Today in White Sox History: January 22
Farewell, Homer Hands
1960
The White Sox introduced the first Major League Baseball jersey that had a player’s name on the back. It was the brainchild of owner Bill Veeck. At first the name was only on the road jersey, but starting in 1961 names were also on the backs of the home jerseys. The White Sox then removed the player names in 1971, before bringing them back in 1976. Names were removed again from 1987-90, but were added only on the road uniform midway through 1990. Their alternate black uniform would have player names when first introduced in 1991. Player names would return to the home uniform in 1997.
1976
Bob Lemon, former major league pitcher and within a year to become White Sox manager, was elected to the Hall of Fame on his 12th ballot (at the time, players had 15 years on the ballot before falling off if not elected). The 15-year veteran jumped 14% from his 1975 result to clear the 75% bar by 14 votes. Fellow starter Robin Roberts joined him as part of the 1976 BBWAA Hall class, with four others from the Veteran’s and Negro Leagues Committee getting enshrined.
1996
The White Sox dealt minor leaguers Charles Poe and Andrew Lorraine to the Oakland A’s for slugger Danny Tartabull. The enigmatic Tartabull had as much talent as anyone, but often didn’t show it. In 1996, he would put together a very good season on the South Side, with 27 home runs and 101 RBIs. Danny then signed a free agent deal with the Phillies for 1997.
Tartabull’s best game for the White Sox came in Boston on September 14, when he drove in six runs in a 13-5 win at Fenway Park. He went 2-for-4, scoring two runs. Four of his RBIs came on an eighth-inning grand slam.
Lorraine never made an impact in the majors beyond journeyman. Poe, who had been the outfielder demoted to make room for Michael Jordan at Double-A Birmingham, later returned to the White Sox organization as a minor league batting coach.
2016
The player responsible for renewing the Cuban Pipeline for the White Sox, Pinar del Rio native Alexei Ramírez, left the team after eight years and signed with the San Diego Padres.
Ramírez burst on the scene in 2008 to help pace the White Sox to an AL Central crown, contributing a team- and AL rookie-record four grand slams that summer. He had the misfortune of competing against Evan Longoria for Rookie of the Year (Ramírez was the decisive runner-up, despite playing out of position all season, at second base and in the outfield). Once he moved to his natural shortstop in 2009, he began a stellar run of six seasons on the South Side — including a terrific, 5.6 WAR, Silver Slugger season in 2010.
Ramírez would not find success outside of Chicago, getting released by San Diego (-1.6 WAR) 128 games into his 2016 and also having a negative-WAR stint with Tampa Bay. He never saw the majors after 2016.
Alexei’s 23.1 WAR ranks 21st all-time among White Sox hitters, fourth among shortstops, and 34th overall in team history. He also holds a career 0.00 ERA for his sole pitching stint for the Sox, in 2015.