I Love the 80s : 1981 Chicago White Sox

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

Last week we visited Southern California, but now we go to the South Side of Chicago. Here are the cards of the 1981 Chicago White Sox. The ChiSox finished 5th in the AL West in 1980, and built on that record to finish 3rd  overall in 1981. They surged in the first half with a pre-strike record nine games above .500, only to slump after the break with an 23 - 30 record to close the season. 

The 80s were the end of the Bill Veeck era, and the start of the Jerry Reinsdorf-led ownership of the White Sox. The Veeck era ended with a pinch hitting appearance in October 1980 by Minnie Miñoso at the age of 54. Minnie was the second player to appear in an MLB game in 5 different decades - the first being former Chicago White Sox Pitcher and pinch hitter, Nick Altrock. The Reinsdorf era began with the signing of speedy outfielder Ron LeFlore, and then adding future Hall of Fame Catcher Carlton Fisk.

The Cards:
Topps #552 Steve Trout - Trout was the 1980 Opening Day Starter for the White Sox, and finished the year with a rough 9-16 record. Trout was a 1st Round pick in 1976 by the White Sox and made his debut in 1978 as a 20 year old. He would find his greatest MLB success on the other side of town with the Cubs in the mid-80s. And check out the shades!

Fleer #354 Chet Lemon -  In 1980, Lemon was coming off a pair of All-Star campaigns. He led the AL in doubles in 1979, and had 32 more in '80. Lemon was not only an excellent hitter; he was also one of the finest outfielders in the game. The White Sox would trade Lemon to the Tigers in exchange for Steve Kemp, and Lemon would be a key part of the 1984 World Series championship team in Detroit. 

Topps #354 Harold Baines -  Baines was the #1 overall selection in the 1977 MLB draft, and made his debut for Chicago in 1980. He would reel off 20 consecutive seasons with an OPS+ above 100 following his rookie campaign. Though he would become known primarily for his bat, he did rank 2nd among RF in Outfield Assists in 1981. 

Donruss #40 Ed Farmer - Before coming to the White Sox midway through the 1979 season, Farmer was the epitome of the journeyman reliever. Even as a 20 year old in 1971 with Cleveland, he was used as mop-up middle relief. He would be almost entirely absent from the majors from 1975 to 1978, bouncing around the minors of various franchises. But the Sox acquired Farmer in a June '79 trade with the Rangers and made him the team's closer. Farmer would rack up 30 saves in 1980 and made the All-Star team. He's gone on to be the radio voice of the White Sox following his playing career. 

Fleer #346 Harold Baines - Harold's best season was probably 1984, when he led the AL in slugging and had 10 triples to go with 29 homers, 28 doubles, and 94 RBI. Baines was a consistent run producer throughout the 80s, and a favorite lineup fixture for Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa. The six-time All-Star took home a silver slugger award in 1990 thanks to a torrid first half, when he slashed .321/.423/.505 before being traded to the Rangers in the deal that netted Wilson Alvarez and Sammy Sosa for the ChiSox. 

Donruss #159 Glenn Borgmann - Former Minnesota Twin Glenn Borgmann served as the 3rd catcher for the 1980 Sox, appearing in 32 games in his final MLB season. His Donruss card features one of the many stylish White Sox uniforms, untucked but with the very classy faux-collar. 

Topps #242 Chet Lemon - Chet the Jet did not steal many bases, but he was routinely among the best in the AL in Range Factor and fielding pct in Center Field. He was also oddly skilled at reaching base via the hit by pitch -  he was a 4-time AL leader in the category. Somehow he still looks good on this card, even though he's wearing a garbage bag for a shirt.

Drake's Big Hitters #32 Carlton Fisk - Fisk switched socks in 1981 because Boston made a timing blunder when his contract was mailed one day late, making him a free agent along with Fred Lynn. Fisk had requested a raise during the off-season, so the clerical error may have been an attempt by Boston GM Haywood Sullivan to send a message to the players for trying to hold out. Unfortunately, the move backfired and the Hall of Fame catcher would play the rest of his career in Chicago, which would last surprisingly for 13 seasons. He was already a 33 year old catcher when he began his White Sox career. By the time he finished, he'd be an 11-time All-Star. All 3 of his Silver Slugger awards came as a Southsider. Only Ivan Rodriguez has caught more games in a career. 

Fleer #355 Bruce Kimm - Before Fisk, the primary catcher in Chicago was Bruce Kimm. He caught 100 games in 1980 for the Sox. Kimm was originally a White Sox draft pick in 1969, but he would not play for the big league club until a decade later, coming to the Sox in the 1979 Rule V draft. Kimm's .243 average with 0 homers in 1980 made the acquisition of Fisk a much needed move in 1981. A shoulder injury ended his career in the Puerto Rican Winter league in 1981. He was the personal catcher for Mark Fidrych in Detroit in 1976, and following his playing days he was a manager for 2 years in the minors, then a long-time bullpen and bench coach in the big leagues. He was the interim Manager for the Chicago Cubs between Don Baylor and Dusty Baker. 

Any fans of the 1981 Sox out there? Stories about Harry Caray doing T.V. and radio broadcasts? 

Which team would you like to see next?