .332/.460/.436, 165 OPS+ and led the league in walks (119). Collins was the biggest piece in a lineup overhaul that helped the Sox win 93 games, a 23 game improvement from the previous year.
Collins was excellent again in 1916, posting 7.1 bWAR. The Sox won 89 games and finished just two back of the Red Sox in the AL.
World Champions
The White Sox hit their collective stride in 1917. Collins, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Happy Felsch all finished among the top-10 hitters in the AL by bWAR. Eddie Cicotte was the best pitcher in the American League. The team won the AL by nine games with a 100-54 record. Their .649 winning percentage, and 100 wins are still the best marks in franchise history.
In the World Series, the Sox were met by another 100-win club, John McGraw’s New York Giants.
Collins was excellent in the series, leading the Chicago offense with a .409/.458/.455 line in the six games. His go-ahead single in the bottom of the 8th inning of Game 5 was among the most pivotal plays of the entire series.
The Sox won the 1917 World Series in six games behind the excellent pitching of Cicotte, and emerging Franchise Phenom, Red Faber who earned three of the four Chicago wins.
After the Series
With the core of the team returning, it seemed the White Sox were poised for another big year in 1918. Instead, the team struggled. Cicotte and catcher Ray Schalk took major steps backwards after excellent 1917 seasons. Jackson, as well as pitchers Faber and Lefty Williams missed huge chunks of the season after enlisting in the armed forces for the home stretch in World War I. Collins himself joined the Marines and missed the final few weeks of the season. The defending champions finished just 57-67.
1919
1919 would prove to be very different. Collins, Jackson, and Williams returned from the service and posted big seasons. Cicotte returned to form. The White Sox won the American League at 88-52.
The National League was represented by the Cincinnati Reds, themselves having won 96 games. In an unusual twist, the teams agreed to play a best-of-nine series in 1919.
While the White Sox were favored to win the series, tensions over salary issues, and personal hostilities, left the team susceptible to threats from the outside. The baseball world watched as a plot initiated by gamblers to pay several members of the team to lose the World Series unfolded in plain sight.
Although the details of the scandal remain somewhat murky, even in the present day, the plot was exposed in the year following the series. Despite his poor play (.531 OPS in the 1919 series), Collins himself was not implicated in the conspiracy. The fact that he managed to stay on the right side of the affair appears to be a result of the combination of his personal character, and the fact that he was not on particularly good terms with many of the conspirators.
Life After the Black Sox
The 1920 White Sox won 96 games, but finished two games behind Cleveland in the American League. Collins paced the offense with 7.9 bWAR. When the scandal went public following the 1920 season, the baseball world was rocked to its core.
As a franchise, it would be decades before the White Sox could put 1919 in the rear-view mirror completely. The team would not play in a World Series again until 1959. They would not win one until 2005.
Collins would play six more seasons for the White Sox after eight of his teammates were banned from baseball. From 1921-1926, he averaged .343/.434/.438, 128 OPS+, and 4.9 bWAR for teams that ranged from mediocre to bad.
Despite remaining productive as a 39-year-old in 1926, Collins was released by the White Sox that off-season.
After the White Sox
Collins spent the 1927-1930 seasons back with the Athletics as a coach and part-time player.
In 1933, Collins became the Vice President and General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. While with the Red Sox he oversaw the acquisition of a number of Boston’s great players of the next generation, including Ted Williams.
Legacy
It is possible that Eddie Collins is the most underrated great player in Major League history. With 124 career bWAR, Collins ranks 13th all-time ahead of Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, and countless other icons.
Collins is part of a small group of players who would easily qualify as a Franchise Phenom for two different organizations. In fact, his 57.3 bWAR amassed as a member of the Athletics places him 5th all-time, just outside of their Mount RushWAR.
Collins finished sixth, or better, in the MVP voting seven different times in his career including three straight seasons with the White Sox from 1922-1924. He is Chicago’s all-time leader in stolen bases (368).
Collins is the all-time Major League leader in games played (2650), and assists (7630), as a second baseman. He ranks 8th all-time in stolen bases (741), 10th in bWAR for position players (124) and times on base (4891). He also ranks among the top-20 in triples (12th), OBP (13th), runs (17th), and walks (19th).
Every week at Franchise Phenoms, I plan to release the all-time 25 man roster for a new franchise.
In addition to publishing the 25-man roster, there will be other content related to the history of the franchise’s best players.
I chose to begin with the Chicago White Sox. I have lived most of my life in Northwest Indiana, a short 40-minute drive from the ballpark on the South Side of Chicago. For better or worse, I was raised a White Sox fan, and that’s where we will begin.
Franchise Overview
The White Sox were founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League. Only eight National League franchises have played more seasons than the White Sox.
Their three World Series championships (1906, 1917, 2005) have them tied for 10th most in history.
The White Sox are one of 13 teams to have a franchise winning percentage over .500. Their .503 mark puts them at 11th best in history.
Despite a long history of respectability, White Sox fans have struggled as often as not.
The Sox went without a World championship from 1917-2005. The club made just two World Series appearances in the meantime.
The 1919 club had the second best record of any team in Sox history before infamously conspiring with gamblers to throw the World Series. This cloud hung over the franchise for decades as the Sox made just one more World Series trip in the next 85 years.
The most telling statistic in White Sox history might be the fact that the percentage of the team’s seasons in which they have made the playoffs is the lowest of any team in history at just 7.63%.
For a franchise that has frequently fielded winning teams, the Sox have rarely rewarded their fans with a chance to see baseball in October.
Hitters
Starting Lineup
Name
Position
B/T
bWAR/ 650
OPS+
Years Played
1.
Joe Jackson
LF
L/R
3.6
159
1915-20
2.
Eddie Collins
2B
L/R
6.2
133
1915-26
3.
Frank Thomas
DH (1B)
R/R
5.3
161
1990-2005
4.
Minnie Minoso
RF (LF/3B)
R/R
4.7
133
1951-57, 60-61, 64, 76, 80
5.
Paul Konerko
1B
R/R
2.1
120
1999-2014
6.
Robin Ventura
3B (1B)
L/R
4.9
117
1989-98
7.
Luke Appling
SS
R/R
4.8
113
1930-50
8.
Fielder Jones
CF
L/R
4.3
112
1901-08
9.
Sherm Lollar
C
R/R
3.6
106
1952-63
Bench
OF
Magglio Ordonez
RF
R/R
4.0
127
1997-2004
OF
Harold Baines
RF
L/L
2.4
118
1980-89, 96-97, 00-01
IN
Luis Aparicio
SS
R/R
3.6
83
1956-62, 68-70
IN
Nellie Fox
2B
L/R
3.3
95
1950-63
C
Ray Schalk
C
R/R
3.1
83
1912-28
The White Sox careers of Frank Thomas, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Eddie Collins place them among the elite in this entire exercise.
A two-time A.L. MVP, and Hall of Famer, Thomas would start at first base or DH for the all-time team of every single franchise without requiring much shuffling to make it work. Thomas is unquestionably one of the best hitters in history.
No team has three outfielders who were better hitters than Shoeless Joe was for the White Sox. It was a tough decision as to whether or not to include Jackson in this exercise given his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Considering his performance record in the games in question, and the fact that some historians dispute his guilt, I gave him the benefit of the doubt where others throughout history have not.
Collins is part of a rare breed of player who would be a lock to start for two different franchises if I permitted players to appear for more than one team. He was actually a better player on a rate basis with the Athletics, but accrued more playing time and total value for the White Sox.
For a team with such a long history, it’s not surprising to find that most of the starters for the Sox are approximately average at worst when compared to their counterparts on other teams.
At shortstop, Luke Appling is a Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with the franchise. His contact/on-base skills and above-average defense over a 20-year career put him in rarefied air among South Side greats. He was a seven-time All Star who twice finished second in the MVP voting.
Third baseman Robin Ventura was an extremely underrated player for his 10 seasons with the Sox. He won six Gold Gloves while providing consistently above-average offensive production.
As a solid hitter who provided no value defensively, or on the bases, Paul Konerko is among the 5-10 weakest starting franchise first baseman. Konerko became the face of the White Sox for the better part of a decade following the 2005 World Series. He was named the team’s captain, and was beloved by the organization’s fans. On a value basis, there is a case for his teammate, Magglio Ordonez to be inserted into the starting lineup. Given that Konerko is on the right side of the team’s improbable 2005 championship run, he gets the nod. Konerko was a six-time All Star.
Fielder Jones is the only member of the all-time Sox roster who played for the team during it’s inaugural season in 1901. Jones began his career with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in the National League before posting eight seasons as an above-average hitter and solid outfielder for the Sox.
Cuban baseball icon Minnie Minoso gets the nod in right field. Minoso was an elite offensive player who was a seven-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover during his 12 seasons with the Sox. Minoso finished fourth in the MVP voting four different times with the Sox. He was famously brought back for cameo appearances with the club in 1976 and 1980 making him one of only two players to appear in the big leagues during five different decades.
Catcher Sherm Lollar played 12 years on the South Side. He was a six-time All Star, and won three Gold Gloves while playing for the Sox. He gets the starting nod over Hall of Famer Ray Schalk on the strength of a significantly better offensive career.
Bench
The Sox bench boasts three Hall of Famers who were excellent all around players over long careers with the club in Ray Schalk (C), Nellie Fox (2B), and Luis Aparicio (SS).
Schalk received MVP votes four different times in his 17 years with the Sox.
Fox was a 12-time All Star who led the league in hits four times. He added three Gold Gloves and is well-regarded for his defense. In 1959, as the best player on the American League Champion “Go-Go” White Sox, Fox was also the AL MVP.
Aparicio played 10 of his 18 seasons with the White Sox. He was a six-time All Star and seven-time Gold Glover in Chicago. He led the league in stolen bases for nine straight seasons to begin his career, seven of which were with the Sox. In 1959, he finished second to his double play partner Fox in the MVP race.
Organizational favorite Harold Baines was the first overall draft pick in 1977. He was a solid hitter, and four-time All Star in 14 seasons with the Sox. Some of his best offensive seasons were spent as a designated hitter in exile with other American League teams in the 1990s.
Venezuelan right fielder Magglio Ordonez rounds out the offense. Ordonez was a four-time All Star in eight seasons with the Sox. Terrible timing of a nasty knee injury in 2004 hastened his departure via free agency to Detroit the following winter. Maggs remained a productive hitter with Detroit including a second place MVP finish in 2007.
Pitchers
Starting Rotation
Name
B/T
ERA+
Years Played
1.
Ed Walsh
R/R
147
1904-16
2.
Billy Pierce
L/L
123
1949-61
3.
Mark Buehrle
L/L
120
2000-11
4.
Red Faber
S/R
119
1914-33
5.
Chris Sale
L/L
135
2010-16
Bullpen
LR
Ted Lyons
S/R
118
1923-46
RP
Bobby Thigpen
R/R
126
1986-93
RP
Bobby Jenks
R/R
136
2005-10
RP
Roberto Hernandez
R/R
154
1991-97
SU
Keith Foulke
R/R
166
1997-2002
CL
Hoyt Wilhelm
R/R
171
1963-68
The White Sox boast the sixth best starting pitching rotation of any all-time team by average ERA+.
Hall of Famer Ed Walsh spent 13 seasons with the Sox during which time he was, at times, arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He accumulated nearly all of his career value in Chicago. His 1.82 career ERA and 2.02 FIP are the best in baseball history.
Billy Pierce spent 13 seasons on the South Side. He was a seven-time All Star. He led the league in Wins, Strikeouts, and ERA at different times during his White Sox tenure.
Mark Buehrle is perhaps one of the more improbable all-time greats in history. A soft-tossing left-hander who first signed as a 38th round pick, Buehrle was a four-time All Star in 12 seasons for the Sox. He threw both a perfect game and a no-hitter with the Sox. He is one of just seven players to accomplish that feat in history.
Hall of Famer Red Faber pitched his entire 20-year career for the Sox. He led the league in ERA and Complete Games in back to back seasons (1921-22).
The most controversial selection to the White Sox pitching staff is probably Chris Sale. Sale pitched just seven seasons and 1110 innings with the Sox before being traded to Boston after the 2016 season. Sale was a five-time All Star with the White Sox, finishing sixth or better in the Cy Young voting in each of those seasons. He led the league in Strikeouts and ERA+ once each along the way. A quick Twitter Poll of my followers indicated most fans believe he had done enough to qualify for the list.
Bullpen
The White Sox have a long history of solid relief pitching as well. The average ERA+ of their relievers is third best of any all-time team.
As is my custom, most teams stash another elite starting pitcher in their bullpen. Hall of Famer Ted Lyons was bumped from the rotation to include Sale, but his 21-year White Sox career lands him in the pen. Lyons led the league in Wins and Innings twice each, and ERA once, during his career. He did make 110 career relief appearances.
Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm gets the nod at closer. Wilhelm pitched for nine different teams in his career, but threw more innings for the Sox than any other. An old-school fireman who averaged nearly two innings per appearance for the Sox, Wilhelm was dominant during his six seasons on the South Side.
Like Wilhelm, change up specialist Keith Foulke spent six years with the Sox finishing 10th in the 1999 Cy Young vote.
Roberto Hernandez spent seven seasons with the Sox before bouncing around to nine other teams. He finished sixth in the Cy Young voting and was an All Star in 1996.
Bobby Jenks burst onto the scene for the Sox in 2005 before earning the closer’s role late in the regular season. His 100+ MPH heater helped him convert four of five save chances that October including the World Series clincher. He made the All Star team in 2006-2007 before departing as a free agent after the 2010 season.
Bobby Thigpen spent eight seasons with the Sox. He had a career year in 1990 making the All Star team and finishing in the top-five in both the Cy Young and MVP voting. His 57 saves that year stood as the single season record until 2008 when Francisco Rodriguez saved 62 for the Angels. He is Chicago’s franchise leader with 201 career saves.
