Four factoids today:

November 3, 1983 – Tony LaRussa, who guided the White Sox to a 99-win season and their first playoff appearance in 24 years, was named the Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

It was the first year the organization handed out that award.

LaRussa received 17 of a possible 28 votes to take the honor. He beat out the Orioles Joe Altobelli who picked up seven first place votes.

LaRussa would also take Manager of the Year honors from The Sporting News and the Associated Press.

November 3, 1988 - The Sox named Jeff Torborg as the team’s new field manager.

Torborg, a former Major League catcher, and Indian’s manager, gained notable success with the club. His team and family philosophy took hold and a young group of players stunned the baseball world by winning 94 games in 1990. He would be named Manager of the Year that season. He followed up that year by winning 87 games in 1991 before being forced out by then Sox G.M. Ron Schueler who wanted to hire his own man.

Torborg by the way, is the only man in baseball history, to have caught a perfect game from Sandy Koufax and a no-hitter from Nolan Ryan as he played for the Dodgers and Angels from 1964 through 1973. He also caught a third no-hitter courtesy of the Dodgers Bill Singer.

November 3, 2003 - Former Sox All-Star shortstop Ozzie Guillen was named the team’s manager replacing Jerry Manuel. The “Wizard of Oz” immediately set about changing the fortunes of the franchise. His “Ozzie-Ball” philosophy of pitching, smart/aggressive base running, defense and doing the little things instead of just waiting for the home run would help lead to a World Series title in 2005, the season he would be named Manager of the Year. He’d return to the playoffs with the club in 2008.

Before being allowed to leave in late September 2011, Guillen appeared to be headed for a very long career on the South Side but his relationship changed with then G.M. Kenny Williams and a parting was best for all concerned.

 

November 3, 2022 – The White Sox named former Royals coach Pedro Grifol the club’s new manager replacing Tony LaRussa who officially retired due to health concerns in October.

Grifol who played college baseball at Florida State and got as high as Triple-A, but never spent a day in the Major Leagues, spent 10 years in the Royals organization and before that had a lengthy stay in the Mariners ranks. His hiring as an outsider, someone who had no connection to either Jerry Reinsdorf or the White Sox organization, marked the first time that had happened in the managerial search since Jerry Manuel got the position before the start of the 1998 season.

His hiring turned out to be a disaster and he was fired in August 2024 as the team was losing a Major League record 121 games.

Damn shame that Torborg was forced out. I always liked him and thought he was a great manager

4 minutes ago, Melton1972 said:

Damn shame that Torborg was forced out. I always liked him and thought he was a great manager

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.)

ML: Was there any truth to the rumor that part of the reason the organization was upset with you was because of the way you handled your bullpen and how Bobby Thigpen just fell apart.

JT: “I had heard that I was being criticized by some of the guys upstairs on that. I mean Larry Monroe (Author’s Note: Advisor to the Baseball Department and former Sox pitcher), Ed Farmer, and Ron (Schueler.) They all wanted Scott Radinsky to be the closer. Now Scott was a good pitcher and he could be a closer but at that time he wasn’t ready.  The criticism was laughable; remember this was the bullpen that was the best in baseball in 1990.” (Author’s Note: The Sox won the Rolaids Relief Team Bullpen of the Year Award based on their record of 29-21 with 68 saves and an ERA of 3.16. The bullpen was primarily made up of right handers Bobby Thigpen, Barry Jones and Donn Pall and left handers Scott Radinsky, Kenny Patterson and Wayne Edwards.)

“As far as Bobby was concerned we played a game against the A’s in 1991. We had a lead and Bobby came in to pitch the 8^th inning for Alex Fernandez and a pitch got away from him and hit Terry Steinbach in the head. Tony (LaRussa) went crazy, I still remember him throwing a bat and my first thought was ‘what if that hit a fan? What kind of a lawsuit would he be looking at?’

“Anyway it was an ugly, ugly game, we lost the lead, wound up losing the game but there was a big fight after Steinbach got hit. Bobby was down on the bottom of the pile and he hurt his back. I think that’s why he lost his effectiveness not because of anything that I or the coaching staff did.” (Author’s Note: The game was played on June 1, 1991. The A’s came from behind to win 7-4.)

1 hour ago, Melton1972 said:

Damn shame that Torborg was forced out. I always liked him and thought he was a great manager

Typical White Sox boneheaded move. I agree, he was a great manager.