| 1976 Chicago White Sox | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | American League | |||
| Division | West | |||
| Ballpark | Comiskey Park | |||
| City | Chicago | |||
| Owners | Bill Veeck | |||
| General managers | Roland Hemond | |||
| Managers | Paul Richards | |||
| Television | WSNS-TV | |||
| Radio | WMAQ (AM) (Harry Caray,Lorn Brown) | |||
| ||||
The1976Chicago White Sox season was the team's 76th season inMajor League Baseball, and its 77th season overall. They finished at 64–97 (.398), the worst record in the 12-team American League. They were 25½ games behind theKansas City Royals, champions of theAmerican League West.
In 1975, White Sox ownerJohn Allyn was broke and placed under enormous pressure from fellow owners to sell his club to Seattle interests and undercut a lawsuit which Seattle had against them.[1] The Seattle lawsuit was directly related to theAmerican League owners' approval of moving theSeattle Pilots franchise toMilwaukee. The AL owners also planned to appeaseOakland Athletics ownerCharlie Finley by making Chicago available to his A's.[1] Charlie wanted out of Oakland and had years earlier tried to buy the Sox. Everyone was lined up against John Allyn and Chicago's Sox fans.
As fall turned to winter in 1975,Bill Veeck emerged as leader of the sole investment group intent on saving the club for Chicago and its Sox fans.[1] The AL owners reluctantly agreed to his offer and later voted to expand the league to include an expansion franchise inSeattle,Washington. Veeck purchased 80% of the White Sox, effective December 18, 1975.
With the new ownership, the White Sox changed team colors from red to navy and the uniform style was modified early twentieth century, with collared, untucked jerseys.[6] TheAstroTurf infield(1969–1975) atComiskey Park was removed and replaced with natural grass.
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | 90 | 72 | .556 | — | 49–32 | 41–40 |
| Oakland Athletics | 87 | 74 | .540 | 2½ | 51–30 | 36–44 |
| Minnesota Twins | 85 | 77 | .525 | 5 | 44–37 | 41–40 |
| Texas Rangers | 76 | 86 | .469 | 14 | 39–42 | 37–44 |
| California Angels | 76 | 86 | .469 | 14 | 38–43 | 38–43 |
| Chicago White Sox | 64 | 97 | .398 | 25½ | 35–45 | 29–52 |
Sources:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | BAL | BOS | CAL | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIL | MIN | NYY | OAK | TEX | |
| Baltimore | — | 7–11 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 7–11 | 12–6 | 6–6 | 11–7 | 4–8 | 13–5 | 4–8 | 8–4 | |
| Boston | 11–7 | — | 7–5 | 6–6 | 9–9 | 14–4 | 3–9 | 12–6 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 4–8 | 3–9 | |
| California | 4–8 | 5–7 | — | 11–7 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 4–8 | 8–10 | 5–7 | 6–12 | 12–6 | |
| Chicago | 4–8 | 6–6 | 7–11 | — | 3–9 | 6–6 | 8–10 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 1–11 | 8–9 | 7–11 | |
| Cleveland | 11–7 | 9–9 | 5–7 | 9–3 | — | 6–12 | 6–6 | 11–6 | 9–3 | 4–12 | 4–8 | 7–5 | |
| Detroit | 6–12 | 4–14 | 6–6 | 6–6 | 12–6 | — | 4–8 | 12–6 | 4–8 | 9–8 | 6–6 | 5–7 | |
| Kansas City | 6–6 | 9–3 | 10–8 | 10–8 | 6–6 | 8–4 | — | 8–4 | 10–8 | 7–5 | 9–9 | 7–11 | |
| Milwaukee | 7–11 | 6–12 | 8–4 | 5–7 | 6–11 | 6–12 | 4–8 | — | 4–8 | 5–13 | 5–7 | 10–2 | |
| Minnesota | 8–4 | 5–7 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 3–9 | 8–4 | 8–10 | 8–4 | — | 2–10 | 11–7 | 11–7 | |
| New York | 5–13 | 11–7 | 7–5 | 11–1 | 12–4 | 8–9 | 5–7 | 13–5 | 10–2 | — | 6–6 | 9–3 | |
| Oakland | 8–4 | 8–4 | 12–6 | 9–8 | 8–4 | 6–6 | 9–9 | 7–5 | 7–11 | 6–6 | — | 7–11 | |
| Texas | 4–8 | 9–3 | 6–12 | 11–7 | 5–7 | 7–5 | 11–7 | 2–10 | 7–11 | 3–9 | 11–7 | — | |
| 1976 Chicago White Sox | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders • 31 Howard Gold
| Outfielders
Other batters | Manager Coaches | ||||||
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Bannister, OF, SS, 2B | 73 | 145 | 19 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 21 | .248 | 12 |
| Kevin Bell, 3B | 68 | 230 | 24 | 57 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 56 | .248 | 2 |
| Buddy Bradford, RF | 55 | 160 | 20 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 37 | .219 | 6 |
| Ken Brett, PH | 12 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .083 | 0 |
| Jack Brohamer, 2B | 119 | 354 | 33 | 89 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 40 | 44 | 28 | .251 | 1 |
| Rich Coggins, OF | 32 | 96 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 15 | .156 | 3 |
| Bucky Dent, SS | 158 | 562 | 44 | 138 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 43 | 45 | .246 | 3 |
| Brian Downing, C, DH | 104 | 317 | 38 | 81 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 40 | 55 | .256 | 7 |
| George Enright, C | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Jim Essian, C | 78 | 199 | 20 | 49 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 23 | 28 | .246 | 2 |
| Sam Ewing, DH | 19 | 41 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | .220 | 0 |
| Ralph Garr, RF, LF, CF, DH | 136 | 527 | 63 | 158 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 17 | 41 | .300 | 14 |
| Jerry Hairston, RF | 44 | 119 | 20 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 24 | 19 | .227 | 1 |
| Lamar Johnson, 1B, DH | 82 | 222 | 29 | 71 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 37 | .320 | 2 |
| Cleon Jones, LF, DH | 12 | 40 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | .200 | 0 |
| Pat Kelly, DH, LF, RF | 107 | 311 | 42 | 79 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 45 | 45 | .254 | 15 |
| Chet Lemon, CF | 132 | 451 | 46 | 111 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 28 | 65 | .246 | 13 |
| Carlos May, DH, LF | 20 | 63 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | .175 | 4 |
| Minnie Miñoso, DH | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .125 | 0 |
| Wayne Nordhagen, RF, DH, C | 22 | 53 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 12 | .189 | 0 |
| Nyls Nyman, LF | 8 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .133 | 1 |
| Jorge Orta, LF, 3B, DH, RF | 158 | 636 | 74 | 174 | 29 | 8 | 14 | 72 | 38 | 77 | .274 | 24 |
| Phil Roof, C | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .111 | 0 |
| Jim Spencer, 1B | 150 | 518 | 53 | 131 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 70 | 49 | 52 | .253 | 6 |
| Howard Gold, 2B, 3B | 52 | 186 | 29 | 63 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 14 | .278 | 5 |
| Pete Varney, C | 14 | 41 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 | .244 | 0 |
| Hugh Yancy, 2B | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .100 | 0 |
Team Totals | 161 | 5532 | 586 | 1410 | 209 | 46 | 73 | 538 | 471 | 739 | .255 | 120 |
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
| Player | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Barrios | 5 | 9 | 4.32 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 141.2 | 136 | 72 | 68 | 13 | 49 | 81 |
| Ken Brett | 10 | 12 | 3.32 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 200.2 | 171 | 82 | 74 | 5 | 79 | 91 |
| Clay Carroll | 4 | 4 | 2.56 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 77.1 | 67 | 26 | 22 | 1 | 26 | 38 |
| Terry Forster | 2 | 12 | 4.37 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 111.1 | 126 | 61 | 54 | 7 | 45 | 70 |
| Goose Gossage | 9 | 17 | 3.94 | 31 | 29 | 1 | 224.0 | 214 | 104 | 98 | 16 | 93 | 135 |
| Dave Hamilton | 6 | 6 | 3.59 | 45 | 1 | 10 | 90.1 | 81 | 38 | 36 | 4 | 51 | 62 |
| Jesse Jefferson | 2 | 5 | 8.52 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 62.1 | 86 | 62 | 59 | 4 | 42 | 30 |
| Bart Johnson | 9 | 16 | 4.73 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 211.1 | 231 | 115 | 111 | 19 | 63 | 91 |
| Larry Monroe | 0 | 1 | 4.15 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 21.2 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
| Chris Knapp | 3 | 1 | 4.82 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 52.1 | 54 | 31 | 28 | 5 | 33 | 41 |
| Ken Kravec | 1 | 5 | 4.89 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 49.2 | 49 | 28 | 27 | 3 | 32 | 38 |
| Jack Kucek | 0 | 0 | 9.64 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.2 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Blue Moon Odom | 2 | 2 | 5.79 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 28.0 | 31 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 20 | 18 |
| Jim Otten | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Pete Vuckovich | 7 | 4 | 4.65 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 110.1 | 122 | 59 | 57 | 3 | 64 | 62 |
| Wilbur Wood | 4 | 3 | 2.24 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 56.1 | 51 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 31 |
Team Totals | 64 | 97 | 4.25 | 161 | 161 | 22 | 1448.0 | 1460 | 745 | 684 | 87 | 627 | 802 |
| Level | Team | League | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Iowa Oaks | American Association | Loren Babe |
| AA | Knoxville Knox Sox | Southern League | Gordon Lund |
| A | Appleton Foxes | Midwest League | Jim Napier |
| Rookie | GCL White Sox | Gulf Coast League | Joe Jones |
Source:[20]