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White Sox: The six players who have hit for the cycle

By Kristen Bentley

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 09: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox is greeted by Avisail Garcia #26 after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning on September 9, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 09: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox is greeted by Avisail Garcia #26 after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning on September 9, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /
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24 Aug 2000: Valentin #22 of the Chicago White Sox looks down while at bat during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. The Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-5.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
24 Aug 2000: Valentin #22 of the Chicago White Sox looks down while at bat during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. The Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-5.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

Jose Valentin hit his cycle on April 27, 2000, against the Baltimore Orioles. Like Abreu, this Jose also accomplished the feat at home and the Sox defeated the Orioles by a score of 13-4. I’m detecting a subtle pattern here. Valentin batted second that day and went four for five with five RBI.

Valentin spent five seasons with the Sox. During his five seasons, he hit .247/.319/.483, but his best season was in 2000 when he hit .273/.343/.491. In 2000, Valentin hit 25 home runs, 92 RBI, 6 triples, and 37 doubles. He never was invited to an All-Star Game and the only award recognition he received was in 1994 when he finished 9th in the Rookie of the Year vote.

On April 27, 2000, Valentin batted in the two hole and he played shortstop. The lead-off batter that day was Ray Durham and Frank Thomas batted third. Valentin’s first at-bat in the bottom of the first was a bunt single that moved Durham third after his lead-off double. Valentin’s next at-bat was a line-drive double that resulted in an RBI when Greg Norton crossed home plate.

The Sox batted around in the third inning and Valentin added a triple to his list of hits. While cycles are rare, the single-double-triple-home-run cycle is even rarer. On his triple, he cleared the bases, earning three more RBI to his total on the day. The Sox quieted down in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Then, in the seventh, Valentin made his way into the history books with a home run off of Mike Trombley.

In 2000, five players hit the cycle: Eric Chavez with the Athletics, Luis Gonzalez with the D-backs, Jason Kendall with the Pirates, and Mike Lansing with the Rockies.

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