The Chicago White Sox drew criticism for trading Cy Young Award pitcher LaMarr Hoyt to the San Diego Padres in December 1984 in a seven-player deal that yielded them prospect Ozzie Guillen. In fact, general manager Roland Hemond was fired not long after masterminding the deal. But Hemond had the last laugh, as the 21-year-old Venezuelan shortstop easily outdistanced Milwaukee's Teddy Higuera to capture the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year award. Guillen committed just 12 errors to lead AL shortstops in fielding and set a record for White Sox shortstops. His .273 batting average was higher than expected, and he was soon considered one of the better shortstops in the majors.
A naturally friendly player, Guillen had a bubbly attitude that was at first interpreted by opponents as hot-dogging. But as the shortstop became better known throughout the league, his critics vanished and his popularity rose. With a quick tongue and confident nature, Guillen developed a leadership quality that was greatly appreciated in the clubhouses and on the field.
Guillen's speed and range enabled him to make dozens of acrobatic plays at short, quickly drawing comparisons not only to Venezuelan shortstops of the past like Luis Aparicio and -- his idol -- Dave Concepcion, but also to Ozzie Smith. His defensive tools were so masterful that by 1988 he established himself as an All-Star.
He went back to the Midsummer Classic in 1990 and 1991, mostly on the wings of his popularity and flashy play in the field. But on April 21, 1992, an outfield collision with teammate Tim Raines ended his season on, as Guillen suffered torn ligaments in his knee and was forced to undergo surgery. After he spent the rest of the year in rehab, he bounced back in '94, tallying a .280 batting average, above the league average for shortstops. However, his speed -- one of his major assets in the 80's -- was gone, and Guillen could no longer steal bases as he once did.
While stealing bases wasn't a problem for Guillen pre-surgery (he averaged 24 between 1987 and 1991), getting on base was. Guillen set a major-league record in 1996 for walking only ten times in 150 games. His on-base percentage never rose above .325, and once even dipped to .265. He had poor strike zone judgment, and though he didn't whiff as much as the heavy sluggers of the league, Guillen often swung at balls over his head or in the dirt.
However, his popularity and style kept him afloat both on the White Sox and in the bigs. Craig Grebeck, his replacement in 1992, was objectively considered a better hitter than Guillen, but even so, the team was relieved to have the gregarious Ozzie back in 1993.
The Venezuelan stayed in Chicago through 1997, and was granted free agency at the end of the season. Signed by the Baltimore Orioles in January 1998 to back up the incumbent infield of Mike Bordick and Roberto Alomar, Guillen was released in May. He didn't stay unemployed for long though, as the Atlanta Braves snatched him up five days later to replace the injured Rafael Belliard as Walt Weiss' back up. Guillen became the team's much-needed utility player, logging time at every infield position. The following year he made it to his first World Series as a late-innings defensive replacement with Atlanta.
In 2000, with the emergence of young shortstop Rafael Furcal, Guillen became expendable. After the Braves released him in April, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays just a week later as a utility player. With the Rays, Guillen performed as he did with the Braves -- though he didn't get a chance to start too often, he had a firm role as a backup who could adapt to any position. (AG/RL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»December 6, 1984: The White Sox trade 1983 American League Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt and two minor leaguers to the Padres for P Tim Lollar, IF-OF Luis Salazar, and minor leaguers Ozzie Guillen and Bill Long. SS Guillen will win the AL Rookie of the Year Award next season and hold down the Sox shortstop spot till the end of the 1990s. Workhorse Hoyt will be out of baseball in two years, amidst rumors of drug use.
»August 2, 1985:
Ozzie Guillen scores from 2B on an infield hit in the 11th to give the White Sox a 6–5 victory over the Yankees. Salazar's slow roller down the 1B line is fielded by pitcher Mike Bordi, and with no play at 1B, Guillen keeps running. In the 7th the Yankees have two runners thrown out at home on the same play.
»November 25, 1985: White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen, who hit .273 with just 12 errors in 150 games, is named American League Rookie of the Year. Milwaukee lefty Teddy Higuera finishes 2nd.
»July 22, 1995: White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen shoves Brewers Jeff Cirillo at 3B touching off a bench-clearing brawl. The highlight is the two managers, Phil Garner and Terry Bevington, swinging at each other. Chicago goes on to a 4-2 victory.
»January 29, 1998:
Former White Sox SS Ozzie Guillen signs a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who invite him to spring training as a non–roster player.
»August 7, 1999:
The Braves infielders looked inept when they let an infield pop-up drop between them in the 9th inning of a 15-4 victory over the Giants. But SS Ozzie Guillen turned the miscue into an unusual foul ball. The towering pop by J.T. Snow falls on the pitcher's mound when second baseman Bret Boone called off the other infielders, then couldn't reach the ball. Guillen lets it bounce toward the third-base line. As soon as it is in foul territory, he grabs the ball, turning it into a foul. Snow then flies out.
»July 17, 2001:
Expos coach Ozzie Guillen is thrown out before 1st pitch is thrown out, continuing an argument from last night with ump Greg Gibson. The Expos then pound Boston's Tim Wakefield to beat the visiting Red Sox, 117. Five homers are hit in the game, including a 457-foot shot by Vladimir Guerrero.
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