1994 Chicago White Sox season
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox baseball team season
| name = Chicago White Sox
| season = 1994
| league = American League
| division = Central
| ballpark = Comiskey Park
| city = Chicago
| owners = Jerry Reinsdorf
|general_managers = Ron Schueler
| managers = Gene Lamont
| television = WGN-TV
SportsChannel Chicago
(Ken Harrelson, Tom Paciorek)
| radio =WMAQ (AM)
(John Rooney, Ed Farmer)
WIND (AM)
(Hector Molina, Chico Carrasquel)
|}}
The 1994 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 94th season in the major leagues, and their 95th season overall. They led the American League Central, 1 game ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians with a record of 67–46, when the season was cut short by the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike.
Michael Jordan
After retiring from the National Basketball Association, Michael Jordan surprised the sports world by signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox. He was invited to spring training and was sent to the Birmingham Barons on March 31, 1994.{{cite web|title=Michael Jordan Chronology |date=1999-01-12 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/1999/01/11/jordan_chronology/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309201651/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/1999/01/11/jordan_chronology/ |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Jordan has stated this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who had always envisioned his son as a Major League Baseball player.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}
Offseason
- October 13, 1993: George Bell was released by the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bellge02.shtml|title=George Bell Stats}}
- December 15, 1993: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/francju01.shtml Julio Franco Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
- December 22, 1993: Tim Raines signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/raineti01.shtml Tim Raines Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
- December 28, 1993: Ron Coomer was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Isidro Marquez.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coomero01.shtml?redir|title=Ron Coomer Stats}}
- February 8, 1994: Carlos Lee was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leeca01.shtml Carlos Lee Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
- January 26, 1994: Dane Johnson was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsda05.shtml|title = Dane Johnson Stats}}
- March 1, 1994: Scott Sanderson was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sandesc01.shtml Scott Sanderson Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
- March 21, 1994: Paul Assenmacher was traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for Brian Boehringer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/assenpa01.shtml|title = Paul Assenmacher Stats}}
- March 29, 1994: Mike Huff was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Toronto Blue Jays for Domingo Martínez.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/huffmi01.shtml Mike Huff Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
Regular season
- July 15, 1994: During a game against the White Sox, Indians outfielder Albert Belle's bat was confiscated by umpire Dave Phillips.{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/cheaters/ballplayers.html| title = ESPN.com - Page2 - Biggest cheaters in baseball}} It was the result of White Sox manager Gene Lamont believing that the bat was corked. During the game, Indians pitcher Jason Grimsley removed a ceiling tile in his manager's office and clambered on top of an {{convert|18|in|mm|adj=mid|-wide}} cinder block.{{Cite web |url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/spitters6.stm |title=Spitters, Beanballs, and the Incredible Shrinking Strike Zone / G. Waggoner, K. Moloney, and H. Howard | BaseballLibrary.com |access-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012020753/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/spitters6.stm |archive-date=October 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} He replaced the corked bat with a conventional bat but the bat had Paul Sorrento's name on it. Belle was suspended for seven games.
By Friday, August 12, the White Sox had compiled a 67-46 record through 113 games. They were leading the AL Central Division and had scored 633 runs (5.60 per game) and allowed 498 runs (4.41 per game).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1994.shtml|title = 1994 American League Season Summary}} Their hitters had also struck out just 568 times: the fewest in the Majors. While their pitchers combined for just 20 saves, they did have 9 shutouts, tying the Oakland Athletics for the most in the Majors, and hit only 17 batters: the fewest among all 28 teams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1994.shtml|title=1994 Major League Baseball Season Summary}}
= Season standings =
{{1994 AL Central standings|highlight=Chicago White Sox}}
{{1994 AL Wild Card standings|highlight=Chicago White Sox}}
= Record vs. opponents =
{{1994 AL Record vs. opponents|team=CWS}}
= Opening Day lineup =
- Tim Raines, LF
- Joey Cora, 2B
- Frank Thomas, 1B
- Julio Franco, DH
- Robin Ventura, 3B
- Darrin Jackson, RF
- Lance Johnson, CF
- Ron Karkovice, C
- Ozzie Guillén, SS
- Jack McDowell, P
= Notable transactions =
- April 4, 1994: Pete Rose Jr. was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rosepe02.shtml Pete Rose Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
- April 12, 1994: Atlee Hammaker was signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hammaat01.shtml|title = Atlee Hammaker Stats}}
- April 21, 1994: Steve Sax was released by the Chicago White Sox.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/saxst01.shtml Steve Sax Statistics] Baseball-Reference.com
= Roster =
| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| colspan="10" style="background:black; color:white; text-align:center;"| 1994 Chicago White Sox |
|---|
| colspan="10" style="background:black; color:white; text-align:center;"| Roster |
| valign="top" | Pitchers
{{MLBplayer|40|Wilson Álvarez}} {{MLBplayer|50,42|Paul Assenmacher}} {{MLBplayer|46|Jason Bere}} {{MLBplayer|27|Dennis Cook}} {{MLBplayer|48|José DeLeón}} {{MLBplayer|32|Alex Fernandez}} {{MLBplayer|34|Atlee Hammaker}} {{MLBplayer|39|Roberto Hernández}} {{MLBplayer|38|Dane Johnson}} {{MLBplayer|25|Kirk McCaskill}} {{MLBplayer|29|Jack McDowell}} {{MLBplayer|36|Scott Ruffcorn}} {{MLBplayer|21|Scott Sanderson}} {{MLBplayer|49|Jeff Schwarz}} | style="width:25px;"| | valign="top" | Catchers {{MLBplayer|20|Ron Karkovice}} {{MLBplayer|10|Mike LaValliere}} {{MLBplayer|49|Bob Melvin}} {{MLBplayer|55|Ron Tingley}} Infielders {{MLBplayer|28|Joey Cora}} {{MLBplayer|14|Julio Franco}} {{MLBplayer|12|Craig Grebeck}} {{MLBplayer|13|Ozzie Guillén}} {{MLBplayer| 7|Norberto Martin}} {{MLBplayer| 8|Olmedo Sáenz}} {{MLBplayer|35|Frank Thomas}} {{MLBplayer|23|Robin Ventura}} | style="width:25px;"| | valign="top" | Outfielders {{MLBplayer|26|Joe Hall}} {{MLBplayer|34|Dan Howitt}} {{MLBplayer|22|Darrin Jackson}} {{MLBplayer| 1|Lance Johnson}} {{MLBplayer|24|Warren Newson}} {{MLBplayer|44|Dan Pasqua}} {{MLBplayer|30|Tim Raines}} {{MLBplayer|43|Bob Zupcic}} | style="width:25px;"| | valign="top" | Manager {{MLBplayer|33|Gene Lamont}} Coaches {{MLBplayer|18|Terry Bevington}}(first base) {{MLBplayer|41|Jackie Brown}}(pitching) {{MLBplayer| 6|Walt Hriniak}}(hitting) {{MLBplayer|17|Doug Mansolino}}(third base) {{MLBplayer|15|Joe Nossek}}(bench) {{MLBplayer|55|Dewey Robinson}}(bullpen) |
Player stats
= Batting =
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#ddf; width:20%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| G ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| AB ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| R ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| H ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| 2B ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| 3B ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| HR ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| RBI ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| BB ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| SO ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| AVG ! style="background:#ddf; width:6%;"| SB |
|---|
| Joey Cora, 2B
| 90 | 312 | 55 | 86 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 38 | 32 | .276 | 8 |
| Julio Franco, 3B, 1B
| 112 | 433 | 72 | 138 | 19 | 2 | 20 | 98 | 62 | 75 | .319 | 8 |
| Craig Grebeck, 2B, SS, 3B
| 35 | 97 | 17 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 5 | .309 | 0 |
| Ozzie Guillén, SS
| 100 | 365 | 46 | 105 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 14 | 35 | .288 | 5 |
| Joe Hall, OF
| 17 | 28 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | .393 | 0 |
| Dann Howitt, OF, 1B
| 10 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .357 | 0 |
| Darrin Jackson, RF, CF
| 104 | 369 | 43 | 115 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 51 | 27 | 56 | .312 | 7 |
| Lance Johnson, CF
| 106 | 412 | 56 | 114 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 54 | 26 | 23 | .277 | 26 |
| Ron Karkovice, C
| 77 | 207 | 33 | 44 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 29 | 36 | 68 | .213 | 0 |
| Mike LaValliere, C
| 59 | 139 | 6 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 20 | 15 | .281 | 0 |
| Norberto Martin, 2B, SS, 3B
| 45 | 131 | 19 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 16 | .275 | 4 |
| Bob Melvin, C
| 11 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .158 | 0 |
| Warren Newson, RF, LF
| 63 | 102 | 16 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 23 | .255 | 1 |
| Dan Pasqua, OF, 1B
| 11 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | .217 | 0 |
| Tim Raines, LF
| 101 | 384 | 80 | 102 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 52 | 61 | 43 | .266 | 13 |
| Frank Thomas, 1B, 3B
| 113 | 399 | 106 | 141 | 34 | 1 | 38 | 101 | 109 | 61 | .353 | 2 |
| Ron Tingley, C
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 |
| Robin Ventura, 3B
| 109 | 401 | 57 | 113 | 15 | 1 | 18 | 78 | 61 | 69 | .282 | 3 |
| Bob Zupcic, OF, 3B
| 32 | 88 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 16 | .205 | 0 |
| class="sortbottom"
| {{center|Team Totals}} | 113 | 3942 | 633 | 1133 | 175 | 39 | 121 | 602 | 497 | 568 | .287 | 77 |
= Pitching =
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#ddf; width:20%;"| Player
! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| W ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| L ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| ERA ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| G ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| GS ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| SV ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| IP ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| H ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| R ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| ER ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| HR ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| BB ! style="background:#ddf; width:5%;"| K |
|---|
| Wilson Álvarez
| 12 | 8 | 3.45 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 161.2 | 147 | 72 | 62 | 16 | 63 | 108 |
| Paul Assenmacher
| 1 | 2 | 3.55 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 33.0 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 29 |
| Jason Bere
| 12 | 2 | 3.81 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 141.2 | 119 | 65 | 60 | 17 | 80 | 127 |
| Dennis Cook
| 3 | 1 | 3.55 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 33.0 | 29 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 26 |
| José DeLeón
| 3 | 2 | 3.36 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 67.0 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 5 | 36 | 67 |
| Alex Fernandez
| 11 | 7 | 3.86 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 170.1 | 163 | 83 | 73 | 25 | 54 | 122 |
| Atlee Hammaker
| 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Roberto Hernández
| 4 | 4 | 4.91 | 45 | 0 | 14 | 47.2 | 44 | 29 | 26 | 5 | 20 | 50 |
| Dane Johnson
| 2 | 1 | 6.57 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 12.1 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 7 |
| Kirk McCaskill
| 1 | 4 | 3.42 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 52.2 | 51 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 26 | 37 |
| Jack McDowell
| 10 | 9 | 3.73 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 181.0 | 186 | 82 | 75 | 12 | 44 | 127 |
| Scott Ruffcorn
| 0 | 2 | 12.79 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6.1 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Scott Sanderson
| 8 | 4 | 5.09 | 18 | 14 | 0 | 92.0 | 110 | 57 | 52 | 20 | 13 | 36 |
| Jeff Schwarz
| 0 | 0 | 6.35 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11.1 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 14 |
| class="sortbottom"
| {{center|Team Totals}} | 67 | 46 | 3.96 | 113 | 113 | 20 | 1011.1 | 964 | 498 | 445 | 115 | 401 | 754 |
Awards and records
- Lance Johnson, American League record, Led American League in triples for four consecutive seasons (1991–1994)Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.95, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN|978-0-451-22363-0}}
- Frank Thomas, Silver Slugger Award
Farm system
{{See also|Minor League Baseball}}
{{MLB Farm System|level15=AAA|team15=Nashville Sounds|league15=American Association|manager15=Rick Renick
|level16=AA |team16=Birmingham Barons|league16=Southern League|manager16= Terry Francona
|level17=A |team17=Prince William Cannons|league17=Carolina League|manager17=Dave Huppert
|level18=A|team18=South Bend Silver Hawks|league18=Midwest League|manager18=Mike Gellinger
|level19=A|team19=Hickory Crawdads|league19=South Atlantic League|manager19=Fred Kendall
|level20=Rookie|team20=GCL White Sox|league20=Gulf Coast League|manager20=Mike Rojas}}Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997
Notes
{{reflist|2}}
References
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/1994.shtml 1994 Chicago White Sox at Baseball Reference]
{{1994 MLB season by team}}
{{Chicago White Sox}}
{{1994 Chicago White Sox}}