This Date In Sox History 3-30

[Lip Man 1]

Four items today as things start to pick up with the regular season getting ready to begin...

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond. He sends catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vincente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first sackers in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will.

March 30, 1981 - Shortly before the start of the regular season, the White Sox purchase the contract of Chicago area slugger Greg Luzinski from the Phillies. The strongman would become a two time American League designated hitter of the year and provide solid power to the middle of the batting order. In his three and a half seasons on the South Side, he pounded out 84 home runs and drove in 317 RBI’s.

March 30, 1982 - Needing outfield help, Roland Hemond sends two prospects to the Dodgers for the speedy Rudy Law. Law would smash the team’s stolen base record, grabbing 77 bases the following season. His career on the South Side wasn’t long, but it was memorable, as he supplied speed and defense to the 1983 Western Division champions.

March 30, 1992 - Seeking another power bat to hit behind Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, Sox G. M. Ron Schueler deals outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the Cubs for outfielder / DH George Bell. Bell would have 112 RBI’s in 1992 and have a solid 1993 but outbursts during the 1993 A.L.C.S. over playing time, sealed his fate and he was gone from the organization. Sosa would become the face of the Cubs and challenge the all time home run marks in the late 90's. However in the wake of the steroid scandal and his potential involvement with it, he has a major cloud over him, his future Hall of Fame chances in real jeopardy.

http://i1.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/94/ea/8963_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/1973-TOPPS-238-TONY-MUSER-NRMINT-MINT-SET-BREAK_W0QQitemZ120102088899QQcategoryZ60502QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting) http://i19.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/94/e7/a0de_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-Donruss-Greg-Luzinski-PSA-10-White-Sox-Phillies_W0QQitemZ160100104326QQcategoryZ55928QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting ) http://i3.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/e5/ef/8f_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rudy-Law-autod-1984-Donruss-card-Chicago-White-Sox_W0QQitemZ200084219034QQcategoryZ73396QQrdZ1QQs sPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting) http://i1.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/8f/2a/90a3_2.JPG (http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMMY-SOSA-1990-Donruss-RC-489-WHITE-SOX_W0QQitemZ300094595592QQcategoryZ56112QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)

Lip

[IndianWhiteSox]

I thought that "Sham-me" deal happened in May not March. Well I guess you learn something new every day. But interesting is that, that on the same days in back to back years, it leads to the '83 title.

[tick53]

I remember Danny Murphy. I thought he was going to be a difference maker.

[stl_sox_fan]

Ah The Bull. Wasn't it '83 that him and Kittle hit back to back roofers at Old Comiskey?

[Lip Man 1]

St.L.:

Ron and Greg never hit back to back rooftop home runs. In July 1984 vs. Detroit however they did hit rooftop home runs in consecutive games.

Lip

[esbrechtel]

I still have that card all the way on the right somewhere....

[PaleHoseGeorge]

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond. He sends catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vincente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first sackers in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will.


Never underestimate the old Sox' capacity for believing strong defense was an important attribute for a FIRST BASEMEN.

And you wonder why the old Sox went 88 years without a championship...

[Lip Man 1]

Hi George:

Hope you're doing well.

I haven't asked Roland specifically about this deal (maybe I will come June) but I think the reasoning behind it was that with Dick's bad shoulder and his having serious trouble throwing the baseball (much like Frank Thomas had) Roland wanted to give Chuck Tanner some flexibility...someone who could spell Allen for a game or two but more importantly someone who could help protect a lead late in a game.

He was a terrific fielder, I remember a game where on a line drive, I think against Baltimore at Comiskey Park, he dove to his left into foul territory and snared the shot.

Lip

[Huisj]

Hi George:

Hope you're doing well.

I haven't asked Roland specifically about this deal (maybe I will come June) but I think the reasoning behind it was that with Dick's bad shoulder and his having serious trouble throwing the baseball (much like Frank Thomas had) Roland wanted to give Chuck Tanner some flexibility...someone who could spell Allen for a game or two but more importantly someone who could help protect a lead late in a game.

He was a terrific fielder, I remember a game where on a line drive, I think against Baltimore at Comiskey Park, he dove to his left into foul territory and snared the shot.

Lip

And hey, wasn't it defense at first base by Ross Gload that got the Sox off on the right foot on opening day in 2005 when he made a diving snab on a hard hit bouncer and flipped it soudly to Takatsu to end the 1-0 shutout of Cleveland?

On a slightly different note, isn't it interesting that, as little as Gload played with the sox in '05, he made a key play on opening day to beat Cleveland, and then he had some big hits in the last series of the season at Clevaland after the Sox had clinched that helped keep Cleveland out of the wild card spot. Who says back up first basemen aren't important?

[Medford Bobby]

Tony was lucky to escape with his life when a flash fire hit the Brewers training camp several years ago...very scarey!:o:

http://www.baseballcardproject.com/Topps/R/1975/348.jpg

[stl_sox_fan]

St.L.:

Ron and Greg never hit back to back rooftop home runs. In July 1984 vs. Detroit however they did hit rooftop home runs in consecutive games.

Lip

Sucks getting old. Memories start rolling together. You're right Lip. '83 and '84 Ron and Greg were putting so many on the roof.

[Bucky F. Dent]

If ever there was a guy who was made to play ball on the south side of Chicago it was the overweight Polish kid who could pound the saw dust out of the ball....Greg "the Bull" Luzinski.

[TommyJohn]

Four items today as things start to pick up with the regular season getting ready to begin...

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond. He sends catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vincente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first sackers in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will.



Piece o' trivia. Danny Murphy has the dubious distinction of playing
on both the worst Cubs and White Sox teams of the 20th century-
the 1962 Cubs (59-103) and the 1970 White Sox (56-106).

[chisox77]

Tommy John, that was inspiring! But it's also true. I love your signature, by the way. It's from one of the best movies of all time (IMO).

:cool: