South Side Sox welcomes three to our White Sox Hall of Fame

South Side Sox has elected three Chicago White Sox legends — Mark Buehrle, Billy Pierce and Eddie Collins — to the SSS White Sox Hall of Fame.

Buehrle was the biggest winner on our second annual polling, earning 396 votes for a strong 82.5%, and also earning an honor in an additional category.

We had 480 voters this year, up from 409 in our inaugural vote. Thus, candidates needed to gain at least 360 votes to attain enshrinement.

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Work on the Plaque (75% or higher)

Mark Buehrle was named on 396 ballots, good for 82.5%. He finished sixth a year ago, at 66.7%, the closest to being inducted. It was a safe bet he’d push through in 2019.

Billy Pierce had 364 votes, for 75.8%. For most of voting, Pierce sailed along. An influx of late, low-vote ballots made this a nail-biter. Pierce made a very healthy jump forward in 2019, as he polled at just 42.8% a year ago.

Eddie Collins, in spite of being the clearest-cut choice for our Hall this year and a guy who should have been part of the inaugural class, only got the call with the literal last ballots yesterday, which barely pushed him in, to 362 votes (75.4%). A year ago, he polled at 41.8%, even worse than Pierce. So SSS did manage to right a wrong here.

Near-Misses (60-74.9%)

Ed Walsh is shaping up to be 2020’s Buehrle, finishing with 328 votes (68.3%) after polling at 47.9% in 2018.

Strong Support (50-59.9%)

Carlton Fisk held steady, earning 276 votes (57.5%) after polling at 55.5% in 2018.

Ted Lyons made a huge leap, as pioneering White Sox pitchers across the board made strides. Last year, Lyons was puttering at 36.4%, while this year he earned 272 votes (56.7%).

Harold Baines, now enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame but not in our own White Sox Hall, did take a step forward from last year’s 46%, with 260 votes (54.2%).

Joe Jackson was a rare player in this year’s polling to take a tumble. After finishing seventh overall in 2018 with 63.3%, Shoeless Joe got just 248 votes (51.7%) this year.

Paul Konerko took a similar tumble as Jackson, falling from 61.4% in 2018 to 248 votes (51.7%) in 2019.

You Got Some Work to Do (30%-49.9%)

Wilbur Wood got 236 votes (49.2%), a healthy uptick from 23.5% in 2018.

Robin Ventura stepped up, earning the same 236 votes (49.2%), a big move from 15.4% last year.

Red Faber moved on toward rightful enshrinement, getting 236 votes (49.2%). Last year, Faber was on 68 ballots (16.6%).

Eddie Cicotte took a nice leap forward, earning 204 votes (42.5%), after polling at 12.2% a year ago.

At Least They Got Double-Digits (10%-29.9%)

Ray Schalk enjoyed the famous katiesphil bump, earning 100 votes (20.8%) after getting just 6.8% of the share in 2018.

Chris Sale upped his second-year total to 88 votes (18.3%), over 13.4% in 2018.

Jack McDowell had a decent debut on our ballot, with 78 votes (16.3%).

Hoyt Wilhelm polled at 10% in 2018, but pushed up to 76 votes (15.8%) this time around.

Chet Lemon earned 4.6% of the votes in 2018, and jumped to 60 votes (12.5%) this time around.

Tommy John did OK in his first year on the ballot, getting 56 votes (11.7%).

Mustachioed devil George Davis was another big leaper, getting 53 votes (11%). Last year, he earned all of three votes, for 0.7%.

Others Receiving Votes (.01-9.9%)

Joe Horlen earned 44 votes (9.2%) in his first year on the ballot.

Magglio Ordoñez also grabbed 44 votes (9.2%), a raise on 7.8% a year ago.

Sherm Lollar received 32 votes (6.7%), almost doubling his 3.4% a year ago.

Doc White moved from 1.2% in 2018 to 20 votes and 4.2% this year.

Johnny Mostil got some fair support in his first year on our ballot, with eight yeses (1.7%).

Fielder Jones had six votes, for 1.5%.

Terry Forster scraped by with the minimum one vote in 2018, and bounced up to five (1%) in 2019.

Matt Thornton is still just scraping by, adding a vote to his tally this year (three), upping his percentage from 0.5% to 0.6%.

Off the Ballot (zero votes)

Jim Scott and Tommy Thomas failed to get a vote, and are off of the ballot for the next five years. Willie Kamm, Thornton Lee and Gerry Staley suffered the same fate in 2018, and remain off of the ballot for four more years.

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Additional Categories

note: not all categories received equal total votes, as some cherry-picked categories to vote in

Greatest Season

1917 was last year’s runner-up at 8.6%, and won this year with 27.2%.

1983 got 92 votes (25%) after a 3.2% showing in 2018.

1906 got 72 votes (19.6%) after 3.7% last year.

1959 was leapfrogged by the two seasons above, with 60 votes (16.3%) after 3.9% in 2018.

1993 still lags, with 32 votes (8.7%) after polling at 2.4% last year.

1964 was the newcomer and showed it, with 12 votes (3.3%).

2018 winner: 2005 (78.2%).

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Contributor

Nancy Faust leapfrogged the Hawk, taking the win in resounding fashion, with 132 votes (34.4%) after a 15% debut.

Hawk Harrelson has twice been a Smirnoff-sozzled bridesmaid, finishing second with 80 votes (20.8%) after a 23.5% result in 2018.

Newcomer Minnie Miñoso, already enshrined as a player in 2018, entered this category this year and polled 56 votes (14.6%).

Charles Comiskey held firm in fourth place, getting 48 votes (12.5%) after a 10.5% debut.

Roland Hemond doubled his vote to 40 (10.4%) after a 4.9% debut.

Jerry Reinsdorf fell two spots, to last place, earning 28 votes (7.3%) after snagging 12.5% in 2018.

2018 winner: Bill Veeck (33%).

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Best Gimmick/Promotion

Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye made it two straight wins for Nancy, earning 156 votes (44.3%) after 28.1% last year.

Outfield Shower jumped from a last-place Gimmick finish (4.2%) in 2018 to runner-up this year, with 56 votes (15.9%).

Turn Back the Clock was the runner-up Promotion in 2018 (30.6%), but fell to 52 votes (14.8%) in this year’s combined category.

Dog Day held steady, equaling last year’s 12.5% with 44 votes in 2019.

Seventh Inning Stretch got a little bump, with 24 votes (6.8%), from 4.4%.

Elvis Night lost its swag, and couldn’t help falling from 6.8% to 20 votes (5.7%).

2018 Winners: The Exploding Scoreboard ran away with 59.4% of the Gimmick, and Disco Demolition won with 47.2% of the Promotion vote. The two categories are now combined into one.

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Moment

Dewayne Wise’s catch to save Mark Buehrle’s perfect game won with 144 votes (39.6%) after finishing as last year’s runner-up, at 12.7%.

The 1906 Hitless Wonders defeat the Cubs in the World Series also moved up a notch, with 88 votes (24.2%) after a 7.8% showing last year.

Jim Thome’s Blackout Game Homer moved up from 3.7% in 2018 to 72 votes (19.8%).

Mayor Daley sets off the air raid sirens tied Thome last year at 3.7%, but fell to to fourth with 40 votes (11%) this year.

Harold Baines’s 25th Inning Homer was a new entry, earning 12 votes (4.4%).

Pat Seery’s Four Homers was a debut entry, and fared worse, with three votes (1.1%).

2018 winner: 2005 White Sox complete the World Series sweep (70.9%).

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2005 Moment

Four Straight ALCS Complete Games squeaked out the win in a tight battle, with 80 votes (20.6%).

Orlando Hernandez’s ALDS Jam came close, with 72 votes (18.6%).

Paul Konerko’s World Series Grand Slam, Scott Podsednik’s Game-Ending World Series Homer and A.J. Pierzynski’s ALCS Dropped Third Strike all tied for third, with 64 votes (16.5%).

11-1 Postseason Record came up the rear, with 44 votes (11.3%).

new category for 2019

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Best Defensive Play

Mark Buehrle Between the Legs won another close matchup, giving Buehrle two Hall of Fame honors this year. Buehrle’s fab feat earned 140 votes (37.6%).

Dewayne Wise: The Catch lost out, with 112 votes (30.1%).

Juan Uribe’s World Series Catch got 48 votes (12.9%).

Tadahito Iguchi’s Upside-Down Catch earned 44 votes (11.8%).

Ken Griffey Jr. to A.J. in the Blackout Game got 24 votes (6.5%).

Ivan Calderon Climbs the Wall earned just three votes (1.1%).

new category for 2019

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Meteoric Player

Dick Allen made a mockery of the competition, earning 256 votes (69.6%).

Albert Belle was a wannabe Allen, with 44 votes (12%).

Esteban Loaiza sees brighter days ahead, with 36 votes (9.8%).

Terry Forster and Ron Hansen couldn’t put out Allen’s fire, getting 12 votes apiece (3.3%).

Tommy Thomas came up the rear, with eight votes (2.2%).

new category for 2019

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Character

Ozzie Guillén chortled his way to 132 votes (36.7%), winning a fierce, three-way battle.

Tom Paciorek and Harry Caray tied for second, both polling 104 votes (28.9%).

Current fave Yolmer Sánchez pulled down 16 votes (4.4%).

Scott Radinsky thrashed his way to three votes (1.1%).

Steve Lyons became the only candidate in any of the additional categories to not earn a single vote.

new category for 2019

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SSS Member

Editor-in-exile Jim Margalus won the SSS honors with 132 votes (34.9%).

Consigliere larry made it a bit of a race, finishing with 92 votes (25%).

KenWo got the plurality of 108 vote, earning 60 yeses (16.3%).

The Cheat suffered from short memories, getting 28 votes (7.6%).

Absurdist-in-exile mechanical turk and West Coast maven Homesickalien both garnered 24 votes (6.5%).

e-gus pulled in 12 votes (3.3%).

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Thus concludes the second year of the South Side Sox White Sox Hall of Fame. Thanks again to KenWo for the heavily lifting he contributed last year to getting the Hall off of the ground, and to all of you for coming out in droves to make this HOF a pretty cool thing.

Soon you’ll see Hall of Fame as a drop-down option at the top of the home page, so you can check in on the Hall of Fame wing at any time.

Throughout the year, we’ll be publishing SSS Hall of Fame “plaques” honoring the first two years of our winners. Lurker Laura is already signed on for a couple, and anyone else who feels particular kinship with any of our past winners can drop me a line and perhaps do the same.

Next year’s voting will again take place in January, after our regular Hall of Fame and Veteran’s Committee votes. We’re currently capping the main ballot at 30, so five new players will appear on the ballot. Suggestions for new categories, or nominees for current categories, are always welcomed in the comments.

As always, this is a community effort. We are united as Chicago White Sox fans. Thanks again, everybody.