This Date In Sox History 1-24

[Lip Man 1]

January 24, 2003 - Sometimes luck plays a part in things. On this date, Sox G.M. Kenny Williams signed free agent pitcher Esteban Loaiza to a contract. Loaiza was expected to round out the back end of the rotation...he did more than that. By seasons end he had won 21 games, started the All Star Game and led the A.L. in strikeouts.

http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/86/9f/59_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/ESTEBAN-LOAIZA-2004-LEAF-LIMITED-SILVER-SPOTLIGHT-x-50_W0QQitemZ200034804925QQihZ010QQcategoryZ55956QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosti ng)

Lip

[Hitmen77]

....and that led 18 months later to the Sox acquiring Jose Contreras for Esteban Loaiza. Jose, of course, played a key role in the Sox winning the World Series.

[veeter]

Esteban should have won 23 games. He lost twice 1-0, to the lowly Tigers.

[SBSoxFan]

Esteban should have won 23 games. He lost twice 1-0, to the lowly Tigers.

And the Cy Young award. :angry:

[chisoxmike]

Then it was all washed away when Manuel put him in against the Twins when he had the flu on Sept. 16, 2003

[IndianWhiteSox]

Another Under the Radar move which paid dividends for the SOX in '03 and '05.

KW is the man!:supernana::gulp::smile::D::bandance: