Today in White Sox history: November 3

The Battle for George Davis in 1903

DAMAKORONKOWA - The fierce early-century tug-of-war surrounding the future Hall of Fame shortstop George Davis finally reached a turning point when the New York Giants omitted him from their reserve list. This maneuver effectively conceded the bitter contract battle to the Chicago White Sox.

Earlier, the White Sox had successfully persuaded Davis to leave his longtime New York stomping grounds ahead of the 1902 campaign, during which he put together an impressive 5.9 WAR across 132 games.

However, the ongoing hostilities between the National and American Leagues complicated matters immensely. The Giants managed to coax Davis into breaking his Chicago commitment to return to New York for the 1904 season.

This sparked one of the most intense player disputes of the era, complete with court injunctions that restricted Davis to appearing in just four games for New York that entire year.

Following the conclusion of the season, Giants owner John Brush ultimately surrendered. On November 3, American League president Ban Johnson publicly assured fans and league officials that Davis would suit up for the White Sox for the 1905 season.

This prediction proved accurate, as Davis completed his storied career in Chicago, playing through the 1909 season. His performances in 1905 and 1906 were nothing short of spectacular, yielding a 7.2 WAR in each campaign—the highest marks of his career. In fact, his exceptional play led the entire American League in WAR in 1906. Decades later, the Veterans Committee properly enshrined Davis in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Roster Shuffles and Managerial Milestones

As the decades progressed, the franchise experienced numerous pivotal transactions and historic leadership appointments that shaped the identity of the organization on the South Side.

1959 Player Trade: The White Sox executed a trade sending towering first baseman Ron Jackson to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for versatile southpaw Frank Baumann. Baumann went on to experience a fascinating, albeit roller-coaster, career with Chicago in the early 1960s. He burst out of the gate by leading the American League with a stellar 2.67 ERA in 1960. While that stellar campaign was worth 3.4 WAR, the very next season saw him lead the AL in earned runs allowed (117), culminating in a rough -2.1 WAR. He rebounded nicely in 1962 with a 2.3 WAR season, splitting time evenly between starting (10) and finishing games (12, along with four saves). After two more marginal years, he was traded to the Cubs in a rare crosstown deal before retiring in 1965. Meanwhile, Jackson—standing at an imposing 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds—never fully materialized as a major league regular, appearing in just 186 games over six years on the South Side and adding a mere 10 games in Boston during the 1960 season before his big league career came to a close.

1983 Managerial Recognition: Tony La Russa earned high praise after guiding the White Sox to a remarkable 99-win season and the franchise's first postseason appearance in 24 years. In recognition of this achievement, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) named him their very first Manager of the Year, an award they were handing out for the inaugural time. La Russa captured 17 out of 28 possible votes, outpacing Baltimore skipper Joe Altobelli, who secured seven first-place votes. La Russa also claimed Manager of the Year honors from both The Sporting News and the Associated Press.

1988 Leadership Change: The organization appointed former major league catcher and Cleveland manager Jeff Torborg as their new skipper. Torborg introduced a cohesive "team and family" culture that deeply resonated with a young roster, inspiring them to shock the baseball world by securing 94 victories in 1990. That success earned Torborg the Manager of the Year award. Following an 87-win season in 1991, he was ultimately let go because general manager Ron Schueler preferred to bring in his own hand-picked manager. Beyond his managerial resume, Torborg holds a unique place in baseball history: he is the only person to have caught a perfect game thrown by Sandy Koufax and no-hitters from both Nolan Ryan and Bill Singer during his playing days with the Dodgers and Angels from 1964 to 1973.

Entering a New Era and Defensive Brilliance

The turn of the millennium brought fresh faces to the dugout and continued defensive excellence on the field.

2003: Former White Sox All-Star shortstop Ozzie Guillén was appointed as the team's manager, taking over the reins from Jerry Manuel. Guillén initially secured his interview almost as a late courtesy from Ken Williams, seeing as Ozzie was busy coaching third base for the World Champion Florida Marlins at the time. In fact, Williams had nearly finalized an agreement with Cito Gaston before sitting down with Guillén. The "Wizard of Oz" immediately set about revitalizing the ballclub. His distinct brand of "Ozzie-Ball"—which emphasized pitching, aggressive and intelligent base-running, sound defense, and executing the fundamental aspects of the game rather than relying solely on the long ball—paved the way for a magical World Series championship in 2005, the same year he was named Manager of the Year. He guided the club back to the postseason in 2008. Although it initially looked like Guillén would enjoy a lengthy tenure on the South Side, his dynamic with GM Ken Williams eventually shifted. After Guillén effectively forced owner Jerry Reinsdorf to choose between his two key figures, a mutual parting of ways materialized in late September 2011.

2020: Despite a heavily shortened 60-game schedule due to the global pandemic, defensive excellence was still appropriately rewarded. Luis Robert Jr. captured the American League’s Gold Glove award for his elite play in center field. Robert shared this rare distinction with first baseman Evan White, as both players earned Gold Gloves in a season where neither had logged a single major league game prior to 2020.

2022: Looking toward the future, Kansas City Royals coach Pedro Grifol was named manager to succeed Tony La Russa, who had officially announced his retirement in October due to ongoing health considerations.

The Pedigree of Pedro Grifol

Pedro Grifol brought a traditional baseball background to his managerial post, having played collegiate baseball at Florida State University and climbing the professional ladder as high as the Triple-A level as a player. Prior to taking the helm on the South Side, Grifol spent a decade embedded within the Kansas City Royals organization, which followed a lengthy and formative tenure among the ranks of the Seattle Mariners.

His appointment as manager carried significant historical weight for the franchise. As an "outsider"—an individual possessing zero prior connections to team owner Jerry Reinsdorf or the broader Chicago White Sox corporate and baseball infrastructure—Grifol broke a long-standing trend. Not since Jerry Manuel secured the position ahead of the 1998 campaign had the organization hired a manager completely devoid of internal ties.

Unfortunately, the early returns on the field painted a grim picture. Throughout his inaugural 2023 campaign, Grifol's squad stumbled to a dismal 61-101 record. This performance etched his name into the franchise record books in an undesirable way, cementing him with the worst winning percentage of any White Sox skipper who managed a team for at least one full, uninterrupted 162-game season.

The Departures and Financial Calculations

Roster management and financial pragmatism frequently intersect in professional sports, sometimes resulting in decisions that alienate the fan base and disrupt clubhouse chemistry. A prime example of this dynamic played out with elite closer and locker room leader Liam Hendriks.

The organization had previously demonstrated immense loyalty and support for Hendriks as he battled through a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. However, that organizational patience notably vanished when confronted with the reality of Tommy John surgery. Rather than retaining the veteran reliever—keeping him around to mentor a rapidly developing young pitching staff and potentially serving as a valuable trade deadline asset upon his eventual recovery—the front office opted to release him outright.

Immediate Financial Relief: By cutting ties with Hendriks, the franchise achieved an immediate cash flow relief of $13.5 million.

The Payout Structure: Instead of paying out his full $15 million salary scheduled for 2024, the club negotiated a deferred agreement paying that exact sum over a span of 10 years, translating to manageable $1.5 million annual installments.

Subsequent Market Value: The following February, the Boston Red Sox capitalized on the situation by signing Hendriks to a two-year, $10 million contract that included performance structures worth up to $30 million over three years.

As many analysts projected back when Hendriks initially inked his lucrative four-year, $54 million deal with Chicago in 2021, the contract ultimately failed to return surplus value—a reality heavily compounded by the unfortunate convergence of lymphoma and elbow reconstructive surgeries. During his first two fully healthy seasons in a White Sox uniform, Hendriks certainly performed at an elite level, earning consecutive All-Star nods and accumulating a combined 4.3 WAR.

However, even if that high-end production had miraculously sustained itself through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, modern baseball economics dictate that a traditional relief pitcher faces an uphill battle to generate positive surplus value against such a steep financial investment. Despite the abrupt and unceremonious conclusion to his tenure in Chicago, Hendriks walked away having posted stellar career numbers with the White Sox, leaving behind a legacy defined by a 14-7 record, a sparkling 2.76 ERA backed by a 2.59 FIP, a stingy 0.875 WHIP, and 76 successful saves.