The Chicago White Sox have built a pretty incredible young nucleus of talent with Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez and Lucas Giolito, one that gives the organization hope that the 2020s will be a very fruitful decade.
Let's just say, though, that the White Sox are long overdue for a contending team. The last time that the White Sox won the American League Central (and reached the postseason) was 2008. 2012 was the last winning season for the White Sox.
Though the team appears to have made it through one of the rougher patches in franchise history, it had to suffer through some lean years to get there. Some of the veterans that played on those lean teams are part of the five players that you may have forgotten played for the White Sox:
Jose Canseco
Jose Canseco had a brief stint with the White Sox.(Jonathan Daniel /AllsportAfter spending the first eight-and-a-half seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Canseco ran through quite a few American League teams in the second half of his career. Following stints with the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Yankees and a second stint with Oakland, Canseco landed with the White Sox in June of 2001, after playing in an Independent League for a few months. In 76 games, Canseco put up pretty impressive numbers, slashing .258/.366/.477 with 16 home runs, 49 RBIs and 45 walks. 2001 proved to be Canseco's final big league season.
Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar is a Hall of Famer.(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)Alomar is a Hall of Famer, one that checked in on our countdown of the greatest switch-hitters of all-time. Let's just say that his time with the White Sox didn't contribute to him being recognized in either of those fashions. Following a disastrous stint with the New York Mets, the White Sox traded for Alomar in July of 2003. Alomar put up fairly pedestrian numbers in the remaining 67 games of the season, hitting .253 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. Alomar would begin the 2004 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he did hit .309 in limited at-bats. However, the 12-time All-Star was traded back to the White Sox in August of 2004, and hit just .180 in 61 at-bats. Ultimately, 2004 was Alomar's final season in baseball.
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis had a brief stint with the White Sox.(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)Before his forgettable stint as a member of the New York Yankees, Youkilis had perhaps an even more forgettable stint with the White Sox. Following eight-and-a-half largely successful seasons, the Red Sox traded Youkilis to Chicago for RHP Zach Stewart and utility man Brent Lillibridge in June of 2012. Youkilis - who Jonah Hill called "The Greek God of Walks" in Moneyball" - continued to get on base at a respectable clip and did hit 15 home runs in 292 at-bats for the White Sox. Still, Youkilis hit just .236 in his time with the White Sox, and the team allowed him to leave in free agency after the season.
Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins had a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox.(Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)The Philadelphia Phillies' all-time hits leader landed with the White Sox ahead of the 2016 season, following a disappointing campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015. Though Rollins would hit a key home run for the White Sox in early April, the 2007 National League MVP's stint with the team would be short lived. Rollins hit just .221 in 149 at-bats, and was released. After sitting out the remainder of the 2016 season, Rollins attempted to make the San Francisco Giants as a non-roster invitee in 2017, but ultimately was unsuccessful. Despite his career being so associated with the Phillies, it was the White Sox that Rollins ultimately played in his 17th and final season with.
Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau spent a brief stint with the White Sox.(Marilyn Indahl/Getty Images)Rollins wasn't the only former MVP that spent part of the 2016 season with the White Sox. 10 years after winning the American League MVP as a member of the division-rival Minnesota Twins, the White Sox inked a midseason deal with Morneau, who had revived his career with the Colorado Rockies in 2014 after a long bout with post-concussion syndrome. In his age-35 season, Morneau hit .261 with six home runs and 25 RBIs across 203 at-bats, in what proved to be his final season.
Other Entries in This Series:
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Astros
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Rangers
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Tigers
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Braves
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Cardinals
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Phillies
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Yankees
- 5 Players You Forgot Played for the Cubs
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