A Legend Almost Forgotten: The Enduring Legacy of Red Faber and the Puzzling Hall of Fame Snub!
Today in White Sox History, February 17th, marks a significant date, but one that might surprise you with its quiet undertones. Let's dive into the stories that shaped the White Sox.
1934: The Farewell of Urban “Red” Faber
On this day in 1934, the legendary Urban “Red” Faber hung up his cleats after an incredible 20 seasons with the Chicago White Sox. While he might be a name that doesn't immediately spring to mind for many, Faber's impact on the White Sox is undeniable. He pitched in the shadow of the great Ed Walsh, but Faber himself stands as a contender for the greatest pitcher in White Sox history. His 67.7 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) places him as the third-best player overall in the franchise's storied past, trailing only the iconic Luke Appling and Frank Thomas.
But here's where it gets controversial... why was a pitcher of Faber's caliber so overlooked by the Hall of Fame? Despite his remarkable achievements, it took him a staggering 17 attempts to finally be inducted, and even then, it wasn't through the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). At the time of his retirement, he ranked 11th all-time in pitching WAR, and even 90 seasons later, he still holds the 38th spot. Faber never managed to secure more than 30.9% of the BBWAA vote over 16 separate ballots, failing to reach even 5% on 10 occasions. This is the part most people miss: a player of such statistical significance struggling for recognition is truly baffling.
Faber's impressive record of 254 wins (against 212 losses) was just a hair's breadth away from Ted Lyons' all-time White Sox record. Furthermore, he authored one of the most dominant two-season stretches in White Sox pitching history, accumulating a remarkable 21.0 WAR in 1921 and 1922. It wasn't until 50 seasons later that Wilbur Wood managed to surpass this feat with his own exceptional two-year span.
1959: Bill Veeck Takes the Reins
Fast forward to 1959, and a pivotal moment in White Sox ownership occurred. Bill Veeck exercised his option to purchase the team from majority owner Dorothy Comiskey. However, a legal challenge from her brother Chuck regarding ownership rights meant the official sale date was pushed to March 5th, with the actual transfer of the club not finalized until March 10th.
1964: Luke Appling's Hard-Fought Hall of Fame Induction
In 1964, Luke Appling was finally elected to the Hall of Fame, and his journey there was anything but straightforward. Sixty years ago, the BBWAA employed “runoff” elections when no candidate reached the 75% threshold on the initial ballot. Appling initially garnered only 70.6% of the vote, falling just nine votes shy of election.
But here's where it gets controversial... why the prolonged delay for such a celebrated player? Given a second chance, the writers seemed to awaken from a decade-long oversight of Appling's undeniable talent, propelling him into the Hall with a resounding 90.4% of the vote. This was Appling's eighth attempt to be enshrined, and prior to this, he had never surpassed 30% of the support. In his very first year of eligibility in 1953, he received a mere TWO VOTES from the BBWAA!
While the statistic of WAR wasn't in use during his playing days, Appling's career 77.5 WAR ranked 18th all-time among position players and fourth among shortstops. Even today, he remains a formidable presence in the rankings. And astonishingly, no shortstop has ever hit for a higher batting average than Appling's .388 in 1936. One might wonder why such a remarkable offensive accomplishment didn't carry more weight in an era that heavily favored counting stats.
And this is the part most people miss... a sweet twist of fate for White Sox fans was that Red Faber, who was a teammate of Appling's for four years, was also elected to the Class of 1964 via the Veterans Committee. Two legends, one Hall of Fame class!
2006: Ozzie Guillén's Apology
In 2006, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén found himself issuing an apology for an off-the-cuff remark. This time, the target was Yankees third baseman Álex Rodríguez, concerning his indecision about which country to represent in the World Baseball Classic. A-Rod, born in the U.S. with Dominican heritage, initially committed to the Dominican Republic, then opted out of the WBC entirely, before finally deciding to play for Team USA. Guillén, quoted by Sports Illustrated, had been critical of Rodríguez's “waffling,” calling him a “hypocrite.”
Interestingly, the defending champion White Sox went on to dominate the first half of the 2006 season, but ultimately faltered, missing the playoffs despite a respectable 90 wins.
What are your thoughts on Red Faber's Hall of Fame journey? Do you believe his statistical achievements should have guaranteed earlier recognition? And regarding Álex Rodríguez, was Guillén's criticism fair, or was it an overreach? Let us know in the comments below!
