The Moose, Bill Skowron

Bill Skowron started his baseball career with the New York Yankees and played in the majors with the Yanks for 9 seasons.  Moose also played one season each with the Washington Senators, Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels.  Most importantly, he played 4 seasons with his hometown Chicago White Sox.
He is rightfully proud of his 6 World Series titles (and 8 appearances) and 8 All-Star games, however only one of those achievements (the 1965 AS game) occurred during his time with the Sox.  Still, Skowron is a diehard Sox fan.  His enthusiasm is hard to ignore.
I met Skowron while I was representing AU Sports at a White Sox convention.  He was almost 70 at the time, but he was lively and animated.  He told great stories and seemed to be having as much fun as the fans around him, myself included.  He gladly posed for pictures and signed baseballs...all for free!  Although he only played here for 4 seasons, just 347 games, he is a White Sox icon.

Moose Skowron and me in Chicago, IL-Late 1990's.

A Game Info Question Answered By Johngy

Last weekend, I got together with a group of old friends to partake in our yearly draft for our fantasy baseball league.  Mike Fuhr, leader of the Fightin' Fury and regular reader of this site, mentioned he was looking for info about an old game-action photo from a White Sox game.  Mike had seen me write about identifying specific games from old pictures and baseball cards and hoped I (or more likely, one of the other bloggers who are much better at this than I am) could figure out the specifics.
When Mike sent it to me the other day, I was able to get most of the info on my own.  The date was Friday, October 2, 1959.  It was Game 2 of the 1959 World Series.  It was the top of the 7th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers trailed the Chicago White Sox 2-1.
Bob Shaw was pitching for the Sox.  There were two outs.  Neal Essegian hit a solo homer.  Junior Gilliam walked.  Charley Neal came up to bat with Gilliam on 1st and the score now tied.
Neal hit a homer to deep center.  In the excitement, a fan (accidentally, from all accounts) knocked over his beer and it fell right on White Sox outfielder Al Smith (#16) who had already given up on the ball.  The Dodgers won the game 4-3 and ultimately won the World Series 4-2.
Mike asked if the ball is visible anywhere.  I found a set of four pictures from the Tribune photo vault.  In picture #4, it looks like the guy wearing a hat and facing sideways with his hand(s?) extended might be holding (and showing off) the ball.  Others appear to be looking and pointing at him.
Further research showed that the beer which was spilled was Hamm's (the beer refreshing Hammmmmms).  I could not determine the price of that beer, nor the name of the infamous beer-spiller.
Okay Mike.  I think that should answer most of your questions regarding this photo.  I hope it brings you peace of mind, too.  For me, it gave me a topic for the day!  Great seeing you.

Shunned by Bobby Jenks

On our trip to Target Field earlier this year, a new member joined the Johngy's Beat Shunners Club.  White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks gained membership by shunning us while sitting alone in the dugout during a pre-game rain storm. As always, I was disappointed, but not upset.  The player has that right, even if he is seemingly doing nothing while watching the rain fall.  However, in this case, I feel the need to do a statistical analysis of Jenks.
Overall, Jenks was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.367 WHIP and 27 Saves.  I'd like to look beyond the totality and do a pre- and post-shun Bobby Jenks.  Here is where it gets interesting.
Before shunning us, in 36 games, Jenks was 1-1, with a 3.97 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP and 20 Saves (with only 1 blown Save).
After shunning us, in 19 games, Jenks is 0-2, with a 5.30 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 7 Saves (with 3 blown Saves).
Is this mere happenstance?  An odd statistical anomaly?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  A solid case could be made that his plunge cost the Sox a playoff spot.  Next time, perhaps Jenks will play it safe and talk to us.

On the Beat with Sergio Santos

This time, my friend Chuck Gekas got into the interview act. While on the field, Chachi donned the Global Traveler reporter's cap and talked to White Sox pitcher Sergio Santos.

Chachi has been a great friend for a long time. He has assisted me several times in interviews. That's one reason why it was especially cool to see him in front of the camera for this session with Santos.
Chachi handled it smoothly. I am sure he would say, "What's the big deal? We're all professionals." More importantly, I think he had a fun time doing it. With Chuck and my nephew now doing interviews, I am claiming Amway points. All are done under the GT/Johngy's Beat banner. Therefore all are mine.

Steve Renko Chooses White Sox?

Steve Renko was the quarterback for Kansas while Gale Sayers played there. Renko was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, but he had already been drafted by the New York Mets and chose to start a baseball career.
Renko never pitched for the Mets. He was traded to the Montreal Expos where he pitched for several seasons. Then he became a bit of a journeyman, pitching for the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland A's, the Boston Red Sox, the California Angels and the Kansas City Royals. If you don't stay with one team your entire career, I always thought it would be cool to pitch for a bunch, especially all over he country, like Renko did.
I didn't have a lot of time to talk to Renko when I met him. The crowd of people to meet him was unbelievable. Even he was shocked at the masses.
I wanted to talk to him about his time at Kansas. I also wanted to talk about his being one of a few pitchers with more than 125 wins and a record below .500 (134-146). Instead, I was only able to briefly talk about his fine hitting (a .215 career average).
Renko did make a point of saying that the Sox hat he wore was not indicative to him choosing the Sox over the Cubs. Apparently he did not realize the slight controversy that would cause.

Steve Renko and me in Willowbrook, IL-Spring 2008.

Time to Go Digital

I admit it. Digital cameras scared me. I am not really sure why I have some fears of technology. I do okay once I learn the concepts. I guess it comes down to helplessness when something goes awry. Still, it was way past time for me to get a digital camera.
In the past, I usually had a photog or videographer. When I had nobody to assist me, I usually brought a disposable camera. I had some mixed results, but nothing really bad, until the fateful day in Waukesha (WI).
Chuck 'Cuzz' Gekas and I made the trip to meet Larry Haney (a viable candidate for the Backup Catcher Hall of Fame) and Ron Hansen (former White Sox shortstop. We were excited about meeting both.
Unfortunately, my disposable camera failed me. The results were almost not usable. It was such a wasted opportunity. I was very sad and finally learned my lesson.
With the assistance of JayHawk Evans, I purchased a digital camera. These such pictures should be a thing of the past.
At least we have the memory of meeting both men. I talked a bit to Hansen about how my dad was a big fan of his. He seemed very touched that people actually were very interested in his career and his life after baseball.

Ron Hansen, me and Cuzz in Waukesha, WI-March 2010.

Kevin Hickey and AU's Wall of Cards

Kevin Hickey lived a Sox fan's dream. Hickey grew up miles away from Comiskey Park. He was a 16 inch softball player who had a tryout with the Sox and was signed to a contract. He pitched for 3 seasons with the Sox, including their 1983 AL West division champions.
The story did not end there, though. Hickey spent the next 5 seasons in the minors after he was traded to the New York Yankees. He spent time in the minors with the Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies the White Sox (again), the San Francisco Giants and the Baltimore Orioles. He finally made it back to the majors with the Orioles where he spent his final 3 big league seasons.
When I met Hickey at AU Sports in Skokie (IL), he was a trip. He was funny, goofy, light-hearted and happy to be there. He talked about his Chicago roots, playing for his hometown team and the struggles he faced. All the while, he was just in such a great mood. This was a blast.
I have one bit of Hickey trivia. He played the role of "Schoup" in Major League II.
I also have to point out something in the picture. It is a bit dark, but behind Hickey is the famous wall of cards at AU Sports. This mammoth is about 8 feet tall and maybe 50 feet long, full of baseball card singles (or heaven, as I call it).
I remember times when one of the regulars would pull out a random box from the 70's. We would go card by card and talk trivia or card thoughts, sort of like an oral blog of the cards. Those were great times.

Kevin Hickey at AU Sports in Skokie, IL-early 00's.

Kenny Williams Salutes Literacy

Kenny Williams played 6 seasons of major league baseball, including his first 2 with the White Sox. To most, Williams will forever be known as the GM of the 2005 World Series champions. To me, I will always be grateful that he appeared in the NIE ad series I ran while at Lerner Newspapers.
I was fortunate enough to get someone from every Chicago team, except for the Cubs (although Lerner actually covered them). Nobody thought I would get Williams, because he was with the south side White Sox and Lerner was a north side newspaper (that covered the Cubs).
Williams actually responded positively and quickly. He included the quote, an 8x10 and a quick note. It was a very nice gesture from him.
Now, years later, I might agree with some when they criticize Williams for some of the moves he has made. However, I will always have a good thought about this man who helped out a great cause.

If you have asked yourself the question-
How will I make my mark in this world?
Let me help you get started.
Step 1.-Read, understand and apply!
---Kenny Wiliiams, as quoted for the NIE ad series in 1994

A Got a Mike Squires!

Steve over at White Sox Cards has done it again. As I have featured before, Steve is the genius behind 'Cards That Never Were', 'Birth Year Cards' and other such gems.

Steve recently developed a new White Sox application for Facebook. Currently there are 143 items, although I haven't seen them all yet. Some are locked, but the more you send, the more get unlocked.
Ordinarily, I don't use many of the applications on Facebook. Steve got me hooked on his White Sox creation by thoughtfully and wisely sending me a 'Mike Squires'. Yep, I am the proud owner of a 'Mike Squires'. How awesome!

Now I am anxiously awaiting the unlocking of more. Is there a Bart Johnson? A Nyls Nyman? A Brian Downing? A Bucky Dent? An Eddie Leon? An Eric Soderholm? Okay...gotta slow down and breathe. You all know how I get about those 70's White Sox!

The 'Mike Squires' I received from Steve at White Sox Cards.

Mike Cameron Gives Johngy a Lesson

Mike Cameron played 4 seasons with the Chicago White Sox in the mid-90's. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko. Cameron is currently playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
A few weeks ago, I was on the field at Miller Park and I approached Cameron for a quick interview. My first 2 questions were about his favorite city to visit as a player and about his time in Chicago. Cameron questioned my questions. He invited me into the dugout for me to explain what my point was. I explained I wrote for Global Traveler magazine and thus asked questions about visiting other cities. Now that I had clarified my intent, Cameron opened up and gave me some very good answers, along with a quick lesson in how to approach ballplayers in the future.
I have to admit, I was a bit scared when Cameron summoned me to the dugout. Maybe he thought I was trying to set him up somehow. To his credit, he quickly smiled and accepted the whole situation. This really turned out to be one of the best experiences I have had with a player on the field.
The interview can be seen here, along with the rest of my interviews on YouTube.

Mike Cameron and me at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI-July 2009.

Matt Thornton Plays Games

I was in Minneapolis for the Chicago White Sox series against the Twins. Due to pre-game activities on the field, I was unable to get many interviews.
When I saw Matt Thornton and Clayton Richard playing EA Sports Major League Baseball 2K9, I figured I would have some fun. Unfortunately, Richard didn't really want to talk and politely declined. Thornton did answer our questions though.
My interview with Thornton is below.

Meeting Mike Squires

I have previously written about Mike Squires. Mike Squires was a slick fielding 1st baseman for the Chicago White Sox while I was growing up. His defense and versatility kept him in the league for 10 seasons. His bat prevented him from becoming a full-time starter.
Last weekend, I had the chance to meet Squires for the first time. Technically, I met him a couple other times at Comiskey, but those meetings were quick handshakes or greetings, nothing more than any fan got from any ballplayer. Last weekend, I really met him.
I arrived late in the show and his line was pretty much done. I heard he drew a large number of people. Because it was near the end of his time slot and nobody was behind me, we got to talk for a bit.
Squires is currently a Special Assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds. He looks in good enough shape to grab a glove and display the fielding form which won a Gold Glove in 1981. He was happy to be back in Chicago and to be greeted by so many fans.
I first cheered for Squires way back in 1975. Now 34 years later, I finally got to meet my baseball hero. If my old friend Ed reads this, he probably will be thinking that maybe now I will finally shut up!

Don't count on that.

Mike Squires and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2009.

Old Times at Comiskey Park

Tony LaRussa had a mediocre career as a player in the majors, including scoring the winning run in his one game with the Chicago Cubs in 1973. LaRussa managed in the White Sox system for parts of 2 seasons. In 1979, LaRussa took over as the White Sox manager.
I was already a fan of his (probably because he was a backup middle infielder, second only to backup catchers...see Stelmaszek posts), when he came to Chicago. I thought it was exciting that the Sox were getting some young, fresh blood for a manager.
Okay, I'll admit that I got a little annoyed at LaRussa for not playing Mike Squires enough. As most know, I was a huge fan of Squires and I wasn't happy when LaRussa played Tom Paciorek, Greg Walker or anyone else instead of Squires.

I even asked LaRussa about that (shades of my interviewing to come) during Photo Day in 1983. He answered the question carefully by stating they all had talent and he tried keeping everyone fresh and ready.
I love the picture below. It shows old Comiskey Park, the Sox ballpark before the Cell. I also like the photog seemingly taking a picture of me taking a picture of LaRussa. I can't think of what he possibly could have been shooting there, unless he was shooting us fans.
It's a very young LaRussa. Of course, I was a very young Johngy!

Tony LaRussa at Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL-Summer 1983.

Carlos May Beat the Odds

Carlos May is another of those players who will always be special to me. I grew up on the south side of Chicago and as a White Sox fan. May was a solid performer during my first several years of following the Sox.
My played briefly in 1968, then suffered a possible career-ending injury while in the Marine Reserves in August of '69. A mortar misfired and blew off most of May's right thumb. May worked extremely hard to recover and overcome the obstacle. May came close to winning the Rookie of the Year Award (finishing behind Lou Piniella).
In 1970, he rejoined the Sox and proceeded to have another 6 solid seasons. May's numbers were very good for that period, highlighted by 20 homers and 96 rbi's in 1973. In mid-1976, May was traded to the New York Yankees and finished his mlb career with the California Angels before playing in Japan for 4 seasons.
One interesting piece of trivia regarding May revolves around his number 17. May's birthday was 5/17. Therefore, he literally wore his birthday on his jersey...May 17.
May's brother Lee was an even better player player for a lot of years. The brothers never played on the same team together.
When I met May at AU Sports, we reminisced about his former teammates (and my former favorites), like Pat Kelly, Buddy Bradford, Ken Henderson and Dick Allen. Those are some great memories.

Carlos May and me in Skokie, IL-Early 00's.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

I have only recently met Erin Galligan, but my sister's family has known the Galligan family for quite a while. My nephew Matt (Big Money) and Erin are now dating (and I think they make a nice couple). Erin and her whole family are big White Sox fans.
Erin's uncle Marty and aunt Cathy won a silent auction and received tickets to a game and the opportunity to meet the players during batting practice. For real fans, it doesn't get much better!
This was in 2004, which was Ozzie Guillen's first year of managing the team. Little did anyone know that the next season Guillen would win AL Manager of the Year for leading the Sox to the 2005 championship!
By the way, in keeping with the tradition of 2 of my favorite bloggers (White Sox Cards and 78 Topps Cards), Don Cooper (pitching coach) is one of the 2 people in the background.

Kailee Galligan (sister), uncle Marty, Ozzie Guillen, Erin and aunt Cathy at US Cellular Field in Chicago, IL-May 2004.

Put Hawk Harrelson on the Blooooog, Yes!

Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson had a very good career as a major league baseball player. Hawk has been an announcer for the White Sox since 1982 (except for a short, forgettable stint as their GM). Hawk might be a 'homer', but he's our homer and he's very entertaining. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the White Sox convention a few years back. He was as relaxed and funny in person as he is on broadcasts.

Hawk Harrelson and me at SoxFest in Chicago, IL-Winter 2005.