While the Cubs stumbled from one failed experiment to another during the first half of the 1960s the White Sox were far better, always winning more often than they lost. But they weren't wholly successful though Lopez guided them skillfully through the 1965 season. Perhaps their most exciting move of six frustrating years was Veeck's installation of the exploding scoreboard at Comiskey Park in the winter of 1959–60.

Veeck's obsession with power hitters dictated a series of ill-advised trades after the 1959 season in which the White Sox disposed of a wealth of young talent for veterans in decline. Minoso, 38, returned from Cleveland essentially in exchange for first baseman Norm Cash, who was to star for Detroit, and catcher John Romano. Another future standout was outfielder Johnny Callison, who went to the Phillies for slow-footed, erratic fielding third baseman Gene Freese. Catcher Earl Battey and first baseman Don Mincher, both to have solid careers, brought aging slugger Roy Sievers from Washington.

According to Lopez, "Bill (Veeck) made the remark, 'If Lopez could win the pennant with that club, I'm gonna get some hitters in here and he'll win the pennant next year easy.'"

Years later, Landis told Bob Vanderberg, author of the book '59 Summer of the Sox, he couldn't understand what was happening.

"When you win a pennant and are in a World Series, why do you want to change a ballclub that much?" Landis asked. "I'll never forget that. It was a shame. And all those guys—Cash, Callison, Battey, Romano and Latman—were All-Stars within three years. So it did come back to haunt them."

With the trades, the "Go-Go" Sox turned into the "Go-Slow" Sox in 1960 even if Aparicio stole 51 bases. Lopez kept them respectable with an 87-67 record, and third place. Despite the new emphasis on sluggers, the Sox hit just 15 more home runs than in 1959, first baseman Sievers leading with 28 and Minoso next with 20. Minoso led in RBI with 105 and Al Smith's .315 was also tops. Wynn (13-12) and Pierce (14-7) paced a decaying pitching staff.

Veeck's illness, requiring a prolonged rest, cast a pall over the 1961 season and he decided to sell. White Sox majority ownership passed to former Veeck-associate Arthur Allyn in June. Greenberg followed Veeck out the door, Allyn's surprising choice for his successor as general manager being Ed Short, the team publicist. The Sox almost repeated the record of 1960 with 86-76 but sank to fourth. Two newcomers, pitcher Juan Pizarro (14-7) and outfielder Floyd Robinson (.310) stood out and Smith led the team in home runs with 28 and RBI with 93, in each category just one more than Sievers.

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