Page "Bob Lemon" Paragraph 24

Bill Veeck hired Lemon on November 16, 1977, to succeed Paul Richards as the Chicago White Sox ' manager.

Lemon overtook a Chicago team that finished in last place ( sixth ) in the AL West in 1977.

Said Veeck, " Bob is the type of manager we need at this stage of the game.

" Leading up to the start of the 1977 season, Lemon said during spring training, " I think we'll surprise a few people.

" White Sox shortstop Alan Bannister noticed a difference soon into the season.

Comparing Richards to Lemon, Bannister said, " He'd post the lineups 10 minutes before the game, and only then we'd find out who was playing and where.

Lemon's made it a serious operation.

" As late as August 14 the White Sox were in first place in the AL West.

Lemon oversaw an improvement of the Sox ' record by 26 games with a 90 – 72 record ( third in AL West ) and won his second-career Manager of the Year Award.

" The fans got behind us after about three weeks.

They had a lot to do with our success ," Lemon said after being winning the award.