31 years ago, Huff helped White Sox division winner
HUNTLEY — It’s White Sox and Cubs this week (June 4 and 5) in the Crosstown Classic series, two of four total games, but one local baseball fans gathering definitely had a south side feel.
Mike Huff, a member of the American League West Division Champion White Sox, addressed the Huntley White Sox Fan Club recently. He has found a new niche in baseball, after careers in real estate and once in a while broadcasting White Sox games.
Instead of tracking down fly balls as he did in his seven-year MLB career, he seeks to grow the game for the younger generations. Huff played on the 1993 American West Division Champion Chicago White Sox and now works in the team’s director of youth baseball effort.
“It’s a lot different than when we were growing up,” Huff said. “Those days, there were six channels, and we went outside and played baseball. Now there are 600 channels. Today, I work with about 20 to 25 suburbs and the city. We give away baseball uniforms.”
Both the Cubs (29-31) and the White Sox, 15-45, with an 11-game loss streak, have had rough stretches this season. On May 29, the devoted White Sox fans attended the gathering at the Village Inn restaurant wearing team gear, jerseys, hats and brought other items for Huff to sign. This night, they reflected on a 1993 team led by Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, Ozzie Guillen, Tim Raines, Robin Ventura and pitching ace Jack McDowell. The White Sox ended with a 94-68 regular season record for the American League West championship but then lost to eventual World Series champ Toronto in the playoffs, four games to two.
Huff explained he was the White Sox fourth outfielder, filling in a position when a regular played designated hitter. Huff came to the White Sox after one year in Cleveland and three with the Dodgers.
“I would say the camaraderie,” Huff said of the White Sox ’93 clubhouse. “We had different factions, the Hispanic, Black, white. We all cared so much for each other – that was unique.”
The team was known for its comeback victories some 40 of which helped win the division crown. Gene Lamont was the manager who guided the successful season to an eight-game division win. The team was third in American League attendance at the then-called “Comiskey Park II”.
“We were never out of a game. If a team had its closer in, we used to say as long as we’re down by three runs or less, we’re in the game. We were an two walks, an error and a home run away,” Huff said.
McDowell was the ace of the pitching staff, and the team’s top guitar player as well.
“He would always have his guitar on the road, but was always respectful,” Huff said.
After 1993, Huff moved on to at the time defending World Series champion Blue Jays. The team had downed the Philadelphia for the title.
“It was incredible,” Huff said of the Toronto experience, including a World Series trophy night.
Huff said his baseball heroes were: Mickey Mantle (Yankees star; Ricky Henderson; and Tim Raines with top teams the Dodgers, Cubs and White Sox.
He is an alumnus of New Trier East High in Winnetka, and was on a state tournament qualifier. He played baseball in the early 1980s for Northwestern University.
“There were lots of memories,” Huff said of the Wildcats. “I still stay in contact with over 30 guys, and they are all very successful.”
“I completed the process I set out to do when I was drafted in the MLB. I just tried the play the best I can at the level I was at and the rest will fall in place, which it did,” Huff said.
