THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 8TH/TV, Thiggy

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: MARCH 8TH

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YOU’RE ON THE AIR!

1948: The White Sox will have their games put on that new-fangled device called television, it was revealed on this date. The plan was for WGN, which was billed a “new television station” in the Chicago Tribune, to air the White Sox home schedule in its entirety. Jack Brickhouse and Harry Creighton would call the games until 1954 when Vince Lloyd joined the team. This began a relationship which would have the White Sox exclusively on WGN through 1967 before they moved to WFLD. The Sox relationship with WGN resumed in 1981 for a year and again in 1990.

BAD OMEN FOR THIGGY

1993: Bobby Thigpen, the White Sox career saves leader, fashioned another stinker in the White Sox 11-5 win over the Minnesota Twins in a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. Thigpen yielded five runs in an inning on the heels of his spring debut in which he surrendered five earned runs in one inning. “It’s spring training, who cares,” Thigpen said after the turbulent outing against Minnesota. Truth be told, Thipgen was never the same after that historic 57-save season of 1990. By the time of this rough spring start, Thigpen had lost his closer’s job to Roberto Hernandez. 1993 was a struggle for Thigpen. On Aug. 10, he was dealt to Philadelphia for Jose DeLeon.

CINTRON ACQUIRED

2006: The White Sox obtained some depth and versatility when they acquired infielder Alex Cintron from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Jeff Bajenaru. Cintron, who was playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic at the time of the trade, had compiled a .279 average while playing second, short and third in five seasons with the Diamondbacks. Cintron would go on to hit .285 in 91 games for the 2006 Sox and .243 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 68 games for the 2007 White Sox. He was released after the 2007 season.