Monday, February 8th, 2010
South Side Blasphemy! Just one day after I gave kudos to the Chicago White Sox, I am forced to wag my finger at them. No, this isn't because I am a Cubs fan. I am disappointed in their management's decision. There are very few things in sports that I hold truly sacred, but the White Sox just crossed a line in my book.

During the offseason, the White Sox signed Omar Vizquel to play shortstop and serve as a utility player. Since Vizquel is nearing the end of his playing career, this move wasn't made for the long-term. But what upset me is that the White Sox have decided to unretire Luis Aparicio's number 11 to allow Vizquel to wear it during the 2010 season. Yes, I understand that the two men are friends and both of Venezuelan descent, but teams retire a uniform number for a reason - to recognize the efforts of one player. By unretiring a number, I think it cheapens the meaning. Technically, the White Sox have unretired a number before, but that was when Harold Baines returned to the White Sox was given his own uniform number back.

Luis Aparicio played 18 Major League Baseball seasons. Ten of those seasons were with the White Sox, including the 1959 American League pennant winners. Luis hit .262 with 2,677 career hits, 506 stolen bases and 10 All-Star appearances, earning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1956, while also picking up nine Gold Gloves for his elite defense at shortstop.