Here is at least one(ish) White Sox-related fact on every player listed on the 2024 Baseball Writers Association of America Hall-of-Fame ballot, which was released recently (results will be revealed at 5 p.m. Jan 23 on MLB Network):
PLAYERS DEBUTING ON THE BALLOT:
*JOSE BAUTISTA: White Sox rep Carlos Quentin replaced Bautista in the first of his three consecutive All-Star starts in 2011. Quentin took over for Bautista in left in the sixth inning and played the rest of the game in the American League’s 5-1 loss at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.
*ADRIAN BELTRE: The 5-time Gold Glove winner hit more homers (6) off fellow first-balloter Bartolo Colon but none occurred when Big Bart was with the Sox. Beltre was 0-for-6 vs. “Big Sexy” in Colon’s stints with the Sox in 2003 and 2009.
*BARTOLO COLON: On Sept. 2, 2003, Colon became the first (and to date only) pitcher in White Sox history (10th overall, 11th time) to throw a nine-inning complete game two-hitter where the only two hits he surrendered were home runs. The right-hander gave up bombs to Trot Nixon and Gabe Kapler in the Sox 2-1 loss in Chicago. … Here’s more on Colon https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2017/08/06/soxnerd-blog-old-guys-rule/
*ADRIAN GONZALEZ: The left-handed hitting first baseman hit one of the staff season-high five home runs the White Sox surrendered in a 9-2 loss at Texas on Aug. 31, 2005. Gonzalez’s blast, the fifth of his career and first vs. the Sox, was a two-run shot in the eighth off Luis Vizcaino.
*MATT HOLLIDAY: The 2005 World Series champion White Sox were tough on the seven-time All-Star. Colorado’s Holliday did not reach base in any of his nine plate appearances against the 2005 White Sox. That is the highest amount of empty PAs vs. the 2005 White Sox. Only Seattle’s Yuniesky Betancourt at 0-for-19 (one walk) and Tampa Bay’s Travis Lee’s at 0-for-11 (one walk) had bigger 0-fers vs. the ‘05 Sox than Holliday’s 0-for-9.
*VICTOR MARTINEZ: Switch-hitter finished his career in 2018 as the all-time leader among opponents with 21 home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field. He has since been supplanted by Miguel Cabrera’s 23. Martinez is the career leader among visiting switch-hitters in homers at GRF and his 32 homers against the Sox are third all-time among switch-hitters behind Mickey Mantle (72) and Eddie Murray (35).
*JOE MAUER: The St. Paul, Minn., native was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the White Sox 1-0 win in the American League Central Division tiebreaker (aka “The Blackout”) game on Sept. 30, 2008 at U.S. Cellular Field. Batting third, Mauer struck out twice and bunted into an out against John Danks.
There is no way anyone could see Mauer flopping in that performance. After all, he was 7-for-10 with an RBI and two walks vs. Danks in their four previous meetings. In addition, Mauer was hitting .370 at U.S. Cellular Field heading into the game.
Here’s my blog on Mauer and the Sox https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2018/11/24/joe-mauer-and-the-sox/
*BRANDON PHILLIPS: “The Franchise” hit his first career home run off the White Sox Jon Garland in the fourth inning of the Indians 5-2 win on April 9, 2003. It was the first of four home runs Phillips would hit vs. the Sox.
*JOSE REYES: The native of the Dominican Republic was the first batter in the National League debuts of manager Ozzie Guillen and Mark Buehrle. On Opening Day 2012, Guillen, acquired in a trade with the Sox the previous Sept. 29, penciled in Reyes as his leadoff man in the Marlins’ 4-1 loss to the Cardinals in Miami. The next day, Reyes was 1-for-4 in Buehrle’s first start in the “Senior Circuit” — a 4-0 loss to Johnny Cueto and the Reds.
*JAMES SHIELDS: One of two pitchers (Early Wynn) to start an opener for and against the White Sox, Shields is also one of five hurlers to make a postseason start vs. the Sox and play for the team.
Shields started against the Sox for Tampa Bay in the 2008 American League Division Series and pitched on the Southside from 2016 and 2018.
Others who have started against the Sox in the postseason and played for the team are Ferdie Schupp (NY Giants 1917 World Series, Sox 1922), Freddy Garcia (Seattle 2000 ALDS, Sox 2004-06, 2010) and David Wells (Boston 2005 ALDS, Sox 2001).
*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.
*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.
RETURNING PLAYERS (REPOSTING FROM PREVIOUS BLOGS):
*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.
*MARK BUEHRLE: Stone-cold Southside legend. For more on Buehrle see https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/soxnerd-blog-june-26-buehrle-timeline/
*TODD HELTON: Of the 29 teams Helton faced, the White Sox were the only team against which he did not homer. … Helton hit .172 (5-for-29) in eight games vs. the Sox, which was his lowest output against any opponent
*TORII HUNTER: Faced Buehrle more times (101 plate appearances, 100 at bats) than any other pitcher … Slashed .240/.238/.410 with three homers and 17 strikeouts against Buehrle
*ANDRUW JONES: 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’ 400th homer 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
*ALEX RODRIGUEZ: 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/
*MANNY RAMIREZ: Hit the last of his 555 home runs as a member of the White Sox. “Manny being Manny’s” last homer was on Sept. 17, 2010 off the Tigers’ Max Scherzer at U.S. Cellular Field. … Manny’s White Sox homer https://youtu.be/OcvELleH5pI
*FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ: Right-handed closer 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
*GARY SHEFFIELD: Brewers’ leadoff hitter in the final Opening Day at Comiskey Park in 1990. Playing third base, Sheffield was 0-for-4 in the Sox 2-1 win.
*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.