Lip Man 1 Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 (edited) From the same people who brought you the Last Comiskey documentary comes a new one that will be released on You Tube in a few weeks. It's called Torborg and runs over 90 minutes. I'll have the You Tube link for everyone when it is released to the general public. This past weekend Jeff's family and friends had a celebration of his life in New Jersey and they were the first to see it. Included in the documentary will be comments from a number of baseball people including Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Guillen, Scott Fletcher, Wayne Edwards, broadcaster Gary Thorne, Dave Gallagher, Jerry Reuss, Matt Merullo, Dan Evans, broadcaster Tom Shaer, broadcaster John Rooney, Lance Johnson, Donn Pall, Scott Radinsky, Jack McDowell, Phil Bradley and others. I've seen both the trailer and the full documentary because of my participation and I can tell you it is a wonderful retrospective of his life. The world lost a good man. https://www.southsidesox.com/2025/1/20/24347853/the-right-man-for-the-right-franchise-jeff-torborg-chicago-white-sox-dies-age-83 Edited June 10 by Lip Man 1 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Middle Buffalo Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Nice job. Those were some fun teams to watch - especially the rivalry with the A’s. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 1990 team was the most fun for a young Sox baseball fan... Last year in the old stadium, Thomas/Ventura/McDowell and help coming along with the way with guys like Fernandez and Alvarez, Radinsky in the pen as a rookie. As a big "Skinny Panther" fan, that year was a total disaster for Sosa as Hrniak's lessons didn't take. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 18 minutes ago, caulfield12 said: 1990 team was the most fun for a young Sox baseball fan... Last year in the old stadium, Thomas/Ventura/McDowell and help coming along with the way with guys like Fernandez and Alvarez, Radinsky in the pen as a rookie. As a big "Skinny Panther" fan, that year was a total disaster for Sosa as Hrniak's lessons didn't take. Alvarez was in the system in 90, but made his debut 8-11-91. He threw a no-hitter. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Jeff Torborg was a classy guy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falstaff Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Jeff Torborg was respected and liked by everyone; I wish the Sox would have held on to him. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted June 10 Author Share Posted June 10 3 hours ago, Falstaff said: Jeff Torborg was respected and liked by everyone; I wish the Sox would have held on to him. He wanted to stay but then G.M. Ron Schueler wanted his own hire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 20 hours ago, flavum said: Alvarez was in the system in 90, but made his debut 8-11-91. He threw a no-hitter. Remember that. Watched it on WGN down home in PR. Friends were waiting for me to play baseball. I'm like nahhh watching the game, glad that I did. Against the orioles in the old Baltimore stadium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 6 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: He wanted to stay but then G.M. Ron Schueler wanted his own hire. I thought he wanted to be closer to his mother that's why he went to NY. People say Getz is bad I thought Schueler was horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownsportsfan Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 20 hours ago, flavum said: Alvarez was in the system in 90, but made his debut 8-11-91. He threw a no-hitter. I have this card, was worth more when it popped then now probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 14 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said: I have this card, was worth more when it popped then now probably. Was just gonna post that I got that one too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted June 11 Author Share Posted June 11 4 hours ago, JoshPR said: I thought he wanted to be closer to his mother that's why he went to NY. People say Getz is bad I thought Schueler was horrible This is from my interview with Jeff: ML: The Sox still won 87 games and looked ready to take the next step when word came that you resigned to take the Mets job. I remember reading that you wanted to be closer to your family in New Jersey, Jeff…but I’ve also heard rumors through the years that some in the front office didn’t care for the way you handled pitchers, specifically Bobby Thigpen who went downhill after 1991. When I’ve asked the guys you managed about that, like Donn Pall, he strongly defended the way you used the bullpen. Can you clear this up for me, why did you leave the White Sox? And were you forced out? JT: “My mother was in her 80’s at the time but the reason that I left to be closer to my family was just for public relations, we didn’t want to hurt any feelings. I didn’t want to leave the White Sox. I had no desire to leave…why would I? This was a good young team ready to win; my wife and I loved Chicago and our son Dale was just starting out at Northwestern. (Author’s Note: Dale Torborg now works for the White Sox after a career in professional wrestling as a strength coach) ML: Then obviously by your answer there’s more to the story than was told to fans at the time. What else was going on? JT: “Later in the season we were in Minnesota for a two game series, it was a must win series for us because we were running out of time and I heard Peter Gammons report on ESPN that my job was in jeopardy. I was thinking, ‘where is this coming from?’ Then the last home stand of the year when we played the Twins again, Ron Schueler came into my office before it started and he closed the door. I was wondering what was going on. Ron said to me, “The Mets called me today and they want to talk with you about the managing job.” I told him, “Ron, I appreciate it but I have no interest.” Ron said, “well think about it and I’ll come back in a few days. We’ll talk again.” I’m sitting there wondering what is going on, because I said I had no interest.” “So right before the last games, we had a makeup double header; Ron comes back and asks if I thought about the Mets offer. I told him again that I had no interest but then I said “Ron, I’ve got to ask you because this has come up, where I fit in with you and the organization?” He looked at me and said, “I think both of us would feel bad if you turned it down and then something happened.” “When he said that I had to think twice about what was happening. Ron and I never had a cross word between us that season but he wanted to hire his own guy, so when the Mets called I took the offer. It was the best thing for me financially but it was the worst move professionally I could have made. Ironically about a half hour after I verbally told the Mets I’d take the job the Yankees called and said they were firing “Stump” Merrill and offered me the position. I told them I had already given my word to the Mets and couldn’t go back on it but I didn’t want to leave the Sox in the first place.” (Author’s Note: Schueler and the organization first contacted former Sox coach Jimmy Leyland, then the manager of the Pirates about the position, but he turned them down instead suggesting his longtime base coach Gene Lamont, who got the job.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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