Sox Machine: Chicago White Sox blog

Greatest White Sox single seasons: No. 10-1

No. 10: Eddie Collins, 1923

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
145	505	89	182	22	5	5	67	42	84	8	.360	.445	.453

Chew on that bat control.  It's a shame he doesn't get as much publicity as his 1919 Sox brethren, because he was a unique talent.

No. 9: Jermaine Dye, 2006

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
145	539	103	170	27	3	44	120	7	59	118	.315	.385	.622

We know what Jermaine did for the Sox in 2006.  Considering he hit for most of the season behind Paul Konerko and Jim Thome, who combined for 77 homers and 222 RBI themselves, Dye was actually robbed of some run production.  He made a run for the Sox's all-time home run record and ended up second only behind Albert Belle; he also finished second in the American League in homers behind David Ortiz.

No. 8: Frank Thomas, 1991

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
158	559	104	178	31	2	32	109	1	138	112	.318	.453	.553

The Big Hurt hit the ground running, finishing third in MVP voting in his first full season.

No. 7: Dick Allen, 1972

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
148	506	90	156	28	5	37	113	19	99	126	..308	.420	.603

Until Frank Thomas came along, no Sox slugger hit the snot out of the ball like Dick Allen.  He dwarfed the American League, winning the MVP while finishing only .10 points in batting average away from winning the Triple Crown.  His OPS+ was a whopping 200, and his nearest competitor in slugging percentage, Carlton Fisk, finished 65 points behind.

No. 6: Frank Thomas, 1993

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	549	106	174	36	0	41	128	4	112	54	.317	.426	.607

Frank cracked 40 homers for the first time in his career and took home his first MVP.  He never struck out less than he did in '93, with more than twice as many walks as whiffs.  Blue Jays pitchers were terrified to pitch to him in the ALCS, as he walked 10 times in six games, and batted .353 when they did put it over the plate.

No. 5: Joe Jackson, 1920

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
146	570	105	218	42	20	12	121	9	56	14	.382	.444	.589

The last year of Shoeless Joe's career was also his best in a Sox uniform.  His banishment was especially unfortunate because baseball was just about to enter the slugging era, and Jackson was considered among the premier power hitters of his day.

No. 4: Frank Thomas, 1997

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
146	530	110	184	35	0	35	125	1	109	69	.347	.456	.611

Frank won his only batting title by a wide margin, with Edgar Martinez his nearest competitor at .330.  He also led the league in OPS despite being overshadowed by Ken Griffey Jr.'s chase of Roger Maris' home run record.

No. 3: Frank Thomas, 1996

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	527	110	184	26	0	40	134	1	109	70	.349	.459	.626

It's scary how nearly identical his 1996 season was to his 1997.  Exact same walk, hit and run totals, three less at-bats, just a shade better in all the rate stats.  His .349 average was (and likely is) his career best.

No. 2: Albert Belle, 1998

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
163	609	113	200	48	2	49	152	6	81	84	.328	.399	.655

Belle was the only player to hit 50 doubles and 50 homers in a season when he did it in Cleveland in 1995, and he almost did it again in 1998.  He turned it on in the second half, slugging .816 after the All-Star break.  He set single-season franchise records in home runs and RBI, and his timing couldn't have been better.  He opted out of his contract to receive more money from the Baltimore Orioles, and two years later he began to feel the effects of a degenerative hip.  If he doesn't have that season in 1998, the Sox don't win the division in 2000.

No. 1: Frank Thomas, 1994

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
113	399	106	141	34	1	38	101	2	109	61	.353	.487	.729

It's Frank's second MVP season, as if it were any surprise.  The numbers do the talking. Since he played in all 113 games, we can extrapolate them to a full 162.  Here's what they look like (franchise record in red):

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
162	572	152	202	49	1	54	145	3	156	87	.353	.487	.729

Greatest White Sox single seasons: No. 20-11

No. 20: Minnie Minoso, 1956

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
151	545	106	172	29	11	21	88	12	86	40	.316	.425	.525

Minoso finished third in OPS -- behind Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams.  Maybe you've heard of them.  He was also a Gold-Glove caliber left-fielder.  But most importantly, look at that stat line!  Double-digits in every category, triple-digits in runs, extraordinary walk/strikeout ratio, .300/.400/.500 in stats.  It's simply breathtaking.

No. 19: Zeke Bonura, 1936

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
148	587	120	194	39	7	12	138	4	94	29	.330	.426	.482

The funny thing about Bonura's 1936 season is that he slugged nearly 100 points higher the following year and hit seven more homers, yet drove in 39 fewer runs.  I don't think he's deserving of having both years on the list, but considering he set an RBI record that took any Sox hitter nearly 60 years to challenge is pretty special.

No. 18: Harold Baines, 1984

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
147	569	72	173	28	10	29	104	1	54	75	.304	.361	.541

This season's somewhat bittersweet -- it was the first of a decent two-year peak at 25, where he was playing the outfield every day.  Unfortunately, his knees didn't last much longer and he never compiled this kind of greatness in a season again.  He led the league in slugging in 1984, the only year he finished in the top 10 in that category.  Like Minoso, I like the double digits across the extra-base hit categories.

No. 17: Magglio Ordonez, 2002

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	590	116	189	47	1	38	135	7	53	77	.320	.381	.597

This was the season where Magglio truly established himself, failing to make the All-Star team yet cracking the top 10 in the MVP vote by season's end.  He set career-highs in runs, homers, slugging percentage and RBI, and finished in the top 10 in all those categories plus doubles and hits.

No. 16: Joe Jackson, 1919

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
139	516	79	181	31	14	7	96	9	60	10	.351	.422	.506

After a couple disappointing seasons, one injury-riddled, Shoeless Joe re-established himself with his best year since he played for Cleveland, leading the Sox to the World Series until... well, you know.  He was all over the leaderboards in pretty much every offensive category save stolen bases.

No. 15: Dick Allen, 1974

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
139	473	84	139	23	1	32	88	7	57	89	.307	.375	.563

Whenever Allen played for the Sox, and he missed a fair share of time over his three years in Chicago, he was a beast.  He led the league in home runs despite missing more than 30 games. 

No. 14: Minnie Minoso, 1954

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	568	119	182	29	18	19	116	18	77	46	.320	.411	.535

Slightly better than his 1956 campaign because of his edge in slugging, total bases and stolen bases.  And let's not forget the Gold Glove defense.  

No. 13: Eddie Collins, 1920

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	602	117	224	38	13	3	76	20	69	16	.372	.438	.493

Collins set the franchise record for hits in a season with 224, a mark that hasn't been threatened since he established it 86 years ago.  Collins also led the 1920 Sox in runs and walks, and fortunately wasn't tainted by the Black Sox scandal and was allowed to play extremely productively with the Sox for the rest of his 30s.

No. 12: Luke Appling, 1936

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
138	526	111	204	31	7	6	128	10	85	25	.388	.474	.508

Ol' Aches and Pains set the franchise-record for hitting, live ball or not, with his .388 clip in 1936, and it was good enough to win the batting title.  Appling won another batting title in 1943, and no other Sox did it until Frank Thomas 61 years later.

No. 11: Frank Thomas, 1992

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
159	573	108	185	46	2	24	115	6	122	88	.323	.439	.526

These numbers may not look as impressive as his 2000 season, but 1992 was the last year Major League Baseball even slightly favored pitchers.  He finished third in hitting, first in OBP, first in OPS, and his OPS+ was superior to his 2000 season despite hitting nearly 20 fewer homers (174-160).

Greatest White Sox single seasons: No. 30-21

No. 30: Nellie Fox, 1957

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	619	110	196	27	8	6	61	5	75	13	.317	.403	.415

Adding quality offense to his already sterling bat control and defense, Fox never had a better season.  He topped .400 in OBP for the only time, and also set a career-high in slugging while winning the Gold Glove in the award's first season.  He was rewarded with a fourth-place finish in MVP voting.

No. 29: Eddie Collins, 1915

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
152	521	118	173	22	10	4	77	46	119	27	.332	.460	.436

Funny thing about Collins' 1915 year is that his walk-to-strikeout rate paled in comparison to his work in other seasons.  He posted an incredible OPS+ (160) in an extreme pitcher's era, but a lack of extra-base hits and a sub-Podsednik stolen-base success rate cancels out some of this year's luster. He'll reappear on this list.

No. 28: Robin Ventura, 1996

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
158	586	96	168	31	2	34	105	1	78	81	.287	.368	.520

This was Ventura's finest season as a Sox, setting a career-high in homers, on-base percentage and boasting the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career.  He also recaptured the Gold Glove this time around.

No. 27: Carlton Fisk, 1983

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
138	488	85	141	26	4	26	86	9	46	88	.289	.355	.518

He didn't have the gaudy home run or stolen base totals of his 1985 campaign, but Fisk's rate stats were his best-ever as a Sox.  He helped the Winning Ugly Sox cruise to a division title by leading the team in hitting, on-base percentage and slugging.

No. 26: Jim Thome, 2006

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
143	490	108	141	26	0	42	109	0	107	147	.288	.416	.598

Imagine what he could've done if he duplicated his first half.  Great numbers, but his banged-up second half and mortality against lefties don't help him to rank any higher.

No. 25: Paul Konerko, 2005

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
158	664	98	163	24	0	40	100	0	81	109	.283	.375	.534

We witnessed that Paulie was more important than the stellar numbers he produced in 2005, being the only consistent source of both power and on-base percentage for a Sox offense that was reliant on the home run.  He had a decent playoffs as well.

No. 24: Magglio Ordonez, 2001

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
160	593	97	181	40	1	31	113	25	70	70	.305	.382	.533

Maggs set a career-high in games, walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases, and also cracked 40 doubles for the first time while playing an above-average right field.  It wasn't his most dynamic season offensively, but it was his most well-rounded one.

No. 23: Frank Thomas, 2000

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
159	582	115	191	44	0	43	143	1	112	94	.328	.436	.625

The Big Hurt should've had his third MVP this year, especially since the artificially inflated Jason Giambi took the prize home, but Frank had a renaissance season nevertheless, even with his playoff 0-fer.  Remember when he could still run reasonably well?  Forty-four doubles!

No. 22: Jack Fournier, 1915

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
126	422	86	136	20	18	5	77	21	64	37	.322	.429	.491

Fournier led the league in slugging in 1915.  It doesn't look that impressive, but if you consider what he slugged over the league average, it equates to .653 in 2000 terms.  His five homers were good for third in the league, and he also finished second in triples.  This is the first time I'd heard of him.

No. 21: Oscar Gamble, 1977

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
137	408	75	121	22	2	31	83	1	54	54	.297	.386	.588

One of Bill Veeck's one-year rentals, Gamble powered the South Side Hit Men to a surprising second-place finish.  The team faltered down the stretch, but not because of Oscar, who hit .356/.442/.656 in the second half.  He also had a kick-ass 'fro.

Greatest White Sox single seasons: No. 40-31

No. 40: Roy Sievers, 1960

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	444	85	129	22	0	28	93	1	74	69	.295	.396	.534

Trading Earl Battey, Don Mincher and cash for Roy Sievers ended up being a loss for Bill Veeck, but it didn't look that way in Sievers' first season.  Sievers finished sixth in batting, fifth in OBP, third in slugging, third in OPS and seventh in homers in RBI, while finishing seventh in the MVP race.

No. 39: Carlton Fisk, 1985

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
153	543	85	129	23	1	37	107	17	52	81	.238	.320	.488

This season sticks out in Fisk's stat sheet, if only because he set a career-high in homers by far while matching his age. Catchers weren't supposed to be able to hit that well or run that well while playing that many games.  On the other hand, because of the amount of outs he made, this season is overshadowed by another season of his, one where he didn't even make the All-Star team.

No. 38: Pete Ward, 1963

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
157	600	80	177	34	6	22	83	7	52	76	.295	.353	.482

Ward's rookie season also happened to be his best, finishing runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting and ninth in MVP voting and becoming the top hitter on a second-place team at a difficult defensive position.  He finished in the top 10 in hits, batting average, doubles, triples, RBI and OPS.

No. 37: Bill Melton, 1971

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
150	543	72	146	18	2	33	86	3	61	87	.269	.352	.492

From one third baseman whose promising career was significantly altered by a freak accident to another, Beltin' Bill became the first White Sox to lead the American League in homers.  That's why he's on here.

No. 36: Paul Konerko, 2006

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
152	566	97	177	30	0	35	113	1	60	104	.313	.381	.551

Konerko failed to reach 40 homers for the third straight year, but 2006 marked his most disciplined year at the plate.  He set a career-high in hits and had his first 30-double season since 2002, while driving in 100+ runs for the third straight year.  He'll re-appear later on this list.

No. 35: Johnny Mostil, 1925

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
152	605	135	181	36	16	2	50	42	90	52	.299	.400	.421

If I may sound like Hawk Harrelson for a second, if you score 135 runs in a season (by far a franchise record), you gotta be doing something right.  Somehow, Mostil managed to set that mark despite stealing bases at a Scott Podsednik-like clip (68 percent).

No. 34: Lu Blue, 1931

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
155	589	119	179	23	15	1	50	13	127	60	.304	.430	.399

Mostil scored 135 runs on a good team; Blue scored 119 on a truly awful team.  The 1931 Sox scored 100 less runs than the 1925 team and finished dead last in hitting, and Blue was the lone bright spot.  He finished second, in between Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, in walks.

No. 33: Luke Appling, 1940

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