December 14, 20232 yr December 14, 1965 - In an unexpected move the Sox named “The Brat,” Eddie Stanky as the team’s new manager replacing the retired Al Lopez. Stanky was an intense, obsessed man. He was the 60's managerial version of Billy Martin or Earl Weaver. Stanky knew baseball and was a genius at tactical decisions but he was also extremely unpopular with many of his players. He imposed a curfew, dress code and a rigorous calisthenics program on the team. He would fine players (or bench them) every time they weren’t able to lay down a bunt, hit a sacrifice fly or advance runners into scoring position. He offered a new suit of clothes for any pitcher who threw a complete game with at least a certain number of ground ball outs. For stolen bases or advancing into scoring position, a player would get a new pair of dress shoes. He’d have winning seasons in 1966 and 1967 nearly taking the pennant, but by early 1968 his act had grown old and he was fired… replaced with…Al Lopez! December 14, 1994 - The Sox traded former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell to the Yankees for two minor league players. McDowell was the most successful pitcher in the American League between 1990 and 1994 winning a total of 73 games along with the Cy Young Award. He’d win 20 or more games twice in that span making the All-Star team three times. The move, which left the Sox pitching staff without its leader, proved very costly during the 1996 Wild Card collapse and was done purely for financial reasons related to the labor situation that cost the team the last two months of the 1994 season.
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