1971 Chicago White Sox season
Encyclopedia
The Chicago White Sox
season was their 72nd season overall and 71st in the American League
. They finished with a record 79-83, good enough for third place in the American League West
, 22½ games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics
.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
season was their 72nd season overall and 71st in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. They finished with a record 79-83, good enough for third place in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, 22½ games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics
1971 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 101 wins and 60 losses. In their first postseason appearance of any kind since 1931, the A's were swept in three games by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship...
.
Offseason
- December 31, 1970: Chuck HartensteinChuck HartensteinCharles Oscar Hartenstein [Twiggy] is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., Hartenstein batted and threw right-handed...
was purchased by the White Sox from the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. - March 29, 1971: Tommy McCrawTommy McCrawTommy Lee McCraw was a Major League first baseman and outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians and California Angels ....
was traded by the White Sox to the Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Ed StroudEd StroudEdwin Marvin Stroud is a retired American professional baseball player. An outfielder, he played in the Major Leagues from 1966–1971 for the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators....
. - March 31, 1971: Duane JosephsonDuane JosephsonDuane Charles Josephson was an American professional baseball player, a catcher who played for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball....
and Danny Murphy were traded by the White Sox to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Tony MuserTony MuserAnthony Joseph Muser is currently a roving instructor in the San Diego Padres organization. From 1997 until 2002, Muser served as the manager of the Kansas City Royals...
and Vicente RomoVicente RomoVicente Romo Navarro , nicknamed "Huevo" , is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. From through , Romo played for the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
Opening Day lineup
- Lee RichardLee RichardLee Edward "BeeBee" Richard is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played all or part of five seasons in the majors, between and , for the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. He played primarily at shortstop, especially early in his career, but his defense was poor, and he later...
, ss - Jay JohnstoneJay JohnstoneJohn William Johnstone Jr. is an American former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs...
, cf - Mike AndrewsMike AndrewsMichael Jay Andrews is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. He is currently the chairman of The Jimmy Fund, an event fundraising organization affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston,...
, 2b - Bill MeltonBill MeltonWilliam Edwin Melton , nicknamed "Beltin' Bill" or "Beltin' Melton", is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Cleveland Indians...
, 3b - Carlos MayCarlos MayCarlos May is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox through most of his career, and also the New York Yankees and California Angels. He also played four seasons in Japan, from until , for the Nankai Hawks. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, 1b - Rick ReichardtRick ReichardtFrederic Carl Reichardt was a Major League outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals...
, lf - Walt WilliamsWalt Williams (baseball)Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
, rf - Ed HerrmannEd HerrmannEdward Martin Herrmann is a former American professional baseball player. He played in the Major Leagues as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos from 1967 to 1978...
, c - Tommy JohnTommy JohnThomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
, p
Notable transactions
- June 8, 1971: 1971 Major League Baseball Draft1971 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers...
- Warren CromartieWarren CromartieWarren Livingston Cromartie is a retired American baseball player.-Baseball career:Warren Cromartie debuted with the Montreal Expos of the Major Leagues on September 6, 1974 after being picked 6th in the 1973 amateur draft...
was drafted by the White Sox in the 7th round, but did not sign. - Jeff HollyJeff HollyJeffrey Owen Holly is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues from until , all for the Minnesota Twins.-External links:...
was drafted by the White Sox in the 17th round.
- Warren Cromartie
- July 7, 1971: Lee MayeLee MayeArthur Lee Maye was a Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves , Houston Astros , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and Chicago White Sox .Maye was also well known as a Rhythm & Blues singer...
was released by the White Sox. - August 6, 1971: Joe HendersonJoe Henderson (baseball)Joseph Lee Henderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues between and , including four games for the 1976 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds, although he did not pitch for them in the postseason. Joe is the uncle of former MLB...
was acquired by the White Sox from the Algodoneros de Union Laguna of the Mexican League.
Roster
| 1971 Chicago White Sox | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 101 | 294 | 63 | .214 | 11 | 35 | |
| 1B | 141 | 500 | 147 | .294 | 7 | 70 | |
| 2B | 109 | 330 | 93 | .282 | 12 | 47 | |
| 3B | 150 | 543 | 146 | .269 | 33 | 86 | |
| LF | 138 | 496 | 138 | .278 | 19 | 62 | |
| CF | 124 | 388 | 101 | .260 | 16 | 40 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 369 | 100 | .271 | 8 | 46 | |
| 114 | 361 | 106 | .294 | 8 | 35 | |
| 87 | 260 | 60 | .231 | 2 | 17 | |
| 53 | 141 | 25 | .177 | 0 | 2 | |
| 32 | 44 | 9 | .205 | 1 | 7 | |
| 15 | 20 | 4 | .200 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | 16 | 5 | .313 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 285.2 | 15 | 15 | 2.96 | 206 | |
| 38 | 229.1 | 13 | 16 | 3.61 | 131 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 137.1 | 8 | 9 | 4.26 | 82 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3.38 | 48 | |
| 45 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3.99 | 48 | |
| 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.38 | 14 | |
| 18 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4.44 | 15 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12.00 | 5 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | 1 | |