By Dave van Dyck
For the second time, the White Sox have "unretired" a number of a former great player.
This time it's the No. 11 of Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan Hall of Famer. It will be worn by countryman Omar Vizquel, with the blessing of the former great shortstop.
The White Sox also "unretired" Harold Baines' No. 3 in 1996 and 2000 when he returned to the team. Baines coaches first base and still wears his jersey number.
Vizquel wore No. 13 throughout much of his career, but Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he would not give it up.
"One day I was hanging out with Luis Aparicio and I had the courage to ask him if I could use his number," Vizquel said during a Monday conference call."He thought about it for a while and with a little smile said it would be great.
"All I want to do is honor his number."
For the second time, the White Sox have "unretired" a number of a former great player.
This time it's the No. 11 of Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan Hall of Famer. It will be worn by countryman Omar Vizquel, with the blessing of the former great shortstop.
The White Sox also "unretired" Harold Baines' No. 3 in 1996 and 2000 when he returned to the team. Baines coaches first base and still wears his jersey number.
Vizquel wore No. 13 throughout much of his career, but Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he would not give it up.
"One day I was hanging out with Luis Aparicio and I had the courage to ask him if I could use his number," Vizquel said during a Monday conference call."He thought about it for a while and with a little smile said it would be great.
"All I want to do is honor his number."
"If there is one player who I would like to see wear my uniform
number with the White Sox, it is Omar Vizquel," Aparicio said in a team
news release. "I have known Omar for a long time. Along with being an
outstanding player, he is a good and decent man."
Vizquel said he felt "privileged" to wear the number and called it "a great honor for me."
Vizquel said he felt "privileged" to wear the number and called it "a great honor for me."
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