1978 Chicago White Sox season
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Chicago White Sox
season was the team's 78th season in Major League Baseball
, and its 79th overall. They finished with a record 71-90, good enough for fifth place in the American League West
, 20.5 games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals
.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
season was the team's 78th season in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and its 79th overall. They finished with a record 71-90, good enough for fifth place in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, 20.5 games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals
1978 Kansas City Royals season
The 1978 Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing first in the American League West with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses...
.
Offseason
- November 28, 1977: Rich HintonRich HintonRichard Michael Hinton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of six seasons between and , including three separate stints with the Chicago White Sox.-Draft history:...
was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. - December 5, 1977: Brian DowningBrian DowningBrian Jay Downing is a former professional baseball player who had a 20-year MLB career with the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Texas Rangers.- Chicago Years :...
, Chris Knapp, and Dave FrostDave FrostCarl David Frost is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. The 6'6", 225 lb. right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1974 amateur draft...
were traded by the White Sox to the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Bobby BondsBobby BondsBobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
, Thad BosleyThad BosleyThaddis Bosley Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Seattle Mariners , Chicago Cubs , Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers ....
and Richard DotsonRichard DotsonRichard Elliott Dotson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1980s. He is best noted for his 22-7 performance of , helping the Chicago White Sox win the American League West Division championship that season. Dotson finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award...
.
Regular season
- Larry DobyLarry DobyLawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball....
replaced Bob LemonBob LemonRobert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
as manager of the White Sox in 1978. Doby was the second African-American to lead a major league club.
Opening Day lineup
- Ralph GarrRalph GarrRalph Allen Garr is a former Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and California Angels. He batted left-handed and threw right...
, lf - Jorge OrtaJorge OrtaJorge Orta Núñez is a retired professional baseball player.He made his debut with the Chicago White Sox on April 15, 1972. Through the 1970s, he played usually second baseman but also third baseman and also some outfield...
, 2b - Lamar JohnsonLamar JohnsonLamar Johnson Sr. is a retired professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from 1974-1982...
, 1b - Bobby BondsBobby BondsBobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
, rf - Ron BlombergRon BlombergRonald Mark Blomberg , nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder...
, dh - Chet LemonChet LemonChester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:...
, cf - Eric SoderholmEric SoderholmEric Thane Soderholm is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees from 1971 to 1980...
, 3b - Wayne NordhagenWayne NordhagenWayne Oren Nordhagen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He played eight seasons in the majors for the Chicago White Sox , Toronto Blue Jays , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs .Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1968, Nordhagen played in 502 games in his eight...
, c - Don KessingerDon KessingerDonald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
, ss - Steve Stone, p
Notable transactions
- April 1, 1978: Royle StillmanRoyle StillmanRoyle Eldon Stillman is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox.-Sources:...
was released by the White Sox. - April 1, 1978: Bob ColuccioBob ColuccioRobert Pasquali Coluccio is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1973 and 1978, for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals, primarily as an outfielder.-External links:...
was released by the White Sox. - July 17, 1978: Guy HoffmanGuy Hoffman (baseball)Guy Alan Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the major leagues between and . After his major league career, he played three seasons for the Orix BlueWave in Japan from until -Sources:...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the White Sox.
Draft picks
- June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
- Britt BurnsBritt BurnsRobert Britt Burns is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1978 until 1985, pitching for the Chicago White Sox compiling a career mark of 70 wins and 60 losses with a 3.66 ERA....
was drafted by the White Sox in the 3rd round. - Gary GaettiGary GaettiGary Joseph Gaetti , nicknamed "G-Man", "Rat", or "Zorn" is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Kansas City Royals , St...
was drafted by the White Sox in the 3rd round of the secondary phase, but did not sign.
- Britt Burns
Roster
| 1978 Chicago White Sox | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 148 | 498 | 136 | .273 | 8 | 72 | |
| 2B | 117 | 420 | 115 | .274 | 13 | 53 | |
| 3B | 143 | 457 | 118 | .258 | 20 | 67 | |
| SS | 131 | 431 | 110 | .255 | 1 | 31 | |
| CF | 105 | 357 | 107 | .300 | 13 | 55 | |
| RF | 118 | 443 | 122 | .275 | 3 | 29 | |
| DH | 61 | 156 | 36 | .231 | 5 | 22 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 219 | 59 | .269 | 2 | 13 | |
| 68 | 206 | 62 | .301 | 5 | 35 | |
| 26 | 90 | 25 | .278 | 2 | 8 | |
| 54 | 68 | 13 | .191 | 2 | 5 | |
| 29 | 65 | 12 | .185 | 0 | 4 | |
| 11 | 34 | 12 | .353 | 0 | 6 | |
| 10 | 17 | 2 | .118 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 8 | 1 | .125 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 212 | 12 | 12 | 4.37 | 118 | |
| 30 | 203 | 11 | 16 | 4.08 | 154 | |
| 33 | 195.2 | 9 | 15 | 4.05 | 79 | |
| 2 | 7.2 | 0 | 2 | 12.91 | 3 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 65.2 | 5 | 2 | 2.74 | 19 | |
| 10 | 52 | 2 | 3 | 3.29 | 30 | |
| 7 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 5.87 | 15 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 4.40 | 41 | |
| 29 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4.02 | 48 | |