Today in White Sox History: December 21

1977

Mary Shane is hired by the White Sox as the first woman play-by-play announcer in baseball history. She would join Lorn Brown, Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall in the booth for roughly 20 games, mostly at home.

2010

Closer Bobby Jenks, battling injury for much of the season, bolted the White Sox for a two-year, $12 million deal with Red Sox. Jenks suffered his worst MLB campaign in 2010, with 27 saves in 55 games and an 4.44 ERA — the first time his ERA had ever been worse than league average (97 ERA+).

Things got much worse in Boston, as he would pitch just 19 more MLB games and record zero saves for the Red Sox. He didn’t pitch after July 7 and underwent back surgery five months later — surgery that turned out to be concurrent with another patient. Jenks developed complications and needed a spinal tap to drain excess fluid, a life-threatening situation. The closer, unable to play again, won a $5.1 million lawsuit against the hospital and surgeon.

In 2022, Jenks was named the Pioneer League Manager of the Year for his success with the Grand Junction Rockies.

2019

After a last-minute setback in their pursuit of Zack Wheeler and still needing a solid starting pitcher to round out a young and promising rotation, the White Sox quickly and aggressively pivoted by signing former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel to a three-year, $55.5 million deal. The agreement also included a vesting option for a fourth season.

Keuchel helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series and pitched in 12 postseason games before coming to the South Side. He’d have a terrific, pandemic-shortened season in 2020 (6-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 starts) before regressing badly in 2021.

Keuchel was released before the All-Star break in 2022, was picked up by the Diamondbacks ... and released, then signed by the Rangers ... and released.