1993 Chicago White Sox: Leaving the West

1993 Chicago White Sox: Leaving the West

1993 would be the last year for the Chicago White Sox to compete in the American League West division, and they would make that last year count as they went on to pound opponents in games that weren’t even close. In blowout games that were determined by 5 or more runs, the White Sox went 30-19 against teams. The White Sox had the right blend of home run hitting power and timely hitting for manufacturing runs. It also helped that they had reliable pitching.

The White Sox went 94-68 in 1993, winning the American League West division for the last time by 8 games over the Texas Rangers. The White Sox went 8-5 against the Rangers in head-to-head play. The White Sox went 45-36 at home and 49-32 on the road. Not including the month of May the White Sox remained solid through each month of the regular season as they went 13-9 in April, 15-13 in June, 18-9 in July, 17-12 in August and 17-11 in September.

First baseman Frank Thomas was nicknamed “The Big Hurt” for a reason as he laid a hurting on the baseball every time he launched it out of the park. Thomas batted .317 with 41 home runs and 128 RBI’s off 174 hits and 36 doubles. Center fielder Lance Johnson batted .311 with 168 hits, 18 doubles, 14 triples and 35 stolen bases. Left fielder Tim Raines batted .306 with 16 home runs, 127 hits and 36 doubles. Shortstop Ozzie Guillen batted .280 with 128 hits, 23 doubles and 4 triples.

Signing with the White Sox out of free agency on January 4, right fielder Ellis Burks batted .275 with 17 home runs and 74 RBI’s off 137 hits, 24 doubles and 4 triples. Third baseman Robin Ventura had 22 home runs and 94 RBI’s off 145 hits and 27 doubles. Catcher Ron Karkovice had 20 home runs, 92 hits and 17 doubles in 102 games. Second baseman Joey Cora had 155 hits, 15 doubles, 13 doubles and 20 stolen bases. Designated Hitter George Bell had 13 home runs and 64 RBI’s off 89 hits and 17 doubles in 102 games.

After experiencing a major setback in the form of a hip injury while playing football, utility player Bo Jackson sat out the 1992 MLB season to further rehabilitate from hip replacement surgery. In 85 games Jackson had 16 home runs, 66 hits and 9 doubles. Jackson would be named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and he would also win the Tony Conigliaro Award, an award that is won by a player who overcomes an obstacle and adversity by showing spirit, determination and courage, which were some of Conigliaro’s trademarks.

Starting pitcher Jack McDowell went 22-10 with 158 strikeouts and a 3.37 ERA, recording 10 complete games and 4 shutouts. McDowell posted good enough numbers to win the American League Cy Young Award. Alex Fernandez went 18-9 with 169 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA, recording 3 complete games and 1 shutout. Wilson Alvarez went 15-8 with 155 strikeouts and a 2.95 ERA, recording 1 complete game and 1 shutout. Jason Bere went 12-5 with 129 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA, recording 1 complete game. Despite going 3-5 Tim Belcher had 1 complete game and 1 shutout.

Closer Roberto Hernandez had 38 saves and a 2.29 ERA. Relief pitcher Scott Radinsky went 8-2 with 4 saves. Kirk McCaskill had 2 saves. Don Pall had 1 save and a 3.22 ERA. Jeff Schwarz went 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA.

Gene Lamont had guided the White Sox to much success on the field, which led to him to being named the American League Manager of the Year. Along with Jack McDowell, Frank Thomas would make the All-Star Game as a reserve, and it was The Big Hurt’s tremendous performances throughout the season that allowed him to win a Silver Slugger Award and to be named the American League Most Valuable Player.

However, in the American League Championship Series the White Sox were not able to overcome the momentum that a team from north of the border had maintained from the previous year. The Chicago White Sox fell 4 games to 2 to the eventual back-to-back World Series Champion Toronto Blue Jays. Both of Chicago’s wins in this series came on the road at Toronto’s SkyDome.

In Game 3 on October 8 the White Sox beat the Blue Jays 6-1. Wilson Alvarez pitched a complete game, giving up 7 hits, 2 walks and 1 run while recording 6 strikeouts. In the top of the 3^rd inning Frank Thomas had an RBI single, and then Ellis Burks and Lance Johnson both had 2-run singles. In the bottom of the 3^rd center fielder Devon White had an RBI single. In the top of the 4^th Robin Ventura had a sacrifice fly to score Ozzie Guillen.

In Game 4 on October 9 the White Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-4. In the top of the 2^nd inning Johnson belted a 2-run home run. In the bottom of the 3^rd second baseman Roberto Alomar had an RBI double, and then right fielder Joe Carter had a 2-run single. In the top of the 6^th Thomas hit a solo home run, and then Johnson followed with a 2-run triple. In the bottom of the 6^th Alomar had an RBI double. In the top of the 7^th Joey Cora had an RBI groundout, and in the top of the 9^th Ventura had an RBI single.

Adjusting to the American League Central division would be more difficult than the Chicago White Sox had imagined as it would take 7 years for them to return to the postseason.