THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: DECEMBER 29TH

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: DECEMBER 29TH

 

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POST-CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE

1939: In one of their more active days in recent memory, the White Sox executed three transactions – two sales and one trade. The trade turned out to be a darn good one. The Sox acquired versatile infielder Don Kolloway from Oklahoma City for catcher Tony Rensa and second baseman Jesse Landrum. Neither player the Sox surrendered ever played in the bigs again but Kolloway went on to have some productive years for on the Southside despite having his career interrupted during the World War II years. Kolloway’s best season was 1942 when he hit .273 with three homers, 60 RBIs and a league-leading 40 doubles. Also on this day, the Sox sold part-time outfielder Hank Steinbacher and little-used catcher Norm Schlueter to the St. Louis Browns. Neither move would ever haunt the team.

 

WAS 27 HIS LUCKY NUMBER?

1992: The White Sox signed catcher Rick Wrona. The journeyman’s only noteworthy spot in Sox annals was that he was the catcher who replaced Carlton Fisk after the Sox had released Fisk. Wrona played in just four games while the Sox waited for recent signee Mike LaValliere to get ready to complement Ron Karkovice. Wrona also had the dubious distinction of wearing the No. 27 which was Fisk’s number in Boston. When Fisk came to Chicago, he reversed the number giving him the familiar 72 he would wear with the Sox. At the time, it was all a little puzzling.