Retired Numbers - Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have dealt with their fair share of problems, yet suffered mostly in silence. In Chicago, their title drought was overshadowed by the longer drought of the Cubs. They can't even get attention as the most tortured item of laundry, for even though the White and Red Sox both had pretty much the same inability to win the World Series after their respective 1917 and 1918 titles, the Red Sox got the attention. It's all about branding, I guess. Blaming your failures on a goat or the single worst trade in baseball history is good for marketing, while Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox scandal...not so much.
So while the South Siders couldn't bank on victory for the better part of 90 years between titles, they still had a solid assortment of men to represent them. 11 players in total, which is a surprising number for some, were deemed legendary enough to be remembered by the team that actually wears black socks (and red for a while) as their uniform...
#2 - Nellie Fox
Nellie Fox was the 1959 MVP and made 15 all star teams. His offensive contributions were...well, a lot of singles, but he earned his greatness in history with his glove. He won the 1957, '59 and '60 Gold Glove awards and is considered one of the greatest fielding 2nd Basemen of all time, helping him reach the Hall of Fame in 1997. His efforts in '59 not only got him the MVP, but they helped The Chi Sox reach their only World Series between the Black Sox team and the '05 squad.
#3 - Harold Baines
Harold Baines is one of the best Designated Hitters of all time, but unlike other DHs, he could take the field from time to time and not be a complete liability. He had three different runs in Chicago, from 1980-89, 1996-97 and 2000-01. Most of his work was done in the 80's. At the end of that first stint, the White Sox retired his number while he was still an active player, thus unretiring it both times he came back. Before Edgar Martinez or a steroids era Davis Ortiz, he was the man with all the hitting records for the DH position. Despite the usual criticisms that come with DHs, he was still a 4 time all star with the White Sox and the 1989 Silver Slugger. For the Hall of Fame, the BBWAA voters held his DH status against him, but the Todays Game Era Committee (made up of players and managers Baines had competed with and against) recognized Harold's accomplishments and but him in the Hall in 2019.
#4 - Luke Appling
From 1930-1950, White Sox lifer Luke Appling made 7 all star teams and won the batting title twice (1936, 1943). Appling was the leadoff hitter of choice for the White Sox of his era and his defensive prowess, setting many SS records that would stand until future White Sox great Luis Apparicio arrived. The Hall of Fame added him to their ranks in 1964.
#9 - Minnie Minoso
Some players just don't wanna stop, and Minnie Minoso is one of them. He made a few stops for the White Sox in his career; 1951-57, then 1960-1961, and again in 1964...then also in 1976...and one more time in 1980. There would have been one more attempt in 1990 if MLB didn't step in and say enough was enough. It wasn't a gimmick, Minoso was a solid presence in the White Sox lineup, making several all star games, 2 of his 3 Gold Gloves and eventual election to the Hall of Fame.
#11 - Luis Aparicio
Before Derek Jeter, Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken Jr, there was Little Louie. The Hall of Fame's first Venezuelan player, Aparicio played for the White Sox from 1956-1962, and from '68-70, accumulating most of his 13 all star games and 7 of his 9 Gold Gloves. A reliable option at SS, Luis helped lead the 1959 White Sox to the pennant. At the time of his retirement, he held numerous offensive and defensive records.
#14 - Paul Konerko
When you join a franchise that already includes a guy like Frank Thomas at your position, you better bring your A game. Konerko did just that, relegating Thomas to the DH role and staying alongside the Big Hurt in the everyday lineup. Paul was traded to Chicago before the 1999 season and played the rest of his career with the Sox, making 6 all star games and being named team captain in 2006. He was the ALCS MVP in 2005, where he helped end one of sports longest championship droughts by winning the World Series.
#16 - Ted Lyons
No, not "Lion Ted" Cruz, we're talking about Ted Lyons. He pitched all 21 seasons of his career for the Chi Sox and is their all time winningest pitcher with 260. Too late to be apart of their pennant winners of the 1910s, and too early to help them for the 1959 pennant, Ted still managed to be a force in the AL pitching scene, winning 20 games three separate occasions and tossing a no-hitter in 1926.
#19 - Billy Pierce
Contrary to popular belief, there were other good pitchers in the American League in the 1950s besides Whitey Ford. And while no one could measure up to the skills and accomplishments of Ford, Pierce more than held his own, often times matched up with Ford directly in a pitchers duel. From 1941-61, Billy pitched for the White Sox where he'd make all 7 of his all star games. Heading into his down years in 1959, he still had enough gas left in the tank to aid the Sox in their pennant winning campaign.
#35 - Frank Thomas
The Big Hurt needs little introduction. 5 time all star, 4 time Silver Slugger and the 1993 and 1994 AL MVP, Frank Thomas was one of the most recognizable and feared hitters in baseball in the 1990s. He is the White Sox all time leader in Home Runs, RBI, Runs, Walks, Doubles and XBH. Though injured, Thomas played a part in getting the White Sox to the 2005 World Series where they'd finally win a championship for the first time since 1917. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2014.
#56 - Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle pitched for Chicago from 2000 until 2011, being an all star 4 times and getting 3 Gold Gloves as a White Sox ace. He pitched on the World Series championship 2005 staff, tossed a no-hitter in 2007 and followed it up with a perfect game in 2009. No one has been the Starting Pitcher for opening day for the White Sox more times than Mark.
#72 - Carlton Fisk
After 11 seasons in Boston, Fisk would hook up with the White Sox for the next 13 years, adding 4 all star games, 3 Silver Sluggers, and getting closest to the MVP in his career with his 1983 efforts. Before Ivan Rodriguez and Mike Piazza became Catching greats, it was Fisk setting many offensive or age related records in the book.
