Confirming weeks of speculation, the White Sox said Wednesday they will wear their new uniforms the last week of the season.
They`ll make their debut Tuesday, Sept. 25, in Comiskey Park against the Minnesota Twins.
The uniforms will be the third worn by the Sox this season; they donned old-time, 1917-style duds in July for their ”Turn Back the Clock” game.
The new home suits are white with black pinstripes and have a black, silver-trimmed ”SOX” in Old English script on the left breast. On the road, the uniforms are gray with black-and-white trim and a black, white-trimmed script of ”Chicago” across the chest. The jerseys will button.
The new uniforms also include a solid black warmup jersey that can be worn at home or on the road.
”The fans` demand to be able to share in our `new look` has been absolutely astonishing,” Board Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. ”As far as we can tell, this is a first in major-league baseball. Never has a team switched uniforms in season.”
Replica merchandise will be sold beginning Sept. 25 in Comiskey Park and will be available in local stores the next day.
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Another honor?: Frank Thomas is a finalist for Baseball America`s Minor League Player of the Year. Thomas, who had his picture snapped Wednesday for the newspaper`s cover, wasn`t surprised at the news.
”I had a pretty good year,” said Thomas, who hit .323 with 18 home runs and 71 runs batted in for Double-A Birmingham.
Take a couple days off: Bobby Thigpen only had to save four games in five days to earn a two-day rest. Manager Jeff Torborg said he`d use Barry Jones and Ken Patterson as his closers on Wednesday night. The Sox are off Thursday. Thigpen has a major-league record 48 saves. He`s on a pace to save 58 and pitch a career-high 91 innings.
Just in case: The American League issued guidelines for reporters to reserve telephones and hotel rooms in Chicago for the playoffs.
Land of the rising sun: Torborg said he was taking Ron Karkovice with him to Japan for a clinic at Thanksgiving. Ozzie Guillen`s already going to Japan as part of a team of major-league all-stars.
Everything`s fine: Eric King said his shoulder felt fine two days after he mad his first start in more than a month. ”Everything looks good,” said head trainer Herm Schneider.