Today in White Sox History: January 24

A lucky break saw a fifth starter afterthought blossom into an All-Star — and then get flipped for another All-Star!

Miracle Man: Loaiza was supposed to merely fill out the rotation, not compete for the Cy Young.

2003
Sometimes luck plays a part in things ... sometimes a very big part. On this date, White Sox GM Ken Williams signed free agent pitcher Esteban Loaiza to a contract. Loaiza was expected to round out the back end of the rotation, but he did much more than that. By season’s end he had won 21 games, started the All-Star Game and led the AL in strikeouts. He could have won the Cy Young Award, but a pair of 1-0 losses to Detroit appeared to kill his chances and he ended up second in the voting. The next year he was traded to the Yankees at midseason for pitcher Jose Contreras — another deal that was a steal for the White Sox!