Chicago White Sox- and other great players

OK, there's not much to be thrilled about this summer for us White Sox fans. The only moves involving our club where that of players leaving. But things aren't all bad. Ozzie seems to be an ok manager, at least from the way the players have been talking. Spring training has been pretty quiet, but when you're talking about White Sox spring training, no news is good news. But still, this season is looking to be pretty depressing.

I came up with an idea to cheer myself up, and any other White Sox fans that probably aren't out there. Contrary to popular belief, not all of the greats played for the yankees. We had some pretty darn good players as well. I'm posting some info about a great Sox player from the past. I hope some one out there will do the same. In fact, it doesn't even have to be a Sox player (though it would best), just a player that you have a certain affinity towards. You didn't have to see him play or even be alive when he played. Hell, Billy Crystal's favorite yankee is Roger Marris. So here goes nothing.


My player is one "Shoeless" Joe Jackson



Shoeless Joe has the third highest career batting average in the history of baseball.

He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1915 to 1920. 1920 was the year that he was banned from baseball for taking part in throwing the 1919 World Series. There is still a debate as to whether he should have been banned. Many, including myself, believe that he did not take part in the fix. I draw this conclusion from the fact that he was judged innocent in both the federal and civil trials that followed the series, as well as simply looking at his World Series performance. The fact that Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte(Great Sox pitcher) won the Sox three of the WS games despite the fact that their own teammates were working against them. What Joe was guilty of was what is called “guilty knowledge”. He knew that a fix was being planned. He was approached to take part in it by a teammate(seeing as how he was the best player), but refused. He was offered 20 thousand dollars to take part, but still refused. Before the WS started he went to Charles Comisky, then owner of the Whitesox, to tell him of the fix but was not believed. At the time, it was thought of as impossible to fix the World Series. Joe’s crime was not going to the press. Something he didn’t do for many reasons that I won’t get into. Anyways, Joe went on to play in the tainted Series, and he played his heart out. He set a new WS record with a batting average of .370. He hit the only home run in the series, and scored 11 of the Whitesox 20 runs.

Shoeless Joe Jackson died in his home town in rural South Carolina in1951, banned from the sport that he loved. He was truly a great player, and I’m proud to remember him as a White Sox great.

I hope to see a response from someone out there. I know the Baseball forum isn't the busiest on Bigsoccer.

 

Nice. I grew up three blocks from that stadium in Bridgeport. I still remember crying when they tore it down. That was back when we had the best stadium in Chicago. Now there's just Wrigley Field, which I refuse to set foot in.

 

Because then the stadium wouldn't be located in a giant beer garden. Without that, it wouldn't be "cool" to be a Cubs fan anymore and no one would go to the games. Thus ending their need for a larger capacity.


The good news.

White Sox -- First in our division

Cubs -- Third in theirs and struggling to stay above .500

 

Well, he's 3-0 with 14 strike outs and 1 shut out, so i'd say he's off to a pretty darn good start. I doubt he'll match last year though. Don't get me wrong, he's still a great pitcher and he's actually improved his slider, but last year he was flat out dominant. He tied the record for wins by a Mexican pitcher and started the All Star game. That's a pretty tall order. I'm predicting something along the lines of a 16 win season with not as many strike outs. Not bad by any means, but not quite last years performance.

 

We're still in first place. Woohoo!