Moreland, who’s been playing for her church for the past three years, was recently hired by the Chicago White Sox to play at their home games at U.S. Cellular Field. She was encouraged to apply for the position after some prodding from a friend. Nicole Manning, senior director of game operations for the White Sox, found her Moreland’s charisma fitting for the stadium’s atmosphere.

“You’ve got to be able to be on your game,” Manning said. “You’ve got to be able to watch the game. And, then you’ve got to be able to talk and be friendly with the fans.”

At the stadium, Moreland will sit right amongst the crowd and is expecting to get plenty of visits and requests from fans. With a background in sacred music, she has been practicing and growing her musical repertoire.

“I’ve got some Katy Perry going on. I’ve got some Oasis, a little Eminem, Bon Jovi … so trying to keep up to date with that stuff too.”

Moreland believes her experience with the church will be more than enough to keep her composed during the exciting and sometimes rowdy games.

“It keeps me focused and centered because I know it’s going to be crazy the next couple of days and the excitement is going to be unreal and I’m going to be a little nervous,” she said. “Hopefully I can go and deep breathe a little bit and do a really good job which is what I want to do.”

Moreland replaces longtime organist Nancy Faust, who played for more than forty years. When not playing day games at U.S. Cellular Field, Moreland will continue to play at Our Lady of Knock in south suburban Calumet City.

Local church organist heads to the ballpark | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

David Wilder, former director of player development with the Chicago White Sox, was indicted on 7 counts of wire fraud.

Former Chicago White Sox executive and two former scouts for Sox in Latin America indicted for allegedly obtaining illegal kickbacks from players’ signing bonuses

CHICAGO—A former professional baseball player scouting executive for the Chicago White Sox and two former scouts for the team in Latin America were indicted today on federal fraud charges for allegedly accepting kickbacks totaling approximately $400,000 from signing bonuses and contract buyouts paid to secure 23 prospective players between December 2004 and February 2008.

A seven-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury alleges that the White Sox baseball team was defrauded of money, as well as the honest services of the defendants, who allegedly concealed the kickbacks from the team and its more senior officials.

Charged with seven counts of mail fraud were David S. Wilder, the White Sox farm system director from late 2003 to 2006, when he became the team’s senior director of player personnel until May 2008, and Jorge L. Oquendo Rivera, the White Sox Latin American scout between November 2004 and October 2007.

Victor Mateo, a White Sox scout in the Dominican Republic between November 2006 and May 2008, was charged with three counts of mail fraud. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of unspecified illegal proceeds from the alleged fraud scheme.

Wilder, 50, of San Francisco, and Oquendo, 49, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, are expected to voluntarily appear for arraignment at a later date to be determined in U.S. District Court in Chicago. A domestic arrest warrant was issued for Mateo, 39, of Arroyo Hondo, Dominican Republic.

“The defendants were supposed to recruit players by paying amounts of money that matched their skills and were no greater than the amount needed to sign the players. Instead, the indictment alleges that the defendants secretly inflated those signing amounts to fund kickbacks for themselves,” said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

“These defendants allegedly defrauded their employer and enriched themselves by taking advantage of vulnerable ballplayers, who were anxious to pursue their dreams of stardom in the major leagues” said Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation began after the Chicago White Sox reported internal findings to Major League Baseball and baseball officials referred the matter to federal authorities. Both the White Sox and Major League Baseball cooperated with the investigation.

To provide for kickbacks, Wilder, Oquendo and Mateo allegedly misrepresented to the White Sox the amount of money necessary to sign certain players and omitted information about the payments, causing the Sox to pay artificially and fraudulently inflated signing bonuses to players and causing the Sox to purchase the contracts of and rights to players from other teams at artificially and fraudulently inflated prices. The indictment does not specify the amounts of kickbacks allegedly obtained from signing certain players, nor does it name specific players.

According to the indictment, the White Sox maintained a Latin American scouting program to identify and recruit prospective players in such countries as Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela, and to sign them to written contracts. The Sox either paid a signing bonus, a one-time, up-front payment made to new players to induce them to sign a contract, or they purchased the contract rights to a player who was already affiliated with a Mexican baseball team by paying that team or its representative an amount necessary to induce the team to release the player to the White Sox.

Wilder was responsible for supervising the team’s scouts in Latin America, and he either authorized payments himself, or obtained authorization from additional Sox personnel, to sign new players based on recommendations made by the scouts. Wilder was authorized to approve recommended signing amounts less than $100,000, but he was required to obtain approval from the team’s general manager to pay signing amounts of $100,000 or more. After Wilder or the team approved a player’s signing amount and a written contract was secured, and Major League Baseball conducted a background check and approved the signing, the White Sox issued a check drawn on a bank account in Chicago, which was made payable either to the player or the Mexican team with which a player was affiliated or the Mexican team’s representative.

If the player was located in the Dominican Republic, the Sox sent the signing bonus check to the Major League Baseball office in Santo Domingo directly, or through its offices in New York, and baseball personnel would then provide the check to the player. If the player was located in another Latin American country, the Sox sent the signing bonus check to the scout who recruited the player and the scout was responsible for providing the check to the player.

As part of the scheme, Oquendo and Mateo allegedly scouted for and identified prospective Sox players in Latin America from whom they could obtain a portion of the players’ signing bonuses. They also allegedly engaged in discussions with these players or their representatives about the amount of signing bonuses, as well as the amount the players were willing or expected to pay in kickbacks to them and Wilder. Oquendo allegedly engaged in these same practices in his negotiations with Mexican teams and their representatives.

After this initial phase, Oquendo and Mateo, directly and indirectly, allegedly informed Wilder of the prospective players’ skill levels, the preliminarily negotiated signing bonus and contract purchase amounts, and whether kickbacks could be obtained from the players’ signings. Wilder then allegedly approved signings under $100,000, knowing that the amounts were inflated to include undisclosed kickbacks for himself and his co schemers, and misrepresented to other team officials the amount that was necessary to sign the players. Similarly, in instances when Wilder obtained authorization from the team’s general manager to sign players for more than $100,000, he allegedly deceived the general manager, knowing that the amounts were fraudulently inflated to obtain undisclosed kickbacks for himself and his co-schemers and were greater than necessary.

The seven mail fraud counts allege the mailing of various checks from the White Sox, in amounts ranging from $30,000 to $525,000, to unnamed players, or teams for the contract rights to players, in various Latin American countries.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher K. Veatch and Michelle Nasser.

Each count of mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and restitution is mandatory. The court may also impose a fine totaling twice the loss to any victim or twice the gain to the defendant, whichever is greater. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Former Chicago White Sox executive, two scouts indicted in kickback scheme | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

If theres a baseball player in Chicago with a more flair for the dramatic than Paul Konerko, have him stand forth and be judged.

On a day the White Soxs mainstay first baseman forecasted his departure from the club this offseason, it was only appropriate he iced that nights game with a full-count grand slam in the fourth inning, spurring an 8-2 rout of the Boston Red Sox.

Two innings later, the baseball gods deemed the game already perfect and unworthy of continuing, pulling the plug on the ballpark lights and delaying the contest for 21 minutes.

Red Sox starter Jon Lester had come into the game with a glistening record in his career vs. the White Sox, at 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA, along with a 1.13 WHIP and 1.90 K/BB. The lefty had been unbeatable in September and October in his career, going 16-2 with a 2.50 ERA. Lesters three starts in Chicago have been stellar: 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA, and overall no White Sox starter was hitting better than .222 for his career against him.

That all changed on Thursday, when the ace was pummeled for nine hits and eight earned runs in four innings that tacked more than a quarter-run onto his season ERA. Konerkos grand slam paced a 2-3 night, but the offense was keyed by Juan Pierre, who reached base on his first four at-bats, going 3-3. Pierre also swiped three bags, giving him 66 on the season, a personal best.

Before the baseball gods could halt the game, Dayan Viciedo (starting at Konerkos first base, with PK taking over at DH for the night) clouted an opposite-field, two-run homer in the fifth, closing out the scoring.

John Danks was sharp for the White Sox, tossing six innings of five-hit, one-run ball, striking out six. In his final start of 2010, the southpaw shaved his ERA down to 3.72 and extended his career-best in wins to 15.

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As table fan gives way to space heater, the Chicago White Sox season segues from 2010 competition to 2011 audition.

One problem: No one seems to have informed the Pale Hose, who have now won five of six after a thrilling, bottom of the ninth, 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Rookie Dayan Viciedo, pinch-hitting for veteran Mark Kotsay, was the hero, stroking the game-winning single with one out.

I had to take a risk, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. Kotsay struggles vs. left-handed pitchers, and Dayan was the only guy left who could play first base.

Juan Pierre had initiated the final-frame rally by roadrunning a one-out single to short and then stealing second and third on successive pitches by Dustin Richardson. Omar Vizquel jumped on the first pitch he saw after four pickoff attempts on Pierre and a pitchout, riding the ball deep to right but not out of the reach of right fielder J.D. Drew.

I was frustrated that I didnt get a chance to steal during Omars at-bat, Pierre said. Richardson showed me his move, and once I got second, I knew I could be aggressive right away and get third.

Pinch-hitter Mark Teahen fiddled as Pierre burned, walking on four pitches and knocking Richardson off the mound in favor of Matt Fox.

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek knows, one little mistake with me on third and the game is over, Pierre said. He made two great blocks as it was, both of them saved the game. After two in the dirt in the first three pitches, they knew they couldnt throw a pitch with too much bite.

The result was Fox throwing his flattest pitch of the at-bat with the count at 2-2, a slider that slid right into Viciedos bat. The rookies liner snuck past a diving Daniel Nava, unleashing a wild celebration on the field.

Dont give me an assist, Pierre said, smiling. Give all the credit to Viciedo.

Chris Sale got the win, with two innings of scoreless, two-hit, three-K effort in relief of White Sox starter Edwin Jackson.

You always want to come out and get a win like that, said Jackson, who spread seven hits and three earned runs over seven innings. That was a good, old-fashioned battle. Thats what makes the win exciting.

Were always excited to win, especially in a walk-off, Pierre said. Were professionals, so we have an obligation to play hard, but thats what were about. Were still fighting, and thats the most important thing.

The Red Sox struck early, with Jed Lowrie opening the scoring in the second with an RBI double that plated Adrian Beltre. In the next frame, Drew clouted an opposite-field home run, and one out later, Beltre belted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Victor Martinez.

Faced with a 3-0 deficit, the Chisox came back, courtesy first of a predictable round-tripper from Carlos Quentin, a two-run clout off Red Sox starter John Lackey. Now, predictable may seem a displaced modifier for a home run, but consider that Q now sits at 8-for-13 with four homers in his career off the righty after a 1-for-2 performance against him on Tuesday.

David Ortiz pushed the Carmines lead back to two runs with a solo clout in the sixth, and the White Sox took back that run when Brent Morel singled in Quentin (on third after a hard single to third off Lackey, what new). But with runners on first and second with one out, Pierre barely beat out his double-play grounder and Vizquel tapped out to third, extinguishing the threat.

But in the very next frame, Manny Ramirez tapped out an interminable number of fouls before drawing a walk, earning praise afterward for a great at-bat from Guillen, who had called Ramirez awesome before the game.

Brent Lillibridge pinch-ran and stole second base, scoring the tying run on Paul Konerkos double into the right-field corner.

That was the biggest hit of the night, Guillen said.

But after A.J. Pierzynski advanced Lillibridge to third on a grounder to second, Quentin popped out (O Lackey, John Lackey, wherefore art thou?). Alexei Ramirez walked, and Andruw Jones stepped up on his bobblehead night and looked at a called third strike, ending the threat.

Lackey battled hard enough for a win, gutting out six innings and stifling the White Sox on two runs off three hits. For a couple of innings, he was in a position to get it.

We did a great job vs. Lackey, Guillen said. We made him throw what, 100 pitches in five innings actually 98?

Jackson had a similar effort, pitching efficiently and striking out six against just one walk.

Another great outing for him, Guillen said.

Sales second career win was no cherry-pick, as he threw 33 pitches and whiffed three over two innings. All three of Sales Ks were on swinging strikes, first on an 82 mph slider erasing Darnell McDonald and last on an 85 mph slider to Nava to end the ninth. In between was a phenomenal, ninth-inning punchout of the veteran Varitek, who worked the count to 3-0 before Sale annihilated him with four straight, choice-cut fastballs, topping out at 97.

Sale once again did a tremendous job, Guillen said. Hes unbelievable.

On a night where young stars like Sale and Viciedo stole the spotlight from the veterans, the senior Chisox were proud to see the future playing out a little early. Jackson cited the value of the young White Sox getting a taste of pressure situations, while Pierre made specific mention of Viciedos work ethic before games and how satisfying it was to see that hard work translate into game success.

But it was the manager who was most proud of his charges, whether young or old. A week ago, he met with his club in Oakland to praise it for the run it made at the playoffs this season and to warn his charges against letting up at the finish line. Tuesday night, again, those players supported their skipper.

Im very lucky to have guys who will keep fighting, Guillen said. Theyre not going to give up. Theyre not going to give in. And when I have stood up and supported them, theyve backed me up.

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The second-place White Sox look to trim the Twins’ six-game lead in the opener of their final head-to-head series Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Minnesota (85-58) and Chicago were tied atop the Central when they opened a three-game set at U.S. Cellular on Aug. 10. The Twins took two of three and are 22-9 since the start of that series, while the White Sox (79-64) have gone 16-15.

Chicago is 5-10 against Minnesota this season, and 2-4 at home where it has dropped eight of 10 to the Twins.

The White Sox likely need to sweep this series to give themselves a realistic chance of catching Minnesota, but the club is taking a relaxed approach.

“We’ve got nothing to lose,” first baseman Paul Konerko said. “There’s no pressure on us and we shouldn’t play with any pressure … It’s really the Twins’ to lose.

“We know it’s uphill, (but) you can’t sweep unless you win the first one.”

The Twins, however, are poised not to let the White Sox make up any ground.

“We feel like we need to win every game in September,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We’ve been there before, chasing. Whether you have the lead or are trying to catch up, you want to win.”

Both teams have scored 72 runs in the season series. Minnesota is hitting .306 in the 15 games, while Chicago is at .297. The Twins, however, are 7-2 in one-run games between the clubs in 2010.

“This is the time of year when you have to do it,” Gardenhire told the Twins’ official website.

Francisco Liriano (13-7, 3.24 ERA) has gone 2-0 with a 4.07 ERA in four starts versus Chicago in 2010, and 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two at U.S. Cellular.

The left-hander has faced the White Sox three times in his last 10 starts, a stretch in which he’s 7-0 with a 2.22 ERA. He allowed two runs in seven innings of a 10-3 victory over Kansas City last Tuesday, setting a career high for wins and moving to 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his last three outings.

The White Sox’s John Danks (13-10, 3.54) can establish a career best for victories in the opener. He has gone 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in five starts versus Minnesota this season, and 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two at home.

The left-hander, however, has posted a 5.71 ERA while losing two of his last three outings. Danks allowed five runs – two earned – in six innings of a 5-1 defeat at Detroit on Wednesday.

Michael Cuddyer is batting .467 (21 for 45) with five homers against Danks and .486 with nine RBIs in his last nine games versus Chicago. Joe Mauer is hitting .349 (15 for 43) against Danks, and .421 with two home runs and 12 RBIs versus the White Sox in 2010.

Konerko has homered three times in the last two games, hitting two and driving in five runs in a 12-6 win over the Royals on Sunday. That helped Chicago rally from a 6-0 deficit after one-half inning.

Though he is batting .390 with four homers and 12 RBIs against the Twins this season, Konerko is 4 for 17 versus Liriano in his career. The four hits, however, are two home runs and two doubles.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Zambrano stars with Guillen and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu in an amusing soft drink commercial shown during televised Venezuelan Winter League baseball games.

The commercial shows Zambrano arguing with an umpire and getting ejected before tossing a baseball. Guillen and Abreu later join Zambrano, and the threesome share a laugh.

”They showed the real Zambrano,” Guillen laughed.

Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia worked in previous Pespi commercials in which Guillen’s wife Ibis helped organize last winter. Zambrano was the last one to participate in what’s called ”The Pepsi team.”

”I think he’s a great actor,” Guillen said of Zambrano. ”He’s very good. I think to me, everyone who starts doing it for the first time is the best one.”

By Mark Gonzales

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Zambrano, Ozzie star in Venezuelan commercial | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

”He’d doing more arm specific stuff, and he hopes to continue to feel good,” said Cooper, who has stayed in contact with Buehrle through telephone calls and text messages.

”He’s doing all he can. So far, everything is going smoothly.”

Buehrle’s health has been a topic of discussion for the past four years, as he has thrown at least 200 innings for nine consecutive seasons. Cooper wanted Buehrle to focus more on concentrating on his left arm to ensure his durability.

Buehrle, 30, has worked with a trainer in his St. Louis-area off-season home this winter. At the end of the 2009 season, there was some speculation that, with the addition of Jake Peavy, Buehrle could be pushed back to as far as the fourth spot in the Sox’s rotation in an effort to preserve his arm.

In recent seasons, the Sox have protected Buehrle’s arm by pitching him in minor league and ‘B’ games during spring training and adjusting the rotation during the first month of the regular season to give him an extra day of rest when it was possible.

”I’ll say this,” Cooper said. ”I’m getting a lot of energy from Mark Buehrle.”

By Mark Gonzales

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

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Viciedo’s move from third base isn’t permanent yet, said coach Joey Cora, who conducted a three-day camp that included shortstop Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham, who will move from third base to second.

But the Sox wanted to get Viciedo, 20, acclimated to first, a position that could give him the best chance of reaching the majors with newly acquired third baseman Mark Teahen signed for three more years and Brent Morel making a strong impression in the Arizona Fall League.

Also, incumbent first baseman Paul Konerko is in the final year of a five-year contract.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Viciedo impressed the Sox with his hitting last spring as a non-roster invitee but spent the 2009 season at Double-A Birmingham.

Nevertheless, he showed some promise at first, according to Cora.

“He may be big, but he’s a good athlete,” Cora said. ”His bat will carry him. That kid has some serious, serious talent.”

By Mark Gonzales

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Viciedo working out at first base for White Sox | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The special SoxFest hotel rate is $259 (plus tax and applicable charges) for a two-night stay.

White Sox fans have the opportunity to purchase up to two rooms per reservation and those who purchase a two-night stay are eligible to purchase up to four SoxFest weekend passes at $75 each.

SoxFest hotel packages and weekend passes together are available for purchase online at whitesox.com/SoxFest.

Weekend passes only are available for purchase by fans who book the two-night stay.

SoxFest 2010, presented by Comcast SportsNet, Miller Lite, the Palmer House Hilton and Pepsi, will feature appearances by the following White Sox players: Gordon Beckham, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Andruw Jones, Paul Konerko, Mark Kotsay, Scott Linebrink, Jayson Nix, Juan Pierre, Jake Peavy, A.J. Pierzynski, J.J. Putz, Alexei Ramirez, Mark Teahen and Matt Thornton, along with manager Ozzie Guillen.

They will joined by former White Sox stars Floyd Bannister, Roland Hemond, Kevin Hickey, Lance Johnson, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton, Minnie Minoso, Gary Peters, Billy Pierce and Bill “Moose” Skowron.

Coaches Harold Baines, Don Cooper, Jeff Cox, Juan Nieves, Mark Salas, and Greg Walker, along with broadcasters Ed Farmer, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, Darrin Jackson and Steve Stone are all scheduled to appear at SoxFest this year.

SoxFest 2010 will be held Friday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010.

Days and times are: Friday, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Chicago White Sox Announce Limited Number of Hotel Rooms and Weekend Passes Available for SoxFest | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Pierre, 32, hit .308 (117-380) with 30 stolen bases, 57 runs scored and a .365 on-base percentage in 145 games with the Dodgers in 2009. He ranked fifth in the National League in steals despite starting just 76 games (63 in left field and 13 in center).

Pierre also ranked sixth in the major leagues with a .326 (14-43) average as a pinch-hitter.

Pierre, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder who bats and throws left-handed, started in left field in each of the Dodgers 50 games from May 7-July 1 while Manny Ramirez was on the suspended list, batting .318 (64-218) with 21 steals and a .381 on-base percentage during that span.

Pierre is a career .301 (1,663-5,533) hitter with 459 stolen bases and 804 runs scored in 1,433 games with Colorado (2000-02), Florida (2003-05), the Chicago Cubs (2006) and Dodgers (2007-09). He has collected 200-plus hits four times, including a career-high 221 with the Marlins in 2004.

A native of Mobile, Ala., Pierre leads all active players in stolen bases (Omar Vizquel is second with 389) and needs just 41 to become the 37th player in major-league history with 500.

He has stolen 30 or more bases in nine consecutive seasons, including a career-high 65 in 2003 and 64 in 2007, and ranked first or second in the NL in that department seven straight years from 2001-07.

Pierre also ranks first among active players with 165 bunt hits (Vizquel is second with 150) and has been named by Baseball America as the Best Bunter in the NL each season since 2004.

Since the start of the 2001 season, he is tied with Vizquel for the major-league lead with 106 sacrifice hits and ranks seventh with 1,601 hits.

Pierre has 26 career games of postseason experience, hitting .304 (24-79) and was a member of the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was the third base coach on that club.

The White Sox 40-man roster is at 40.

White Sox Acquire Juan Pierre and Cash from Los Angeles Dodgers for Two Players to be Named Later | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Cosmidis, an amateur scout who covers North Carolina, will be honored tonight at the 26th annual Scout of the Year reception as part of Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings.

Cosmidis has been a major-league scout since 1982 and has worked for the White Sox since 1987.

Among the players signed by Cosmidis during his tenure are pitcher James Baldwin and second baseman Ray Durham with the Sox and pitchers Bryan Harvey and Roberto Hernandez with the California Angels.

All four players were eventual All-Stars.

Cosmidis was signed by the White Sox in 1950 out of Illinois Wesleyan University and was a .271 hitter over 11 minor-league seasons.

He also spent eight seasons as a minor-league manager from 1961-70.

Alex Cosmidis of the Chicago White Sox Names East Coast Scout of the Year | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Overton will oversee all aspects of CBR-G, including business development, operations, marketing, public rela tions, sales and special events.

“Jeff is a very well-rounded sports management professional,” offers Dodgers President Dennis Mannion.

“His im pressive career has been both effective and diverse. He will be a great leader for Camelback Ranch as it continues to grow after a very successful first season.”

White Sox Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer Brooks Boyer adds, “With vast experience in sports marketing, operations and business development, particularly in baseball, Jeff Overton is the perfect fit to serve as the first president and new general manager of Camelback Ranch – Glendale.

Jeff is responsible for driving business growth and maintain ing an effective system of operations at our spring training facility, Camelback Ranch – Glendale.

We (the White Sox and Dodgers) are supremely confident he will help us set the standard for spring training excellence.”

Overton spent the past seven years as executive vice president-business operations with the San Diego Padres.

During his tenure, he assumed primary responsibility for the opening of PETCO Park in 2004 and also managed the 2006 and ’09 World Baseball Classic games at the new stadium and Tony Gwynn’s Hall of Fame induction.

The Illinois native previously served in marketing capacities for the Texas Rangers and with the Cleveland Indians and White Sox.

As executive vice president-marketing for Southwest Sports Group in Dallas from 2001-02, Overton was respon sible for marketing the Rangers, Dallas Stars (NHL), and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo.

His tenure included a re branding of the Rangers’ Ballpark in Arlington. He also served as the team business representative with respective league offices and broadcast partners.

Previously, Overton was senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for the Cleveland Indians from 1989-2001, and assistant vice president-marketing, sales and promotions for the White Sox from 1982-87.

In Cleveland, he was strategically involved in the opening of another new ball park, Jacobs Field, in 1994, and helped develop the Indians’ “Blueprint For Success,” a plan that eventually led to 455 consecutive sellouts, a major-league record.

He also orchestrated the single biggest one-day ticket sale of any Ticketmaster user in history, selling in excess of 360,000 tickets in 1996.

Additionally, Overton spent two years as national director of the Miller Sports Group for Rogers Merchandising, Inc. in Chicago from 1987-89 where he interfaced with Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and five disciplines of motorsports.

Overton began his baseball career as general manager of the Midwest League Class-A Appleton Foxes in 1981.

A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Overton also holds a master’s degree from Western Illinois University.

Jeff Overton Named President of White Sox Spring Training Home Camelback Ranch-Glendale | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

During the sale, new, officially licensed team merchandise will be marked down 20 to 50 percent and sold in the White Sox home clubhouse, an area of the ballpark rarely visited by fans.

Along with official team merchandise, fans will be able to purchase White Sox gift cards, place themselves on the priority lists for 2010 Sox Pride Club and Kids Club memberships and learn more about enrolling kids in the Junior Pride Crew.

Fans attending the sale during the weekend also will have the rare opportunity to take photos inside the ballpark.

The Holiday Clubhouse Sale will take place: Friday, Dec. 11, 4 to 8pm; Saturday, Dec. 12, 10am to 4pm; and Sunday, Dec. 13, 10am to 4pm.

Fans planning to attend the clubhouse sale should park their vehicles in Lot E and enter U.S. Cellular Field through the Stadium Club entrance, located between Gates 2 and 3.

The cost of admission is $5, which is good towards a purchase at the clubhouse sale.

Tickets also are available online at whitesox.com.

Anyone who purchases their tickets through whitesox.com will receive a 20 percent discount off merchandise bought online in addition to the $5 discount they receive at the clubhouse sale.

Chicago White Sox Charities provides annual financial, in-kind and emotional support to hundreds of Chicago-based organizations, including those leading the fight against cancer or dedicated to improving the lives of Chicago’s youth through education and athletics.

White Sox Host Third Annual Holiday Clubhouse Sale at U.S. Cellular Field | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Additional players from the current White Sox roster, as well as coaches and former White Sox greats attending SoxFest will be announced once their schedules are finalized.

A limited number of two-night hotel reservations at the Palmer House Hilton for SoxFest 2010 along with weekend passes to the event, remain available.

The special SoxFest hotel rate is $249 (plus tax and applicable charges) for a two-night stay, the same as last year.

White Sox fans may purchase up to two rooms per reservation, and fans who purchase a two-night stay are eligible to purchase up to four SoxFest weekend passes at $75 each.

SoxFest hotel packages and weekend passes can again be purchased in the same online transaction at whitesox.com. Weekend passes are only available for purchase by fans who book the two-night stay.

The Chicago White Sox once again will offer fans a one-of-a-kind experience at SoxFest 2010 – the Premium Upgrade Package.

The offering, a favorite among hundreds of SoxFest attendees, will be available for the third consecutive year.

The Premium Upgrade Package is only available to fans who make hotel reservations at the Palmer House Hilton prior to Monday, Dec. 7.

Premium Upgrade Packages go on sale on Wednesday, Dec. 16 on whitesox.com at 10am.

The special upgrade packages for last year’s SoxFest sold out within minutes after going on sale.

SoxFest 2010 will be held Friday, Jan. 22, Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24, 2009.

Dates and times are: Friday, 4 to 9pm; Saturday, 9am to 4pm; and Sunday, 9am to 3pm.

Jake Peavy, A.J. Pierzynski, Alexei Ramirez and Matt Thornton Among White Sox Players Scheduled to Attend SoxFest | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Earlier this offseason, Beckham was named the Players Choice American League Outstanding Rookie and was named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year with Philadelphia’s J.A. Happ.

He finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Beckham batted .270 (102-378) with 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 103 games with the White Sox in 2009. He led AL rookies in doubles, extra-base hits (43) and RBI, tied for the lead in multihit games (28) and ranked second in on-base (.347) and slugging percentage (.460), home runs, runs scored (58), hits and total bases (174) despite not making his major-league debut until June 4.

His 28 doubles were the most by a Sox rookie since Carlos Lee (32) and Chris Singleton (31) in 1999 and the most ever by a White Sox player to appear in 103 games or fewer.

Beckham, who was named AL Rookie of the Month for July, ranked second on the White Sox in doubles, third in slugging percentage and fifth in RBI.

Chris Getz, who batted .261 for the White Sox last season before being traded to Kansas City on Nov. 6, was named the second baseman on the Topps All-Star Team.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez was named to the team in 2008.

Chicago White Sox’ Gordon Beckham Named to Topps Rookie All-Star Team | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Under terms of the deal, Jones will receive a base salary of $500,000 in 2010 and up to an additional $1 million in performance bonuses.

Jones, 32, batted .214 (60-281) with 17 home runs and 43 RBI in 82 games with Texas in 2009 while making 53 starts as the designated hitter, 12 in left field, five in right field and four at first base.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder averaged one home run every 16.5 at-bats, which would have ranked eighth in the American League with the required plate appearances, and he led the team with an average of one walk every 7.36 plate appearances. Jones hit three home runs on July 8 at the Los Angeles Angels.

“This is an opportunity to add a power bat to the roster while improving our outfield depth,” said Ken Williams, White Sox general manager.

“With the addition of Andruw, Mark Kotsay and Omar Vizquel, we feel our bench is taking shape to be a strong asset heading into the 2010 season.”

A native of Willemstad, Curacao, Jones owns a lifetime .257 (1,776-6,898) average with 388 home runs, 1,174 RBI and 1,109 runs scored in 1,918 games with Atlanta (1996-2007), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008) and the Rangers (2009). He has added 356 doubles and 143 stolen bases.

Jones has hit 30 or more home runs seven times, including a career-high 51 in 2005, and has recorded 100-plus RBI five times, most recently with a career-best 129 in 2006.

Among players active in 2009, Jones ranks 10th in home runs, 15th in RBI and 19th in runs scored. His 388 home runs rank 52nd all-time.

Jones (1998-2007) is one of just five outfielders in major-league history to win to win at least 10 Gold Gloves, joining Roberto Clemente (12), Willie Mays (12), Ken Griffey Jr. (10) and Al Kaline (10), and is one of 15 players all-time with 10 or more. Teammate Omar Vizquel (11) is one of the 15.

He owns a .992 (38 E/4,563 TC) career fielding percentage in center field, the second-best mark since 1954 among players with at least 1,500 games at that position. Only Brett Butler (.993) ranks ahead of Jones.

Jones is a five-time National League All-Star (2000, 2002-03, ’05-06) and has played in 75 career postseason games, including the 1996 and 1999 World Series with the Braves.

The White Sox 40-man roster is at 39.

White Sox Agree to Terms on One-Year Contract with 10-Time Gold Glove Winner Andruw Jones | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Fans can visit whitesox.com/donate and contribute funds directly to the White Sox philanthropic arm, which supports hundreds of Chicago-based organizations.

Through White Sox Charities, along with the team’s year-round community relations efforts, the White Sox work to improve the quality of life for Chicagoans of all ages, races and genders.

With the generous support of White Sox fans, friends and corporate partners, White Sox Charities has donated more than $16.5 million to Chicagoland organizations since its inception in 1990.

Chicago White Sox Charities offers support to organizations leading the fight against cancer, dedicated to improving the lives of youth through education and athletics, and those offering support to children and families in crisis.

Donors can direct their on-line donations to specific initiatives.

For more information on the White Sox charitable and community initiatives, or to make a donation to White Sox Charities, fans should visit whitesox.com/community or whitesox.com/donate.

White Sox Launch Charities Donation Web Site; Fans Can Now Donate Online Directly to Chicago White Sox Charities | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Vizquel, 42, batted .266 (47-177) with one home run and 14 RBI in 62 games with Texas in 2009, his 21st season in the major leagues.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder did not commit an error in 207 total chances while playing 27 games at shortstop, 20 at third base and 16 at second base.

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, the switch-hitting infielder owns a lifetime .273 (2,704-9,922) average with 78 home runs, 906 RBI and 1,378 runs scored in 2,742 games with Seattle (1989-1993), Cleveland (1994-2004), San Francisco (2005-08) and the Rangers (2009).

He has added 433 doubles, 74 triples and 389 stolen bases.

Vizquel has posted a .984 (183 E/11,877 TC) career fielding percentage, the highest ever among shortstops with at least 1,000 games played.

He has won 11 Rawlings Gold Gloves (1993-2001, 2005-06), second-most for a shortstop behind Ozzie Smith (13), and he is just one of seven players in history to win the award in both leagues.

Vizquel is the all-time leader among shortstops in games played (2,681) and double plays (1,722) and ranks third in assists (7,623).

He is the only shortstop in major-league history to play in at least 21 different seasons, and he has played in 238 games at short since turning age 40, the third-highest total ever behind Honus Wagner (356) and Luke Appling (354).

Among players active in 2009, Vizquel is the major-league leader in games played, at-bats and sacrifice bunts (244), ranks second in stolen bases and bunt hits (150), fourth in hits, sixth in triples and ninth in runs scored.

He ranks 25th all-time in games played, 26th in at-bats, 61st in hits and tied for 73rd in stolen bases. His 2,704 hits are the fifth-highest total for a switch-hitter, trailing only Pete Rose (4,256), Eddie Murray (3,255), Frankie Frisch (2,880) and Roberto Alomar (2,724).

Vizquel is a three-time American League All-Star (1998-99, 2002), has played in 57 career postseason games, including the 1995 and 1997 World Series with the Indians, and captained the Venezuelan team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

Chicago White Sox Agree on One-Year, $1.3M Contract with 11-time Gold Glove Winner Omar Vizquel | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.