THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOV. 30/Pierce, Hemond, Paulie

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: NOV. 30

 

For more, see www.whitesoxalmanac.com

 

1961: One of the great careers in franchise history came to an end when the White Sox dealt stylish lefty Billy Pierce to the San Francisco Giants in a six-player swap. The Sox sent pitcher Don Larsen, he of the World Series perfect game, to the West Coast and received pitchers Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni, first baseman-outfielder Bob Farley and a player to be named later (the Sox received pitcher Verle Tiefenthaler on Aug. 17, 1962 to complete the deal). Pierce, who started with the Sox in 1949, left the Southside tops in franchise history with 1,796 strikeouts (a record that still stands) and first among lefties (fourth overall) with 186 wins. He was a two-time 20-game winner and a four-time All-Star. Pierce won 16 games for the 1962 N.L. champion Giants and then struggled with a 3-11 mark in 1963. After going 3-0 out of the Giant bullpen in 1964, Pierce was released. Pierce has always been one of the nicest and most popular players in White Sox history. He is still a fixture on the Southside and remains – deservedly so – one of the most revered figures in Sox history. The best part of the deal for the Sox was Fisher, who was a workhorse out of the bullpen between 1962 and 1965.

 

2000: The White named Roland Hemond executive advisor to the general manager. Ken Williams hired the affable Hemond shortly after being hired GM. Williams couldn’t have made a better choice. In addition to be extremely popular with fans and in the game, Hemond was a three-time winner of Major League Baseball’s Executive of the Year Award.

 

2005: The White Sox re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko, who was the quiet force behind the team’s run to the 2005 World Series title. The Sox gave the reigning MVP of the American League Championship Series a five-year deal. Konerko had filed for free agency but ultimately decided to return to the team that he led to the World Series title the previous October.