Jose Abreu has become the fourth White Sox player to win the American League Most Valuable Player award and the first player ever to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in a Sox uniform. (Dick Allen won the American League MVP in 1972 after being National League Rookie of the Year in 1964.) Abreu's trophy case also includes a Most Valuable Player award from Cuba's major league, the Serie Nacional, for 2011.
Abreu was a star in Cuba's league for years and also represented that country in international competitions until he defected after the World Baseball Classic in 2013. He made his way to Haiti and then the Dominican Republic before signing with the White Sox for six years at a reported $68 million. After the 2019 season, he re-upped with the Sox for three years at $50 million.
 |
| JOSE ABREU |
At today's prices, the White Sox have gotten their money's worth and then some, both in terms of Abreu's robust offensive production and in terms of his work ethic and leadership qualities. This year, the South Siders made the postseason for the first time since 2008, and--not coincidentally--Abreu had his best season since joining the club. At the relatively advanced age of 33, he played every game and led the league in hits, slugging, total bases, and runs batted in (knocking in 60 runs in 60 games). He also had the first three-homer game of his career, against the Cubs.
"I'm just glad that he's on our team," said White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez, "because I can't imagine how
difficult it is for the other pitcher to face him."
Below are some of the noteworthy honors won by Abreu and other White Sox over the years.
Retired Numbers
2 - Nellie Fox
3 - Harold Baines
4 - Luke Appling
9 - Minnie Minoso
11 - Luis Aparicio
14 - Paul Konerko
16 - Ted Lyons
19 - Billy Pierce
35 - Frank Thomas
56 - Mark Buehrle
72 - Carlton Fisk
World Championship Managers
1906 - Fielder Jones
1917 - Pants Rowland
2005 - Ozzie Guillen
World Series Most Valuable Player
2005 - Jermaine Dye
American League Most Valuable Player
1959 - Nellie Fox
1972 - Dick Allen
1993 - Frank Thomas
1994 - Frank Thomas
2020 - Jose Abreu
1959 - Early Wynn
1993 - Frank Thomas
2020 - Jose Abreu
American League Cy Young Award
1959 - Early Wynn
1983 - LaMarr Hoyt
1993 - Jack McDowell
American League Rookie of the Year
1956 - Luis Aparicio
1963 - Gary Peters
1966 - Tommie Agee
1983 - Ron Kittle
1985 - Ozzie Guillen
2014 - Jose Abreu
American League Batting Champions
1936 - Luke Appling
1943 - Luke Appling
1997 - Frank Thomas
2019 - Tim Anderson
American League Home Run Leaders
1971 - Bill Melton
1972 - Dick Allen
1974 - Dick Allen
American League Runs Batted In Leaders
1972 - Dick Allen
2019 - Jose Abreu
2020 - Jose Abreu
American League Leaders in Victories
1907 - Doc White
1908 - Ed Walsh
1917 - Eddie Cicotte
1919 - Eddie Cicotte
1925 - Ted Lyons
1927 - Ted Lyons
1957 - Billy Pierce
1959 - Early Wynn
1964 - Gary Peters
1972 - Wilbur Wood
1973 - Wilbur Wood
1982 - LaMarr Hoyt
1983 - LaMarr Hoyt
1993 - Jack McDowell
American League Leaders in Earned-Run Average
1906 - Doc White
1907 - Ed Walsh
1910 - Ed Walsh
1917 - Eddie Cicotte
1921 - Red Faber
1922 - Red Faber
1941 - Thornton Lee
1942 - Ted Lyons
1947 - Joe Haynes
1955 - Billy Pierce
1960 - Frank Baumann
1963 - Gary Peters
1966 - Gary Peters
1967 - Joel Horlen
American League Leaders in Strikeouts
1908 - Ed Walsh
1909 - Frank Smith
1911 - Ed Walsh
1953 - Billy Pierce
2003 - Esteban Loaiza
2015 - Chris Sale
American League Manager of the Year
1983 - Tony LaRussa
1990 - Jeff Torborg
1993 - Gene Lamont
2000 - Jerry Manuel
2005 - Ozzie Guillen
Check out our book Heydays: Great Stories in Chicago Sports on Amazon.
No comments:
Post a Comment