This Day In Sox History 10/29...

Four factoids today:

October 29, 1956 - Al Lopez replaced Marty Marion as field manager.

Marion who did a fine job in replacing Paul Richards had missed an important board meeting to be with his family at an event. It was all the excuse the Sox needed to let him go despite third place finishes and winning records in 1955 and 1956.

“The Senor” though would prove to be a most able replacement. Lopez had nine straight winning seasons with the club and copped the 1959 American League pennant. Many say he was the finest manager in team history.

He holds the franchise record for the highest winning percentage for any manager who lasted at least five full seasons at .562 Lopez eventually won 840 games over nine full seasons and two partial ones with the Sox.

October 29, 1986 - Larry Himes was hired to replace Ken Harrelson as White Sox G.M.

Himes, almost inarguably one of the best White Sox G.M.’s in history (albeit four years’ worth), helmed by far the best stretch of draft picks in team history: Jack McDowell (1987), Robin Ventura (1988), Frank Thomas (1989) and Alex Fernandez (1990). Yes, all four were Top 10 picks, but if the late 2010s told you anything it was that Top 10 picks came with no assurances. The four players ended up creating 149.6 WAR in their White Sox careers and include Thomas as a Hall-of-Famer.

In addition, Himes struck one of the most brilliant trades in team history in 1989 when he swapped Harold Baines to the Rangers for Sammy Sosa and Wilson Alvarez. He also hired manager Jeff Torborg.

He would be fired in September 1990 after philosophical differences between him and ownership, in particular Jerry Reinsdorf, made working together impossible. At the press conference announcing Himes’ firing Reinsdorf let his feelings be known loud and clear. "Larry Himes took us from point A to point B. He was very successful in getting us to point B. We need to get to point C. It’s our opinion that Larry Himes is not the best person to get us to point C — a world’s championship."

October 29, 2013 - After weeks of rumors and leaks, the White Sox officially announced the signing of Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu to a record-breaking international deal of six years, 68 million dollars.

The White Sox uncharacteristically outbid more free-spending teams like the Red Sox, Astros, Rangers,  and Giants, necessitating a deal that topped the previous record of 42 million for an international free agent (Yasiel Puig by the Dodgers). Abreu, given reservations about his all-around play and even his hitting ability in the majors, had been projected as a 54-million-dollar player by MLB Trade Rumors. As we know now, Abreu proved a bargain in nearly every one of his nine White Sox seasons, totaling 31.8 WAR for the club. That places him as the second-best first baseman in franchise history, 11th-best hitter, and 19th-best overall player.

Abreu also received M.V.P. votes in seven of his nine seasons, and won the award outright in 2020.

October 29, 2020 – In a move that stunned the baseball world and angered many White Sox fans, Hall of Famer Tony LaRussa was announced as the new manager signing a multi-year contract.

LaRussa began his career with the Sox from 1979 to 1986 posting four winning seasons and taking the 1983 Western Division championship. But he hadn’t managed since retiring at the end of the 2011 season with the Cardinals and his age was a concern to many given the global pandemic.

LaRussa though was at the forefront of the analytical revolution in baseball, was the first manager to set up a bullpen to bridge things to a closer, and won World Series titles in Oakland and St. Louis. Since 2011 he worked in the front offices for Arizona, Boston and the Angels. With the White Sox feeling they had moved into serious contention for championships with a young, talented team, LaRussa appeared to be, in their minds, the man to take them to the next level. 

At 76 he became the third oldest person to manage a Major League team behind “Connie” Mack and Jack McKeon. And under his guidance the Sox, despite crippling injuries, won 93 games and the Central Division title in the 2021 season before losing to the Astros in the A.L.D.S.

The 2022 season though was another story as he was heavily criticized for some bizarre managerial decisions, unusual line up combinations and his awkward rambling press conferences. It culminated with him having to leave the club before the game on August 30 due to health concerns and retiring for good.