Here’s a look at what happened on this date (Jan. 8) in White Sox history:
*2014, BIG ELECTION FOR THE BIG HURT: On his first appearance on the ballot, White Sox icon Frank Thomas was elected to the Hall of Fame.
“The Big Hurt” was listed on 83.7 percent of ballots cast by the Baseball Writers Association of America easily surpassing the 75 percent needed for election.
In a stacked class, Thomas finished third behind fellow first-timers Greg Maddux (97.2 percent) and Tom Glavine (91.9 percent).
Others with Sox ties on the ballot were Tim Raines (46.1 percent), Sammy Sosa (7.2 percent) and Ray Durham (0).
Thomas became the 32nd White Sox (including managers) to reach the Hall and third along with Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton to make it on the first ballot.
More from the Nerd on Frank:
*1941, PROPS FOR LUKE: The White Sox Luke Appling was named the shortstop on the Baseball Writers Association of America All-Star team for 1940, which was released on this date in The Sporting News. Appling earned the honor by hitting .348 with 197 hits (13 of which were triples) in a season where he was named to the mid-season American League All-Star team.
*1984, KEEPING THE JUICE: With a helping hand from broadcaster Ken Harrelson, the White Sox re-signed second baseman Julio Cruz.
In the final year of his contract, Cruz was acquired from Seattle the previous June. “The Juice” played a key role in the Sox surge to the A.L. West Division championship but his return for 1984 looked to be in peril as the off-season wore on. The long-term deal was finally hammered out after Harrelson intervened.
Unfortunately, Cruz never flashed his 1983 form for the Sox again. He struggled with injuries throughout the next three seasons. His disappointing tenure with the Sox came to an end when he was released on March 23, 1987 .
*1986, FISK IN THE FOLD: The White Sox signed Carlton Fisk, who had filed for free agency the previous Nov. 12, to a two-year contract. This was the second of five contracts the future Hall of Famer would sign with the Sox. … Also on this date, former White Sox players Ken Boyer, Minnie Minoso, Ron Santo, Dick Allen, Don Larsen and Wilbur Wood all received votes in balloting for Hall of Fame induction conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. None came close to reaching the 75 percent needed for induction. Willie McCovey was the only player who received enough votes for induction.
*1995, HALL OF FAME RESULTS: Former White Sox players Ron Santo, Jim Kaat, Tommy John, Dick Allen, Minnie Minoso, Bobby Bonds and George Foster all received votes in balloting for Hall of Fame induction conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. None came close to reaching the 75 percent needed for inclusion. Mike Schmidt was the only player who got enough votes for induction.
*1996, HALL OF FAME SHUTOUT: For the first time in a quarter century, no player collected the required 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America to gain induction into the Hall of Fame. Sox players receiving votes were Ron Santo, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, Dick Allen, Minnie Minoso, Bobby Bonds, Jerry Reuss and Chet Lemon. Former Sox player Claudell Washington was on the ballot but did not receive any votes.
*1991, THE RESULTS ARE IN … NOTHING: Former White Sox players Ron Santo, Jim Kaat, Dick Allen, Bobby Bonds, Minnie Minoso, Sparky Lyle and Jerry Koosman all received votes in the balloting for the Hall of Fame balloting. None came close to induction. Former White Sox coach Orlando Cepeda came the closest to the needed 75 percent of the vote by finishing sixth. Rod Carew, Gaylord Perry and Fergie Jenkins all received enough votes for induction.
*2001, BRINGING BACK BAINES: The White Sox inked Harold Baines to what would be his last contract. The minor league deal was for one year and included a non-roster invitation to spring training. Baines entered the year 145 hits shy of 3,000 but managed just 11 in 32 games in an injury-riddled 2001 season, which proved to be the final one in 22-year career.
*2002, HALL RESULTS: A GOOSE- EGG: White Sox alumni Rich Gossage, Tommy John, and Jim Kaat received votes but not enough for induction in balloting for the Hall of Fame, the results of which were released on this date by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Gossage, in his third year on the ballot, fell well short of the needed 75 percent for induction by being named on only 43 percent of the ballots – a drop from his 44.3 percent performance in the previous year. The “Goose,” who pitched for the Sox from 1972 to 1976, would eventually be voted into the Hall in 2008.
John, who pitched for the Sox from 1965 to 1871, received just 26.9 percent of the vote in his eighth year of eligibility. Kaat, who pitched for the Sox from 1973 to 1975, polled only 23.1 percent of the vote in his 14th year on the ballot.
Scott Sanderson, who pitched for the White Sox in 1994, did not receive any votes and was dropped from future ballots.
*2008, GOOSE GETS IN! On his ninth try, former White Sox pitcher Rich Gossage was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The results of the annual voting were released on this date by the BWAA.
The “Goose,” who pitched for the White Sox from 1972 to 1976, received 85.8 percent of the vote, easily beating the needed 75 percent for induction. In interviews after the election and leading up to his induction, Gossage spoke fondly of his days with the White Sox, particularly his association with longtime Sox pitching coach Ray Berres. He also cited Sox manager Chuck Tanner, Sox pitching coach Johnny Sain and Sox slugger Dick Allen as instrumental in his career.
Others with Sox ties receiving votes (but not enough for induction) were Tim Raines (24.3 percent) and Harold Baines (5.2 percent).
*2011: HELLO LEFTY: The White Sox signed left-handed reliever Will Ohman to a two-year contract. Ohman lasted two years. He joins Tom McCarthy and Edwin Jackson as the only Sox players born in Germany.
*2019, BULLPEN ADDITION: The Sox signed reliever Kelvin Herrera to a two-year contract. Herrera pitched in 2019 and 2020 compiling a 6.54 ERA in 59 relief appearances.