Here is one(ish) White Sox-related fact on every player listed on the 2025 Baseball Writers Association of America Hall-of-Fame ballot, which was released recently (results will be revealed Jan 21 on MLB Network):
PLAYERS DEBUTING ON THE BALLOT:
*CARLOS GONZALEZ: “Cargo” made his Cubs’ debut in the “THANKS CUBS!” game on June 18, 2019 at Wrigley Field.
The longtime Rockie was replaced in right field via a double switch to start the eighth so he was not in the game when Eloy Jimenez’s ninth-inning homer gave the Sox the lead in a 3-1 win.
The dramatic blast prompted White Sox announcer Jason Benetti to exclaim “THANKS CUBS” as Jimenez, a one-time Cubs’ prospect, was returning to the dugout.
Benetti talks about the call in this link https://www.tiktok.com/@flippinbatspod/video/7307340105377713451
*CURTIS GRANDERSON: Illinois-Chicago product was struck out by Bobby Jenks for the penultimate out in the White Sox Central Division clinching win in Detroit on Sept. 29, 2005.
Granderson’s at bat came after Dmitri Young, who — at .024 (1-for-42) — was the worst hitter against the 2005 Sox, struck out and before Placido Polanco, who was an unsigned 49th round pick by the Sox in 1993, made the final out.
*FELIX HERNANDEZ: The first batter to victimize “King Felix” with a multi-home run game was the White Sox Brian Anderson.
On Aug. 26, 2005 in Seattle, Anderson and Hernandez were both playing in their fifth Major League games when Anderson experienced a power surge. Anderson went deep in the third and seventh innings in the future World Series champions’ 5-3 win in 12 innings.
Hernandez’s last good start came against the White Sox.
On Sept. 14, 2019, Hernandez gave up one run on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts in seven innings in a no decision against the Sox in Seattle. Twelve days later, he made the final start of his career.
*ADAM JONES: Four-time Gold Glover and five-time All-Star hit the last of his 263 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles against the White Sox.
On Sept. 16, 2018, Jones’ launched a solo shot off Jose Ruiz in the seventh inning of the 106-loss Orioles’ 8-4 win over the Sox in Baltimore. Jones’ next homer was the following March 28th for Arizona.
*IAN KINSLER: The long-time Ranger and Tiger hit his only home run with the Red Sox against the White Sox.
A month after joining the team, Kinsler touched the White Sox Ryan Burr for his only “Beantown” blast on Sept. 1, 2018 in Chicago.
That was also the last of Kinsler’s 248 American League homers.
*RUSSELL MARTIN: The only Canadian to catch more games than Martin’s 36 against the Sox is Jay Clarke (61 from 1905 to 1911).
*BRIAN MCCANN: Catcher laced a three-run double off White Sox rep Matt Thornton In the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim.
The hit carried the National League to a 3-1 win and secured McCann the game’s MVP Award.
*DUSTIN PEDROIA: Red Sox legend won the American League MVP Award in 2008 that the White Sox Carlos Quentin should have won if not for a season-ending September injury.
Quentin was the front-runner for the award when he suffered a fractured wrist after slamming his bat in frustration following a foul ball in Cleveland on Sept. 1.
Despite missing the final 26 games of the season, Quentin led the AL in home run ratio (13.3) and game-winning RBI. He was leading the circuit in home runs (36) as late as Sept. 27 before being overtaken.
With the White Sox in first place when he went down and his name all over the leaderboard, Quentin had to be a strong favorite — if not the favorite — to win the award.
Instead it was Pedroia who topped the voting while Quentin finished fifth.
*HANLEY RAMIREZ: The three-time All-Star hit a paltry .189 (21-for-111) in 28 games against the Sox.
No team held the three-time All-Star to a lower average than the Sox. In fact, after hitting .286 (4-for-14) vs. the Sox in 2007, Ramirez never hit higher than .250 against the “Good Guys” the rest of his career.
*FERNANDO RODNEY: He of the tilted-hat was pitching at age 46 as late as the winter of 2023-24 for Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter League.
Among his teammates in his 24th pro season were former White Sox players Hanser Alberto, Leury Garcia, Chuckie Robinson, Moises Sierra, Luis Patino and Michael Ynoa.
*CC SABATHIA: The left-hander is the all-time leader among visitors with 10 wins at New Comiskey Park/US Cellular Field/Guaranteed Rate Field/The Rate.
Sabathia was 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts in the White Sox current home. He is tops among visiting lefties and second to Justin Verlander (141) with 12 strikeouts at NCP/USCF/GRF.
In addition, Sabathia was the first pitcher to face the defending World Series champion White Sox. He was the opening night starter for Cleveland in 2006 in Chicago.
*ICHIRO SUZUKI: The single-season hit leader (242 in 2001) was the American League’s leadoff hitter for the 2003 All-Star Game at then-named US Cellular Field.
Suzuki was 0-for-1 with a run and two walks before being pinch-hit for by Sox representative Magglio Ordonez in the eighth inning.
*TROY TULOWITZKI: Decorated shortstop is the Colorado Rockies all-time leader with a .522 on-base percentage against the White Sox (minimum 23 plate appearances).
*BEN ZOBRIST: Utility specialist is the only position player to be held hitless at Guaranteed Rate Field or Comiskey Park during his World Series MVP season.
About three months before winning the award, Zobrist was 0-for-6 in two games at GRF for the 2016 Cubs.
The only other future World Series MVP who was held hitless as a visitor by the White Sox was pitcher Mickey Lolich, who was 0-for-4 at Comiskey Park for the 1968 Detroit Tigers.
RETURNING PLAYERS (REPOSTED FROM PREVIOUS BLOG)
*MARK BUEHRLE: Stone-cold Southside legend. For more on Buehrle see https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/soxnerd-blog-june-26-buehrle-timeline/
*BOBBY ABREU: White Sox manager Jerry Manuel once referred to him as “Ah-brew” in a press conference
*CARLOS BELTRAN: Switch-hitter clubbed the first of his 435 home runs off the White Sox Jaime Navarro on April 10, 1999 at Comiskey Park. The solo shot in the second inning gave the Royals a 3-0 lead in a 9-4 win before 11,908 on a Saturday afternoon.
*TORII HUNTER: Longtime Twin faced Buehrle more times (101 plate appearances, 100 at bats) than any other pitcher. He slashed .240/.238/.410 with three homers and 17 strikeouts against Buehrle
*ANDRUW JONES: Ten-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield is the only player in White Sox history to hit a walkoff homer on his birthday. On his 33rd birthday, Jones capped his 39th career multi-homer game with a game-winning shot in a 7-6 victory over Seattle.
Jones joined Mike Kreevich (June 10, 1938) as the only Sox players with a multi-homer game on his birthday.
Jones’ also hit his 400th homer with the Sox on May 25, 2011.. Here’s the link https://youtu.be/lO8e5wBDaao
*ANDY PETTITTE: The starter for Houston (no decision) in the White Sox epic win in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, the left-hander was 3-8 with a 6.99 ERA in the regular season at 35th and Shields
*MANNY RAMIREZ: “Manny Being Manny” hit the final home run of his career for the White Sox.
Wearing No. 99, Ramirez hit home run No. 555 on Sept. 17, 2010 off the Tigers’ Max Scherzer at U.S. Cellular Field.
Here it is https://youtu.be/OcvELleH5pI
*ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Starcrossed slugger was the out in what I consider one of the most important — if not the most important — sequence of the White Sox 2000 Central Division title season. I blogged about it at https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/foulke-lore-recalling-a-great-battle/
*FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ: Right-hander earned the save in the Sox only loss in the 2005 postseason. Rodriguez closed out the Angels’ 3-2 win in Game 1 of the ‘05 ALCS at US Cellular Field. The next time the Sox saw him he gave up two unearned runs in 1.1 innings in THE GAME WHERE THE SOX CLINCHED THE PENNANT!
*JIMMY ROLLINS: Only Omar Vizquel (2,704), Harold Baines (2,844), Ken Griffey Jr. (2,691), Roberto Alomar (2,615 and 2,713) and Manny Ramirez (2,735) joined the Sox with more hits than his 2,422 in 2016
*CHASE UTLEY: The long-time Phillie was the first batter Buehrle faced in the last of Buehrle’s three All-Star appearances. In the 2009 game in St. Louis, Buehrle relieved starter Roy Halladay in the third inning and promptly got Utley to fly out to center field. Buehrle went on to retire Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun in his only inning of work.
*OMAR VIZQUEL: Best known as a shortstop, Vizquel made his first appearance at first base on May 28, 2011 for the White Sox. The start in a 9-8 loss at Toronto came in Vizquel’s 2,874th game. He was also the last player 5-foot-9 or shorter to play first for the Sox. … Here’s proof Vizquel played first base https://youtu.be/6yo8ciSK16g
*BILLY WAGNER: The Sox owned the fireballing lefty. In fact, Wagner’s 12.27 ERA (four appearances and no saves) is easily his highest against any opponent.
After logging scoreless outings for Houston in 1998 and 1999, the Sox tattooed the Phillies’ Wagner for five runs in 1.2 innings in his final two games vs. the Sox. Joe Crede and Ramon Castro own the Sox homers off Wagner.
*DAVID WRIGHT: The Mets’ legend scored the tying run on June 25, 2013 when Gordon Beckham famously barreled into Conor Gillaspie with two outs in the ninth inning allowing an easy pop fly to fall into the U.S. Cellular Field turf. https://youtu.be/KfFrHM8uP9g?si=oCJeM3_nCtPCEGqC Fortunately for the Sox, Alexei Ramirez bailed out “Gordo” with a walkoff single in the bottom of the frame.
In that game, Wright had two steals giving more one more stolen bases (2) than hits (1) at the Sox home ballpark.