Meet the Players: Mark Liptak

Mark Liptak is a longtime Chicago White Sox writer and historian, as well as a four-decade sports broadcaster. Mark currently is the radio voice of Idaho State, broadcasting volleyball, football, women’s basketball and softball. His White Sox writing includes work for the Chicago Baseball Museum and White Sox Interactive; it’s not hyperbolic to call Liptak the preeminent White Sox historian writing today.

And we’re lucky enough to get him every day, with Today in White Sox History. But Mark will be bringing a lot more to South Side Hit Pen in the weeks and months to come: interviews, multi-part historical features and commentary.

Please welcome Mark to the site, and enjoy his White Sox almanac every single day!

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Hometown Chubbuck, Idaho

White Sox fan since 1960

First White Sox memory July 15, 1963, my first game at Comiskey Park. White Sox pitcher Gary Peters threw a complete game, one-hitter, beating the Baltimore Orioles, 4-0.

Favorite White Sox memory Winning the 2005 World Series.

Favorite White Sox player Billy Pierce

Next White Sox statue Dick Allen

Next White Sox retired number José Abreu

Go-to concession food at Sox Park Churros

Favorite Baseball Movie The Natural (1984). Robert Redford’s performance is impressive (trivia note: He played first base in high school in California and was a teammate of Don Drysdale!), and it was a wonderful look at the game and the connections to individuals and families.

Hall of Fame Speed Round
Mark Buehrle No
Joe Jackson Should be in, if they ever lift his ban
Paul Konerko No
Minnie Miñoso Should have been in years ago, along with Billy Pierce, Dick Allen, Jim Kaat and Tommy John
Omar Vizquel No
Chris Sale Maybe, if he can put together three or four more dominant seasons

South Side Hit Pen on the Field Have played a number of positions through college. Pitcher, first base, corner outfield positions. I’m left handed.

True or false: Every jumbled pile of person has a thinking part that wonders what the part that isn’t thinking isn’t thinking of. Nice … false, in my case. Have never thought that way.