November 11 has produced a few notable White Sox milestones, and the biggest one came all the way back in 1926, when the club made a stunning change at the top.
Eddie Collins, the second baseman-manager and future Hall of Famer, was released as both player and manager, and Ray Schalk stepped in to take over the dugout as well. The move came with no warning phone call, a detail that suggests there was at least some awkwardness - if not outright bad blood - between Collins and owner Charles Comiskey.
The strange part is that Collins had just overseen an 81-72 season in 1926 and also contributed at the plate, hitting .344 with 4.3 WAR. But his work in the manager’s chair was a different story. He posted -4.7 managerial WAR that year, after finishing at -3.1 mWAR in 1925.
Even after that ending, Collins still had one more strong chapter left. He latched on with his old club, the Philadelphia A’s, as a player-coach and turned in one final excellent season in 1927, batting .336 with 2.3 WAR.
Schalk’s run in charge didn’t go much better. He played in only 18 games in Chicago over two seasons as a player-manager, and the White Sox went 102-125 during his time at the helm. His lone full season as manager produced -5.8 mWAR, making him an even less effective manager than Collins by that measure.
Still, Collins’ White Sox teams all finished above .500, and he closed out his managerial career with a 174-160 record.
Another November 11 birthdate belongs to Roberto Hernández, who was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1964. He came to the White Sox in a minor deal with the Angels in 1989 and was pitching for Chicago two years later. After struggling in the second and third of his three starts in 1989, Hernández moved to the bullpen, and with Bobby Thigpen’s rapid decline, he became the White Sox closer for good in mid-August.
Hernández would go on to appear in 345 games for Chicago. His best season on the South Side came in 1996, when he posted 4.1 WAR and finished sixth in Cy Young voting. The following year, he was part of the “White Flag Trade” with the San Francisco Giants.
By the time he left, Hernández had 161 saves, then second-most in White Sox history behind Thigpen and still third all-time.
The White Sox also made a notable coaching hire on this date in 1981, bringing in Charley Lau as batting coach on an unprecedented six-year contract. The move fit Lau’s reputation and his influential approach to hitting, which had already been associated with George Brett’s success in Kansas City and captured in his book, The Art of Hitting .300.
Lau’s time in Chicago was cut short. He lived through only the first two years of the deal before dying of colon cancer prior to the 1984 season at age 50. Since then, his No. 6 has been unofficially retired by the White Sox and worn only by Lau disciple Walt Hriniak during his coaching stint in Chicago.
Finally, November 11 also marks the day Alexei Ramírez earned his first Silver Slugger in 2010, the only White Sox player to receive the honor that year. It was the breakout season of his career, the best he ever had in the majors, and the award fit. He later won a second Silver Slugger in 2014, before leaving baseball two years after that.
In Other News...
White Sox May Be Eyeing Another Pitching Move Fans Should Watch
The White Sox have already shown they are willing to keep an eye on the Japanese market, and it makes sense given how much attention that path has gotten around the league. After the clubs interest in Munetaka Murakami, Chicago also sent scouts to take a look at right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira, another name drawing notice in Japans Pacific League.
For a team still trying to build out its pitching depth, the possibility of adding help from overseas is the part worth watching. Taira is one target, but he may not be the only one on the White Sox radar, with Shota Imanaga also mentioned as a free-agent possibility if Chicago decides to keep pressing in that direction. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Rotation Search Just Added Another Intriguing Free Agent
The White Sox are still combing the free-agent market for starting pitching, and the list of names tied to their rotation search keeps growing. Chicago has been connected to several arms as it looks to add a starter who can help stabilize the group, with the club clearly aiming higher than a simple stopgap and hoping to find someone who can fit near the top or middle of the staff.
One more intriguing possibility is Dustin May, a right-hander with recent postseason experience who would bring a different look to the mix. For the White Sox, though, he appears to be more of a depth target than the headline move, which leaves the bigger question of which arm ultimately becomes the priority as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Rotation Search Just Took An Intriguing Veteran Turn
The White Sox are still casting a wide net in their search for starting pitching, and a veteran name has now surfaced as part of the mix. On the CHSN White Sox Podcast, ESPNs Jesse Rogers said Chicago is talking to free agent right-hander Nick Pivetta, a sign the club is leaving no stone unturned as it tries to bolster a rotation that needs more certainty.
Pivettas appeal is easy to understand for a team looking for help without getting locked into a long-term mistake. He is entering his age-34 season and comes with a recent track record that includes a breakout year in San Diego, though injuries have complicated the picture since then. The White Sox are still weighing internal and external options, so this remains one piece of a broader pitching search, but it is the kind of veteran turn that can matter if the price fits. [Read more 🡒]