Lip Man 1

February 2, 1982 - One of the concessions made by players in settling the 1981 labor impasse was the creation of a free agent compensation draft (the modern-day equivalent is a team surrendering a high amateur draft pick when signing a free agent). With Ed Farmer signing with the Phillies in the offseason, the White Sox made the first such draft pick in history, selecting Pirates catcher Joel Skinner from the compensation pool after losing Farmer. Skinner never did much in his limited time with the Sox only playing in 131 career games on the South Side over four seasons. He was traded to the Yankees during the 1986 season after a disastrous decision by G.M. Ken Harrelson to move Carlton Fisk to left field in order to open up more playing time for Skinner behind the plate. Skinner returned to the White Sox and managed in their minor league system from 2012-16.

https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/the-white-sox-dumped-luis-robert-jr-s-salary-but-now-feel-theyve-really-done-something-with-it

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/frank-thomas-chicago-white-sox-snub/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/01/white-sox-legend-frank-thomas-upset-with-being-left-off-black-history-month-graphic

Good point.

One has to ask why if this is true a "young kid" who "doesn't know much about Sox history" is: *Even working for the Sox *Didn't have someone else check his work, someone who does know Sox history

He had a kidney infection that wasn't diagnosed until later that season.

Plus you had the cancellations for two years, if I remember right with no explanation from the organization (it couldn't have anything to do with the fact they had two incredibly disastrous seasons could it?) 😆

Since they no longer do an Old Timers Game anymore this is the next best thing.

Another possible trade candidate if he stays healthy and can produce. Overall not a bad risk.

January 31, 1909 - Sox catcher Billy Sullivan secured a patent on the first chest protector. It contained a wind pad with compressed air. It was the forerunner of the modern catcher’s chest protector. Sullivan was the White Sox catcher from 1901 through 1912, missed the 1913 season, then came back to play for the team in 1914. January 31, 1956 – George “Buck” Weaver died at the age of 65 in Chicago. Weaver was one of the “Black Sox” that was banned from the game by then Commissioner Kenesaw “Mountain” Landis for his involvement in the fix of the 1919 World Series. Weaver, however, until he died, maintained his innocence and the record shows he hit .324 in the series with 11 hits, five for extra bases. He also was perfect in the field. Despite not taking any money from the gamblers Landis banned him because he knew about the fix but didn’t tell anyone about it. January 31, 2003 - U.S. Cellular Company and the White Sox signed an agreement selling the naming rights to Comiskey Park. The deal was worth 68 million dollars and the contract was for 23 years. The money received by the club contained the stipulation that it could only be used on renovations and upgrades for the stadium, not say, for signing free agents. Because of said renovations U.S. Cellular Field became one of the better-looking stadiums in baseball altering the original look which was heavily criticized by fans and media alike. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti sarcastically referred to the original design as a ‘ball-mall’ for example. The Guaranteed Rate company would then secure naming rights in November 2016.

JR and the front office has consistently said the revenue from one entity will not be used towards the other team that they own. Just FYI.

I was told by an individual actually connected to the Sox broadcasting operation that a number of more qualified individuals let the Sox know they'd be interested in the job and applied but for some reason Schriffen got the job. Why he did is a great question. It's clear the relationship between Benetti and the organization was fractured when Jason wanted to get a deal done before he talked to Fox and the Sox told him that wasn't necessary. That he should make a deal then come back to the Sox and they'd figure things out. So that's what he did. Then when he went back to the Sox, told them he'd need to miss 40 games because of commitments to Fox the Sox told him no and basically hung him out to dry. There was no going back after that. Maybe the Sox felt the deal with Fox wouldn't require him missing that number of games? No one really knows.

Correct but he is held in high regard by Brooks (who hired him) and letting him go without an 'out' for the organization makes certain people look bad and that could be a factor. Unless he does something incredibly stupid on the air I don't see him going until Ishbia takes over or he decides to leave on his own.

January 29, 1964 - Pitcher Jim Brosnan was given permission from the White Sox to seek a deal with another team, after G.M. Ed Short told him he would no longer be allowed to write stories and articles on the side. Brosnan previously had authored the classic book, “The Long Season”, as well as “Pennant Race” when he was with the Reds and also wrote for Sports Illustrated. Brosnan, who was acquired during the 1963 season and threw extremely well out of the pen with a 2.84 ERA and 15 saves for the pennant-chasing White Sox, would be released by the team on February 25. Brosnan never pitched another game in the majors; his career was over at age 34. Part of the reason Short may have felt he had the upper hand was because with relief pitchers like Hoyt Wilhelm, Eddie Fisher and Don Mossi the White Sox had one of the best bullpens in the game. January 29, 1981 - Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn gained control of the White Sox after American League owners turned down Bill Veeck’s attempt to sell to Eddie DeBartolo Sr. Reinsdorf’s original partner was William Farley but he dropped out, in part, because the Sox went out and signed free agents Ron LeFlore and Jim Essian while Bill Veeck was still in control. Farley didn’t approve of the team spending three million dollars for them even though Veeck got the money for the signings from DeBartolo. Reinsdorf originally was part of a group trying to buy the New York Mets. Einhorn originally was part of a group trying to get the San Diego Padres. DeBartolo was turned down over concerns that he might have ties with organized crime and his horse racing interests as well as not having any local or business ties to Chicago.

It is what it is, they'll still be the Chicago Bears.

Yes on both counts.

January 28, 1901 - The American League moved from minor-league status to the Majors, admitting the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia A’s and Boston Americans to join the existing Washington Nationals, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox. Three clubs (Indianapolis, Buffalo and Minneapolis) were cut from the A.L. The league played a 140-game schedule in 1901 and commenced a raid on National League talent. The White Sox had won the final Western League pennant, in 1900, and would finish first in the American League in 1901, with a record of 83-53-1. Both pennants ended the White Sox seasons, as there was no World Series in those years.

You have a good memory, Fain hit an inside the park grand slam vs. Philadelphia on June 16, 1954.

I remember when I had my first beer too! 😆 Sometimes I honestly think he does this to get a response because no one can be a baseball fan for a long time and think this under this ownership.

Sox Machine with a deep dive into Sox bullpen acquisitions the past few years. (Hint: Cover your eyes...): https://soxmachine.com/2026/01/with-seranthony-dominguez-white-sox-return-to-investing-in-relievers

January 27, 1953 - It was one of those deals that was too good to be true and unfortunately that turned out to be the case, as the Sox acquired two-time A.L. batting champ Ferris “Burrhead” Fain from the Philadelphia A’s as part of a five-player deal. Fain never approached those numbers in Chicago, was a distraction off the field, got hurt himself, and was rumored to have gotten into a fight with second baseman Nellie Fox that resulted in injuries. Lockers were supposedly pushed on Fox during the altercation and he was pinned under them. The fight was thought to have taken place after a game in Washington D.C. against the Senators. In 1953 Fain walked 108 times and in 1954 he hit .308 but despite those numbers and two All-Star appearances he was sent to Detroit after the 1954 campaign. January 27, 2005 - So who needs scouts? (Just joking...) Sox G.M. Ken Williams signed Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi after watching video tape on him. Iguchi turned into a very solid second baseman and second hitter in the lineup… delivering defense, home runs and RBI’s to a team that would go on to take the World Series. Iguchi's three run home run in game #2 of the 2005 A.L.D.S. turned that game around and gave the Sox a commanding two game lead in the best of five series and then the following year in 2006, his single in the 19th inning on July 9 beat the Red Sox 6-5. That game was tied for the fifth longest in franchise history. His best offensive game came a few weeks earlier in a 10-9 extra inning loss to the Astros. Iguchi drove in seven runs, five scoring on home runs in both the eighth and ninth innings at U.S. Cellular Field. On April 15 of that same year he turned in one of the most incredible defensive plays in Major League history throwing out the Blue Jays Bengie Molina in the ninth inning of a 4-2 White Sox win. Iguchi threw the ball to first base sailing horizontally off the ground and from a most unusual throwing angle.

Teams regularly give medical updates in spring training or right before it. (Now spring training may not be in your definition of "off season" but it is in mine)

I've said it before and I'll say it again you need another drink or six.

True, the White Sox don't give out a lot of injury info and when they do it tends to be on the optimistic side (which lately has proven to be very wrong...)