South Side Hit Men
From BR Bullpen
The South Side Hit Men was a nickname for the 1977 Chicago White Sox, a team which hit 192 home runs and won 90 games.
1977 was a big home run year in general - the 1977 American League hit almost twice as many home runs as the 1976 American League had, and the following season home runs in the league lessened, although not all the way to the 1976 level.
The White Sox had hit 73 home runs in 1976. The following year, 1978, the White Sox hit 106 home runs.
The 1977 team featured Oscar Gamble with 31 home runs, Richie Zisk with 30 home runs, Eric Soderholm with 25, the 22-year-old Chet Lemon with 19, Jim Spencer and Lamar Johnson each with 18, Jorge Orta with 11 and Jim Essian and Ralph Garr each with 10.
The team was managed by Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, who had been an excellent home run hitter for a pitcher.
