The Greatest White Sox Players of all time (Part 1 of 3)
Catcher – Carlton Fisk (1981-1993)
Carlton Fisk signed with the Chicago White Sox on March 18, of 1981 after spending the first 11 years of his major league career with the Boston Red Sox. Fisk spent 13 years on the south side, amassing 214 home runs, 762 RBI, 1,259 hits, and a .257 BA over a span of 1,421 games. Fisk appeared in four Major League Baseball All-Star games, and won the Silver Slugger Award three times while playing for the White Sox. He also finished third in the American League’s Most Valuable Player voting in 1983. Fisk ended his marvelous career after the 1993 season, and seven years later in 2000 the 11 time All-Star was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite playing two more years in Chicago than he did in Boston, Fisk elected to be enshrined into Cooperstown wearing a Red Sox cap.
Runner-up – A.J. Pierzynski (2005-2012)
First Base – Frank Thomas (1990-2005)
On June 11, 1989 the Chicago White Sox signed Frank Edward Thomas, the 7th pick in the 1989 MLB Draft. Little did anyone know at that time that Thomas would go on to become the greatest White Sox player in the franchises history. Thomas would eventually become known to White Sox fans as “The Big Hurt”, a nickname depicted from the pounding that he put on baseballs day in, and day out for 16 seasons on the south side of Chicago. Thomas would amass 448 home runs, 1465 RBI, 447 doubles, 2136 hits, and a stellar .307 BA over his 16 seasons with the White Sox. In 1993 and 1994 Frank Thomas won back-to-back American League Most Valuable Player Awards, he would also appear in five All-Star games, and win the Silver Slugger Award for first-basemen four times over his career. In 2005, his last season with the Chicago White Sox he added a Word Series Championship to his already illustrious resume. However, as all good things must come to an end in life, such is the case with sports as well. The White Sox believed that because of the injuries in recent years, the years played, and the fact that they had to shell out a big contract to Paul Konerko, the current first-basemen of the White Sox, that it was time for the franchise to move on from it’s greatest offensive player ever. Thomas would go on to play three more seasons, splitting time between Oakland and Toronto. In 2006 in Oakland The Big Hurt would play a full season, and hit 39 home runs, and 114 RBI while finishing third in MVP voting. In 2008 after 19 seasons, 521 home runs, 1,704 RBI, 495 doubles, 2468 hits, and .301 lifetime batting average Thomas called it a career. In 2014 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, wearing a Chicago White Sox cap.
Runner-up – Paul Konerko (1999-2014)
Second Base – Nellie Fox (1950-1963)
Nellie Fox or other wise known as “Mighty Mite” thanks to his below average stature, Fox stood at just 5’10” and weighed 160 pounds. That didn’t stop Fox from playing 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, 14 of those seasons on the south side of Chicago for the White Sox. Fox ended compiled a .291 BA, 35 home runs, and 740 RBIs during his tenure with the White Sox. Fox played in 12 All-Star Games, won three Gold Glove Awards, and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1959. The Chicago White Sox retired Fox’s number two jersey, and Fox was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 by the Veterans Committee.
Runner-up: Eddie Collins (1915-1926)
Shortstop – Luke Appling (1930-1950)
Luke Appling played his entire 20 year career with the Chicago White Sox. Appling was a career .310 hitter with 45 home runs, 1116 RBIs, 440 doubles, 102 triples, and 179 stolen bases over that span. Appling won the American League Batting Title in both 1936, and 1943 and was selected to seven career All-Star Game appearances. Luke Appling played in 2,422 games for the White Sox the 78th most games played of all time, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
Runner-up: Luis Aparicio (1956-1962, 1968-1970)
Third Base – Robin Ventura (1989-1998)
The current manager of the Chicago White Sox, was previously the teams third basemen for 10 seasons. During those 10 seasons Ventura hit .274 with 171 home runs, 741 RBIs, 219 doubles, and 1,244 hits. Robin was a productive offensive player during his time with the White Sox, but his defense was even more stellar. Ventura won the American League Gold Glove Award winner five times in 10 seasons with the White Sox. Ventura played 1,887 games at third base, the 18th most games played at the “hot corner” in Major League Baseball history.
Runner-up – Joe Crede (2000-2008)