Games and Moments

May 1, 1971
vs. Washington Senators
at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Washington, D.C.

The White Sox' Opening Day DH sweep of the A's created a huge buzz over the team, one that was positive for once. 44,250 crammed their way into White Sox Park on Good Friday for the home opener. The crowd got a huge thrill when Chuck Tanner's boys beat the Twins 3-2 on a 9th inning single by Rich McKinney. (See: Game of the Year, 1971).
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Games and Moments

April 7, 1971
vs. Oakland A's (DH)
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

It was a very new, much younger White Sox team that took the field for Opening Day of 1971. 1970 vets Bill Melton, Carlos May, Ed Herrmann and Walt Williams were joined on the field by newcomers Jay Johnstone, Mike Andrews, Rick Reichardt and Lee "Bee Bee" Richard, the shortstop phenom with a strong arm and blazing speed.

Richard had been...

Chuck Tanner brought a new spirit and positive attitude not felt on the south side since the Go Go Glory Days. He anointed players like Bill Melton and Walt Williams to be starters for his 1971 team. Both had struggled in 1970 (Melton with his defense, Williams with hitting) and Tanner's votes of confidence was his way of boosting both players.

Tanner was the anti-Eddie Stanky. The Brat was an old school coach, the type that would bellow in players' faces, tear them down, question...

The 1970 Offseason

Roland Hemond looked at the disaster that was the 1970 team, rolled up his sleeves and dug in.

He decided that the rebuild had to start with the players who had their best seasons and could thus bring the most in the trade market-Luis Aparicio and Ken Berry. It hurt to have to put them on the block, but both were older and Hemond needed to bring in players that were younger and could contribute to the team a few years down the line.

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The good-it was a year of individual accomplishments for the White Sox.

Bill Melton had become the first Sox player to hit 30 home runs in a season, ending up with 33 to go along with 96 RBI and a .263 average.

Carlos May had battled back from the accident which cost him his thumb and nearly ended his career. He had 12 HR, 68 RBI and a .285 average, along with 12 stolen bases. He was an easy choice for AL Comeback Player of the Year.

Ken Berry had his best...