Jul 16, 2013; Flushing, NY, USA; Recording artist Candice Glover sings the National Anthem prior to the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Since the 2014 All-Star teams will be announced for the American and National Leagues, it got me wondering who were some of the all-time greatest Chicago White Sox players to be selected to the MLB All-Star game.
Looking at the list, it was easy to see the names on these rosters since 1933 are some of the best players to ever wear SOX on their jersey.
Apr 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox veteran Frank Thomas prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at US Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Then the fun part ensued … selecting an all-time White Sox all-star team, at the starting nine, plus a designated hitter on the roster.
I had to leave a lot of great names off my list, but I feel the All-Star team I selected could put up a good game with other all-time All-Star teams, either against another White Sox team or any other franchise.
Here is the team I came up with, and please feel free to share an all-time White Sox All-Star team of you own. Let’s have fun celebrating the great All-Star history of the White Sox. Note: Numbers in parentheses are years they made an All-Star team with the White Sox.
• First Base: Frank Thomas (’93-97)
• Second Base: Nellie Fox (’51-61, ’63)
• Third Base: Jimmy Dykes (’33, ’35)
• Shortstop: Luke Appling (’36, ’39-41, ’43, ’46-47)
• Outfield: Al Simmons (’33-35)
• Outfield: Harold Baines (’85-89)
• Outfield: Minnie Minoso (’51-54, ’57, ’60)
• Catcher: Carlton Fisk (’81-82, ’85, ’91)
• Designated Hitter: Paul Konerko (’02, ’05-06, ’10-12)
• Pitcher: Ted Lyons (’39)
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I had to leave out some of my all-time favorite White Sox players, including Ozzie Guillen at shortstop, A.J. Pierzynski at catcher, Mark Buehrle, Chris Sale and Jack McDowell at pitcher and ’05 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye in the outfield. Also there is third baseman Joe Crede (’08) and outfielder Ron Kittle (’83) who didn’t make my team.
I also had to leave out two Pro Baseball Hall of Famers who made the All-Star Game as a member of the White Sox in Early Wynn (’58-60) and Rich Gossage (Goose), who made the All-Star team with the White Sox from ’75-76.
Since the All-Star game didn’t begin until 1933, six Hall of Famers who played five or more seasons with the White Sox didn’t play in the mid-summer classic as it didn’t exist during their playing days.
Hall of Famer Hoyt Wihelm played for the White Sox from ’63-68 but was never an All-Star with the White Sox.
One of the toughest decisions was keeping pitcher Billy Pierce off the team, though he played 13 seasons with the White Sox, making seven All-Star teams. Pierce is also the only White Sox player that has his number retired by the Sox who isn’t on the team as well, a fact I didn’t realize until I put the team together.
Again, send us your All-Time All-Star White Sox team.