Tonight, commemorating the great White Sox career of Tim Anderson upon his retirement on August 10, the White Sox are cracking out their original City Connect uniform “the Southside” as well as honoring the shortstop with a special pregame ceremony.
Over 10 years in the big leagues, Anderson established himself as a White Sox franchise icon, one of the game’s most unique offensive players and a true original on the field.
Immediately upon the news that Anderson was retiring and that the White Sox would
be honoring his contribution to the franchise, we at South Side Sox felt compelled to honor him. What follows are the special remembrances from several on staff.
Dante Jones
Tim Anderson is part of why I still love baseball. We are currently in an era featuring fewer black players than we’re accustomed to, and during his time in the spotlight Anderson was unapologetically himself, which meant unapologetically BLACK. You can see it in the black and Afro Latino players in the game today, with a freedom of expression that so many who came before weren’t allowed.
Anderson was also a damn good White Sox player.
“It’s just BABIP luck,” was the excuse for Anderson’s excellence — until he was too good to be denied his due. There were batting titles and cornfield walk-offs, and tosses of the bat after racists got mad; you’re not stopping Tim from playing the game his way. He was the face of a White Sox era that some will be happy to forget, but real fans know how important it was.
Plus, Tim was the only player who really looked cool in the Southside jerseys.
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach
Tim Anderson deserves a tribute night, and I’m glad he’s getting his due. Bringing back the original Southside uniforms for the occasion is just icing on the cake. No one wore that uniform better than No. 7.
Anderson brought an energy and swagger that helped define an era of White Sox baseball. From 2016-21, as the Sox went from rebuilding to contending, TA was at the center of it all. He was the straw that stirred the drink, and after such an impressive start to his career, it seemed like he was destined to be a fixture on the South Side for a long time.
For me, though, my fondest memory of Tim will always be the Field of Dreams game in 2021. I was lucky enough to be there in person and watch Anderson walk off the Yankees, with one swing into the Iowa corn. The entire night already felt like a dream, and somehow TA found a way to write the Hollywood ending.
Tim Anderson never apologized for who he was or how he played the game. He brought joy, emotion and personality to the ballpark.
He WAS a South Sider. And for all the unforgettable moments along the way, thanks for the memories, TA.
Nello Rubio
I will never forget how kind, fun and all-around great player and person Tim Anderson was. I got a chance to interview him at SoxFest in 2017, talking to him about how much his role would change as he evolved into a leader in his first full year in the big leagues. His awareness, and attention to detail in his answers, was something I found interesting. In fact, when I met again a day or two later, he remembered me. His sharp attention to detail is one of the things that made him such a truly remarkable player, and person.
Brett Ballantini
His actions on the field spoke loudly enough: By WAR the 38th-best position player in White Sox history, buried deep on the rich list of franchise shortstops but the talent to watch on the White Sox as the teens segued into the 20s. Tim Anderson was one of the rare players in Chicago, and relatively rare players across MLB, who you tuned in to watch. What he would do in a game was most important, but how he would do it was nearly more so.
I only ever got to know Tim a little bit, and most of that via a Zoom screen in pandemic times, but what came through to me and what will always make him a personal favorite, was his humanity. His care for teammates, personality on the field, incredible skills that both played to type and stretched in unexpected directions. H
And, of course, his heart. TA was the motor who propelled the White Sox.
Right along with that was Tim’s sense of fun. Did he love baseball? Sure, although his first love was basketball. Did he love the challenge of the game? Of course, because he rose to meet those challenges over several starring seasons. But Tim just loved to be out there, playing the game his way: Jawing at opponents, joking with teammates. Somehow, one of the most soft-spoken people you’ll ever meet transformed into a master of ceremonies at the plate or lolling about shortstop.
And for as much as he was loved by teammates and was an irritant to foes, Tim was just, well, FUN. And as much as he could give it out, he could take it, too:
Of all the players you know over your lifetime as a fan, the math works out where there can’t be too many you truly love. And as you get older, that bar becomes even harder to cross — for one, all the players become younger than you, at some point. But Tim inspired pride in us as White Sox fans, in a package that both entertained and impressed. Undoubtedly, I love Tim Anderson.
Year of the Hamster
Tim Anderson’s ascendance with the White Sox and in the majors coincided with my introduction to sportswriting, which just happened to be … here, at South Side Sox. So for me, TA was sort of my guide into the White Sox, and even to baseball itself. He was a character to latch on to, as well as an star to be wowed by and proud of.
So now, forgive the fact that what I most hold dear about Tim has nothing to do with baseball itself, because that is what really made me admire him. TA never really played it up, and seemed to tread cautiously, understandably, around social issues. And some, including our editor here, thought Tim should do even more with his platform for social causes — his flip attitude toward honoring the Negro Leagues at least in the purview of one question in one press gaggle, got under Brett’s skin and in fact lit a match on one of the few disagreements we’ve had about coverage here.
But the man as a whole, for some of his visible and perhaps even embarrassing faults, stood tall. And I first and foremost was impressed when he stood tall … by kneeling.
This was one of the sweetest, or at least most bittersweet, moments I have witnessed in my time covering this team. A pained Anderson, his own best friend a victim of violence, kneeling in support of Black Lives Matter on July 25, 2000, Opening Night of the pandemic season. And flanking him, in contact with Tim as family, manager Ricky Renteria and left-side infield partner Yoán Moncada.
Tim was not comfortable with such shows and stands, although he made them often. Sure enough, when Brett asked him postgame whether he would continue to honor the movement by kneeling during the National Anthem, a self-conscious Tim wanted the spotlight turned off.
In multiple ways not only restricted to the grander fortunes of the White Sox on the field, it’s a shame Tim’s career fell so far, so fast. He seemed to have more to give on the field, and definitely had more to give off of it. His first Roberto Clemente Award came in 2019, and there were multiple more such citations to come.
Almost assuredly, there were untapped aspects of Anderson, a leadership gear he barely got a chance to flash, as well as continued community efforts both in Chicago and back home in Alabama.
Tim represented all of the rest of us, who did not look like the typical baseball player, by gender or color or even orientation. Over the years under Brett at South Side Sox, we’ve had many such people on staff. I daresay he is every bit the hero to them as he is to me.
All the best in retirement, Tim. Thank you for always being you.
Joe Kiang-Resis
Many will point to the Field of Dreams walk-off, and rightfully so, as that the iconic moment of Tim Anderson’s career. For me, though, his debut on June 10, 2016 captured my attention. The Sox had stumbled from 23-10 down to 30-30, and the vibes were dead. Then, TA stepped in for his first MLB plate appearance, fell behind 1-2, then sliced a tough pitch into the left-field corner for a double. He finished 2-for-3 in a win, and fans could feel the entire energy of the team shift immediately.
That debut was the ultimate preview of what was to come: an AL batting title, two All-Star selections, and three straight seasons with an .800+ OPS at shortstop. Even when the team was struggling, TA had a unique way of changing the momentum with sharp contact and pure fire. It was an absolute pleasure to root for him, and I will always look back on his time on the South Side fondly.
Although they are no longer actively contributing with us here, there are additional memories to share from former staff.
Janice Valenzuela covered SoxFest for us in 2020, and from what I recall, TA was her first, or most significant, interview there. Whether reassuring her as a first-time player interviewer or swapping hoops stories as two former players, Anderson made her feel at ease and transition in real time from skilled newbie to seasoned pro.
Hannah LaMotta was a Paul Konerko girlie as a very young fan, but put together this Tim Anderson tribute when he left the White Sox.
Artist and writer Mitch Ransdell piloted our “Player of the Week” series for several seasons, contributing both art and essays. Anderson was the featured star on several occasions, and Mitch always had a unique take on a game scene.
Tom Borowski was with us for a brief time, but his artwork was absolutely delightful, including his take on the iconic “Stick Talk” moment against the Royals.
And speaking of Stick Talk, well, here’s the most popular T-shirt we ever sold in partnership with Breaking T. This came back at a time where we were more actively collaborating with the company, contributing edits or suggestions to their designs.
We sent some to the White Sox clubhouse, and what ho, Lucas Giolito was proud to show his off:
But hey, this isn’t just about us!
Please share your Tim Anderson memories below.
