Recent Sox One-Hit Wonders

[StatManDu]

RECENT ONE-HIT WONDERS

Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of Julio Franco’s signing with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, thus ending his one-year career with the White Sox. Franco hit .319 with 20 home runs and 98 RBIs in just 112 games as the White Sox designated hitter, making him one of the top “one-hit” wonders in franchise history.

Was Franco the best “one-hit” wonder in recent Sox history. Here are some others to against which to judge him. Since it was the great Bill Veeck that mastered the “rent-a-player” concept and it conveniently coincides with dawn of free agency, let’s use Veeck’s second ownership of the club as a starting point (WHOM DID I FORGET?):

Ellis Burks, 1993: Revived an injury-riddled career by hitting .275 with 17 homers and 74 RBIs as the right fielder for the 1993 A.L. Western Division champs. … Gloved the final out in the division clincher. … Hit .304 with a homer and three RBIs in the 1993 A.L. Championship Series. … Granted free agency after the season and signed with Colorado.

Bartolo Colon, 2003: Chunky right-hander with a blazing fastball went 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA and a league-leading nine complete games. … Sox made an effort to sign him after the season but the price was too high and Colon signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he went on to be a Cy Young winner.

Joe Cowley, 1986: Burly right-hander went 11-11 with a 3.88 ERA in 27 starts – following a five-player swap with the Yankees. … His last victory for the Sox was a no-hitter in a 7-1 win at California Sept. 19. … He was traded to Philadelphia the following March and his career quickly went downhill. After five disastrous appearances for the 1987 Phillies, Cowley was out of the game.

Tom Gordon, 2003: Reliever went 7-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 saves in 66 games. … Became the closer when Billy Koch flamed out. … Signed with the Yankees after opting for free agency following his lone year with the Sox.

Orlando Hernandez, 2005: Acquired for the 2005 season to be the team’s fifth starter. … Struggled throughout the year, going 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA. … Shined in the playoffs, escaping a bases-loaded no out jam in the clinching Game 3 of the A.L. Division Series in Boston. … Traded to Arizona after the season to get Javier Vazquez.

Charles Johnson, 2000: Acquired from Baltimore in a deadline deal. … Hit .326 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 44 games behind the plate. … Granted free agency Oct. 30, 2000 and signed with Florida 49 days later.

Steve Kemp, 1982: Slugger hit .286 with 19 home runs and 98 RBIs after being obtained from Detroit for Chet Lemon. … Set career-highs with 160 games, 91 runs and 166 hits for a team that won 87 games and finished third. … Granted free agency Nov. 10, 1982 and signed with the Yankees Dec. 9, 1982. … Never again duplicated the numbers he had with the Sox.

Kevin Tapani, 1996: Right-hander went 13-10 with a 4.39 ERA in 34 starts as part of a rotation that also included Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez and James Baldwin. … Still had 51 wins left in his arm after he left the Sox as a free agent following the 1996 season.

Danny Tartabull, 1996: Hit .254 with 27 homers and 101 RBIs as the right fielder for a team that challenged for a playoff spot late into the season. … Granted free agency Nov. 18, 1996. Signed with Philadelphia but his season with the Sox was essentially his last.

David Wells, 2001: Left-hander went 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA in 16 starts after being acquired from Toronto. … Following a disappointing and disruptive season, Wells was granted free agency and signed with the Yankees.

Richie Zisk, 1977: The catalyst of the “Southside Hitmen,” Zisk hit .290 with 30 homers and 101 RBIs after being acquired from Pittsburgh. … Started the 1977 All-Star Game in left and went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. … Attained immense popularity by helping the Sox post a surprising 90 wins in one of the most enjoyable campaigns in franchise history … Granted free agency Nov. 2, 1977 and signed with Texas a week later. … Like Oscar Gamble, he was never the same player after leaving the Sox (Gamble is not on this list because he returned to the Sox to finish out his career in 1985).

[dcb56]

How about Mr. Zero, Shingo Takatsu? Was there anything cooler than his gong intro?

[The Critic]

How about Mr. Zero, Shingo Takatsu? Was there anything cooler than his gong intro?
Well, he was around for 1/2 of the 2005 season, and had (I think) 8 saves that year, so he doesn't really meet the "one-hit" criteria.

He was a favorite of mine, though.

[Sargeant79]

Very cool list.


Orlando Hernandez, 2005: Acquired for the 2005 season to be the team’s fifth starter. … Struggled throughout the year, going 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA. … Shined in the playoffs, escaping a bases-loaded no out jam in the clinching Game 3 of the A.L. Division Series in Boston. … Traded to Arizona after the season to get Javier Vazquez.


IIRC, Hernandez was actually signed to be the team's third starter. I think the Sox were calling Contreras their 4th and Garland their 5th going into the season.

[eastchicagosoxfan]

Would Oscar Gamble count? He was on the 77 team, and he played his final season with the Sox.

[Norberto7]

Surprised the ultimate one hit wonder of recent Sox history, Esteban Loaiza, isn't on here.

2002 - 9-10, 5.71 ERA
2003 - 21-9, 2.90 ERA
2004 - 9-5, 4.86 ERA

That seems to define one hit wonder.

[batmanZoSo]

Surprised the ultimate one hit wonder of recent Sox history, Esteban Loaiza, isn't on here.

2002 - 9-10, 5.71 ERA
2003 - 21-9, 2.90 ERA
2004 - 9-5, 4.86 ERA

That seems to define one hit wonder.

Obviously, this article only includes players that were on the White Sox for one year.

[samram]

Mike Deveraux hit .306 with 10 HR and 55 RBI in 92 games in 1995 before getting traded to Atlanta.

[SoxFan78]

Would Brian Daubach count??

[StatManDu]

I thought about Mike Devereaux, Luis Vizcaino, Paul Assenmacher, Doug Drabek and Tim Belcher for this list but they didn't bowl me over.

Gamble isn't on the list because he made a career-ending cameo with the 1985 Sox.

Seargant 79 was right about the original role of El Duque.

Thanks for all the kind words. I love posting stuff like this.

Have a great new year everybody!

StatManDu

[stl_sox_fan]

What about Jose Canseco back in 2001? 76 games, 16 homers, 49 RBIs. Extrapolate that to a whole season and it's 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs. Last season in the Show also.

[soxfan13]

how about bill almon in 1981. hit almost 50 points above his career average for the season at .301:smile:

[The Critic]

how about bill almon in 1981. hit almost 50 points above his career average for the season at .301:smile:
Almon was with the Sox in 82, so he, too, is disqualified from the "one-hit wonder" category.

[HomeFish]

Say what you want about Canseco, he gave us something to watch at the end of 2001. He'll always have a special place in my heart for that.

[pythons007]

What about Albert Belle?

[thomas35forever]

What about Geoff Blum?

[fquaye149]

Very cool post! Kudos

[stacksedwards]

Michael Jeffery Jordan

[eriqjaffe]

Jose Paniagua

[fquaye149]

Jose Paniagua

he didn't say one GAME wonder:D:

[tstrike2000]

What about Albert Belle?

Was with the Sox 2 years.

[eriqjaffe]

Oh, oh, I know! Ron Santo!

[WhiteSox5187]

Kenny Lofton? He didn't do too much for us though...

[Bobby Thigpen]

Julio Franco anyone?

[digdagdug23]

How about Harold Baines? He had a few one year stints with us :redneck

[eriqjaffe]

Kenny Lofton? He didn't do too much for us though...Remember when he was leading (or close to leading) the AL in hitting during March & April of that year?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=loftoke01&year=2002

[TDog]

Say what you want about Canseco, he gave us something to watch at the end of 2001. He'll always have a special place in my heart for that.

There were a lot of Sox fans in 2001 who wanted to keep Canseco and dump Thomas for 2002. I'm used to hear them every time I went to the ballpark late that season. When I had the opportunity, I told them they were crazy.

Joe Cowley, of course, never won an MLB game after his no-hitter. Richie Zisk never matched his 1977 season. Really, he never matched the first half of his 1977 season. Then you have people like Bobby Bonds and Bobby Bonilla and Steve Carlton and Rob Dibble and Ron Bloomberg (the first big free agent signed by the Sox). If you look at the 1970 White Sox, you have close to 20 players who were with them that one long year. That includes Art Kusnyer, who came back to coach and Rich Maloney only got into one September game, pitching a scoreless inning at the end of an 8-0 loss to the Twins (his only MLB game), but Jerry Janeski went 10-17 as a starter. He qualified as the number 2 starter, with Tommy John going 12-17 and Joe Horlen going 6-16.

[kittle42]

Julio Franco anyone?

Um, I think he was the very first one mentioned.

What are some of you on this thread smoking? It's not hard to figure out what the criteria were for the very well-done list above.

[Bobby Thigpen]

Wow, I just remembered why I don't come on this site anymore.

[fquaye149]

Wow, I just remembered why I don't come on this site anymore.

Of all the ****ty threads in the past couple weeks, THIS is the one you pick out?

[The Critic]

Of all the ****ty threads in the past couple weeks, THIS is the one you pick out?
Maybe "Bobby Thigpen"'s just upset that he wasn't nominated.
:D:

[TommyJohn]

Wow, I just remembered why I don't come on this site anymore.
See ya.

[Brian26]

Wow, I just remembered why I don't come on this site anymore.

Because this site requires the ability to read?

[PaleHoseGeorge]

Is it absolutely required that the player have at least one hit? I would like to nominate Mike Huff.

Okay, I admit I really just want to nominate Mike Huff's dad. Anyone who was ever forced to listen to his calls into the Snore would think his kid was a hit.
:wink:

[JB98]

How about Shawn Abner? He hit .279 for the Sox in 1992. It was his only decent year in the bigs. His career average was in the .220s.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Garcia, Garland, and Vazquez each had one hit for the Sox in 2006. Does that make them "one-hit wonders"? :tongue:

[soxinem1]

Jeff Shaefer had one hit for the 1989 White Sox!!

And he took one pretty good hit in a ST game that helped him make the team that year.

[Save McCuddy's]

How about Kelly Jay Paris? Remember that "for the love of the game" 30 yr. old we trotted out in '88? He'd never homered in his career to that point, but inserted into our trash lineup that year he hit two in one game before suffering a career-ending multiple fracture to his throwing arm. Wow that was some kind of team that year.

[soxinem1]

How about Kelly Jay Paris? Remember that "for the love of the game" 30 yr. old we trotted out in '88? He'd never homered in his career to that point, but inserted into our trash lineup that year he hit two in one game before suffering a career-ending multiple fracture to his throwing arm. Wow that was some kind of team that year.

Yes, he hit two HR's in a game against Mark Langston that year.

[zach074]

What about Geoff Blum?

He was a one swing wonder.

[StillMissOzzie]

How about a one-**** (rhymes with hit) wonder? I'd like to nominate Corey Snyder. I was so excited when the Sox got him, but he didn't do a damn thing in the short time that he was here.

SMO
:gulp:

[wilburaga]

Though admittedly not on the top shelf of 'one-hit wonders', I'd like to plug Ed Spiezio, who after being acquired on an emergency basis after Bill Melton herniated his disk, filled in adequately if not spectacularly at third base for those wondrous 1972 White Sox.

And speaking of the other meaning of 'one-hit wonders', Spiezio was acquired for picher Don Eddy, who doubled in his only major league plate appearance and retired with a 2.000 slugging average.

W

[mantis1212]

I'd nominate Buehrle, but he already has 2 career hits with the Sox.

Seriously, I know Loaiza played a 1 and a half seasons, but he's a one-hit wonder if I've ever seen one.

[soxfan13]

Almon was with the Sox in 82, so he, too, is disqualified from the "one-hit wonder" category.

damn i forgot lol

[HITMEN OF 77]

He was a one swing wonder.

LOL, but that one swing was as good as batting .300 for the season.

[eastchicagosoxfan]

Doug Drabek was with the team for one season in the late 1990's. His best days were behind him.

[drftnaway]

I have 3 nominations, tho they weren't exactly 'wonders'.

Marv Grissom in 1952 was 12-10 with a 3.71 era.

Tommy Davis in 1968 with 8 - 50 - .268 wasn't a world beater but it was pretty cool having a former 2 time batting champ and rbi leader on the team.

Finally, Bobby Bonilla in 1986 with 2 - 26 - .268. The wonder there was that the Sox gave him away for nothing after his rookie season.

[PaleHoseGeorge]

Finally, Bobby Bonilla in 1986 with 2 - 26 - .268. The wonder there was that the Sox gave him away for nothing after his rookie season.

:hawk
"Mercy..."

[jabrch]

Jose Paniagua

That was the single worst White Sox game I ever went to (and that includes the 83 home playoff games). We knew what was coming. After a 4 run (3 HRs) inning, when they brought Joey Breadandwater into that game, I turned to the folks I share tickets with and said, "Toast...there's no way he holds onto this lead"

Sure enough...if it weren't for Flash coming in, we would have lost that game.

[eastchicagosoxfan]

Back in the 1980's, the Sox tried to coax one more decent season out of George Foster. It didn't work out.

[pdr]

Back in the 1980's, the Sox tried to coax one more decent season out of George Foster. It didn't work out.

And Steve Carlton.

[TDog]

...
Tommy Davis in 1968 with 8 - 50 - .268 wasn't a world beater but it was pretty cool having a former 2 time batting champ and rbi leader on the team. ...


The Sox GM badly wanted Tommy Davis, believing he would win another batting title, giving up Tommie Agee and Al Weiss in a deal with the Mets. Then the Sox didn't protect him (or Hoyt Wilhelm) in the expansion draft. Actually, .268 was a solid batting average in 1968 terms. Carl Yastrzemski led the AL with a .301 average, but no one else was close to .300. Danny Cater was second with a .290 average.

[Harry Potter]

Ken Hill - Signed in August 2000 and made two appearances - 8 ER in 3 IP. Released 11 days after signing.