1914
The White Sox take on the World Touring New York Giants with a banquet and final break in the Gold Room of the Capitol Hotel.pitcher Joe Benz Had to skip the festivities – he was getting married that day!manager Nicki Callahan Following the celebrations, White Sox spring training began on February 26 in Paso Robles, California.
Jim Margalus covered tonight and the entire tour for the South Side Sox back in 2014.
1963
Pete Rose made his career spring training debut against the Los Angeles Lakers.white sox in al lopez Stadium in Tampa. Rose went 2-for-2 with a double in Cincinnati’s 1-0, 14-inning (!!) win. The second baseman came on in the ninth inning, hitting the bases twice and scoring the only run of the game. He ended up being the National League Rookie of the Year that season.
nineteen ninety-five
After two spring training stints with the White Sox and a full season in Birmingham, Michael Jordan Announced he was giving up baseball.
Part of the reason is that he struggled to relearn the game in his 30s. But there’s another, bigger part (as he explained to author Bob Green in his book “Bounce Back, The Odyssey of Michael Jordan”) Because he is under pressure from GM Ron Schuler Across MLBPA picket lines.
As make-up games began during Major League Baseball’s lockout, Jordan was told that if he didn’t cross the line, he would be ejected from his home club.Jordan was furious and said he was promised by his boss Jerry Reinsdorf He won’t be forced to do this.
Jordan explained that under no circumstances would he cross a labor picket line, regardless of the movement.
“I told them from the beginning that I didn’t want them to use me to make money on spring training games,” Jordan told Green. “We came to an understanding. It shouldn’t have happened at all. “I’m disgusted that this promise can’t be kept. ”
Jordan returned to the Bulls after the 1994-95 season and went on to win three more NBA championships (1996-98).