Today in White Sox History: March 30
Braden Shewmake makes a splash on the first pitch he sees
1970
In a swap of arms, the White Sox deal Jerry Nyman to San Diego for Tommie Sisk. Both players would throw their last in the majors in 1970, with Nyman making two starts (15.19 ERA, -0.4 WAR). Sisk did a lot of damage quickly, throwing 17 (1-1, 5.40 ERA, -0.7 WAR) by June, when he was then swapped to Cleveland.
However, Nyman has the additional ignominy of, at age 42, serving up a home run to South Side Sox editor Brett Ballantini.
1971
Another good deal pulled off by the White Sox and GM Roland Hemond sends catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vicente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser.
Muser was one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball, and was tremendous as a late-inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires, if you will. Romo helped stabilize a young White Sox bullpen, with an ERA of 3.33 and six saves in two years with the team, primarily spent as a middle relief man.
1978
In what seemed a strange move for a team hoping to Rent-a-Player its way into a second straight surprise, 90-win season, the White Sox sent starting pitcher Steve Renko and catcher Jim Essian to the A’s for reliever Pablo Torrealba.
And the move turned out not only to be strange but bad, as Torrealba pitched poorly on the South Side (4.71 ERA, -0.6 WAR and one save in just 25 games, although he started three and complete one game as well, what a season), getting released during the 1979 season. Renko had just one year in Oakland but was a solid starter (1.1 WAR, 4.29 ERA/3.64 FIP in 25 starts), and Essian spent three years with the club and was terrific (2.3 WAR) as Oakland’s primary catcher in 1978.
1981
Shortly before the start of the regular season, the White Sox purchase the contract of native Chicagoan slugger Greg Luzinski from the Phillies. (Philadelphia originally wanted a pitcher, either Steve Trout or Rich Dotson, in return, but when the Sox wouldn’t budge settled for cash considerations.)
The strongman would become a two-time American League Designated Hitter of the Year and provide solid power for the middle of the batting order. In his 3 1⁄2 seasons, Luzinski pounded out 84 home runs and drove in 317 runs. “Bull” would also become the first player to hit three rooftop home runs in a single season at the original Comiskey Park (1983); the blasts came against the Twins, Yankees and Red Sox.
1982
Needing outfield help, White Sox GM Roland Hemond sends two prospects to the Dodgers for the speedy Rudy Law. Law would smash the team’s stolen base record in 1983, swiping 77 bases, and added 20 doubles, seven triples and a .283 batting average. His career on the South Side lasted just four years, but it was memorable, as he supplied speed and defense to the 1983 Western Division champions. In his four years with the Sox, Rudy stole 171 bases.
1992
Seeking another power bat to hit behind Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, and not being able to close a deal with free agent Mark McGwire, White Sox GM Ron Schueler deals outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the Cubs for outfielder/DH George Bell. Bell would have 112 RBIs in 1992 and was solid in 1993, but outbursts during the 1993 ALCS over playing time sealed his fate, and he soon was gone from the organization.
Part of the reason Sosa was traded was because he had issues with White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak, who wanted him to hit to all fields and stop trying to just hit home runs. Hriniak wanted the 1990 version of Sosa, who was the only player in baseball with double-figures in doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases and outfield assists … and he drove in 70 runs to boot!
Sosa would become the face of the Cubs and challenge all-time home run marks in the late 1990s. However, in the wake of the steroid scandal, he left baseball with a cloud over him. He fell off of the Hall of Fame ballot in 2022, never having garnered more than 18.5% from voters.
2024
Braden Shewmake connected for a home run on the first pitch he saw as a member of the White Sox. The long ball was also Shewmake’s first hit in the majors. The infielder became the first White Sox player since 2019 (Zack Collins) to homer for his first career hit. However, the White Sox lost, 7-6, in 10 innings to Detroit, falling to 0-2 on the season.
Shewmake was injured for most of the season and designated for assignment after its conclusion.