1937
It was a deal that was met with outrage from Detroit fans, as the Tigers sent an outfielder Gee Walkercatcher Mike Three and third baseman Marv Owen to the White Sox as starting pitcher Vern Kennedyoutfielder Dixie Walker and third baseman Tony Pete.
Dixie was still a promising youngster, but only put up 2.8 total WAR for the Tigers before being dealt to the Brooklyn Evaderswhere he would reach his superstardom. Kennedy got off to a 9-0 start in 1938, but tied and was traded to the Tanning early 1939. Piet was on his way to leaving baseball.
Gee had just come off two consecutive 3.0 WAR-plus seasons with MVP consideration — part of the outrage from Detroit fans — but stabilized in Chicago, with just 2.3 WAR in two White Sox seasons. Owen was on the wrong side of 30 and was a non-factor. But Tresh was a standout prospect who made Tigers fans cry over their loss. The backstop had two standout seasons on the South Side in which he earned MVP votes, including a 2.1 WAR year in 1945; his value was more in bulk play, serving 11 seasons and 989 games in Chicago but playing just 2.2 career WAR.
Tigers fans were so angry that owner Walter Briggs had to make an offseason statement claiming he signed the deal in an attempt to take pressure off his front office.
Overall, however, the trade was a flop.
1948
The White Sox dealt Frank Papish to Cleveland for Bob Kuzava And Ernest Cave. It was the second White Sox deal with Cleveland in eight days, and the third of 1948.
Kusava filled a swingman role quite well for the 1949 White Sox, earning 1.4 WAR for a 10-6 record and 3.71 FIP/4.02 ERA/104 ERA+. He was sent to Washington in May 1950 and had a phenomenal rest of the season for the Senators before embarking on a mostly pedestrian career; notable, that deal with Washington was the first of FIVE in-season trades Kuzava suffered in his career. Groth appeared in just three games for the 1949 White Sox and never saw the majors again.
Papish would pitch in just 29 games (0.4 WAR) over the next two seasons, making this trade a slight win for Chicago.
1971
It was the trade that may have saved the franchise.
Personnel director of White Sox players Roland Hemond pitcher sent Tommy John and infielder Steve Huntz to the Evaders for slouching Dick Allen. Allen was made more expendable by the Dodgers acquiring Frank Robinson in a blockbuster deal earlier in the day.
One of the most prolific talents in the game, Allen marched to his own drummer and was considered difficult to handle by other teams and managers. White Sox skipper Chuck Tannerwho had known the Allen family for years, paid the slugger his respect and brought out the best in him. Almost single-handedly, Allen nearly led the team to the 1972 playoffs and won the American League MVP. He would win two home run titles and be named to three All-Star teams in his three years on the South Side. His popularity kept the turnstiles turning and the White Sox staying solvent.
An hour later, Hemond stole the pitcher Stan Bahnsen of the Yankees for infielder Rich McKinney. Bahnsen would win 21 games in 1972.
2003
Future World Series-winning shortstop Juan Uribe was acquired from the Colorado Rockies for second baseman Aaron Miles. Uribe would put up an excellent 4.0 WAR (powered by 23 homers) for the 2004 White Sox and follow that up with a 2.2 season in 2005. He also made excellent defensive plays to secure the final two outs of the 2005 World Series sweep.
Uribe retired in his final two White Sox seasons, but remains a legendary part of the mid-2000s White Sox.
2010
After six seasons – a virtual life in a narrower sense – the White Sox declined their option Bobby Jenkswhose relationship with the manager Ozzie Guillen had soured.
Jenks was picked off waivers by GM Ken Williams in December 2004, and in mid-September the following year it finally became closer World series-winning club. He recorded at least 27 saves in all five full seasons he pitched for the White Sox, and remains No. 2 overall in franchise annals with 173.
Jenks signed a two-year, $12 million deal with Boston three weeks after his release in Chicago, but never spared a game for them as he succumbed to a debilitating back injury and botched surgery.
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