The White Sox will host an alumni home-run derby after the game July 11 at Rate Field, but some notable names won’t participate.
Six former Sox — not all of them remembered as sluggers — will take part: Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Leury Garcia, Daniel Palka, Scott Podsednik and Alexei Ramirez. The derby will follow the game against the Athletics, which is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
Missing from the field is the Sox’ all-time home-run leader, 58-year-old Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, who clubbed 448 homers in 16 seasons with the team. Fifty-year-old Paul Konerko, who’s second with 432 homers in 16 seasons, and 39-year-old Jose Abreu, who’s third with 243, also aren’t participating.
In fact, five players in the 28-member 500-homer club played for the Sox: Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Jim Thome (612), Sammy Sosa (609), Manny Ramirez (555) and Thomas. None of them are in the derby.
Thomas has been feuding with the Sox this year. In March, he sued the team for allegedly using his likeness on uniforms without his consent. The suit also named Nike and Fanatics as co-defendants. Thomas cited the Sox’ sale of City Connect 2.0 jerseys with his name and No. 35 on them.
That followed the Sox posting an image of “momentous firsts” for Black History Month on X that included Thomas just once and only in name. He responded, “I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!”
The derby will consist of three rounds, starting with each hitter having either 10 outs or three minutes to hit as many homers as he can. The top four will advance to the semifinals, and the two winners will square off for the title. The derby also will include select balls that count as two homers. A fan vote will break ties.
Canseco, 61, hit 462 career homers but only 16 for the Sox in one season, 2001. Ramirez hit 109 in eight Sox seasons, including a rookie-record four grand slams in 2008. Beckham hit 67 homers in seven Sox seasons, Garcia hit 34 in 10 and Podsednik hit 12 in four. Palka hit 27 in 2018 but just two the next season, his last in the majors.