South Bend White Sox

Midwest League (1988-1993)

Background

The South Bend White Sox were the Midwest League Class A farm club of the Chicago White Sox for six seasons from 1988 until 1993.  Located 90 miles southeast of Chicago’s Comiskey Park, the White Sox were South Bend’s first professional baseball team since 1954, when the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League went of business.  The franchise was announced in the mid-1980’s and was years in development before its April 1988 debut. Construction of Coveleski Stadium to host the team took the better part of two years and original owner Bob Staley actually sold the ball club before the team finally took the field.

The White Sox went on to win Midwest League championships in 1989 and 1993.

Future Hall-of-Famer Carlton Fisk, 44 years old at the time, played one game for South Bend in 1992 on a rehab assignment from Chicago.  He hit a home run in his first minor league game since 1971.  Former Major Leaguer Terry Francona managed the 1992 South Bend squad.  He would later win two World Series championships (2003 & 2007) as skipper of the Boston Red Sox.

White Sox To Silver Hawks

Following the 1993 season, the White Sox were re-branded as the South Bend Silver Hawks, in tribute to the Studebaker Silver Hawk automobiles that rolled off South Bend assembly lines from 1957 to 1959.  Despite the name change, the team remained a White Sox farm club for several more summers until 1997.  The South Bend franchise remains active in the Midwest League today and is currently known ast the South Bend Cubs.

South Bend White Sox Shop

Links

Midwest League Media Guides

Midwest League Programs

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