A poor fielder, O'Brien played on four clubs in his four major league years. He exemplified the ghastly 1970 White Sox, who lost a club-record 106 games, by commiting 23 errors at second and third base in just 111 games for a .948 fielding average. (RL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 13, 1969: The Red Sox send 1B Syd O'Brien and pitcher Billy Farmer and cash to the White Sox for P Gary Peters and C Don Pavletich. Boston also picks up 3B Tom Matchick from the Tigers for Dalton Jones. Farmer will announce his retirement and in March the White Sox will replace him with P Jerry Jarneski.