The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Barnstorming across a segregated United States from 1908-1940, pitcher John Donaldson won over 400 games and collected over 5,000 strikeouts, but his baseball career became lost in history until historian Pete Gorton came to the rescue. Chuck Garfien speaks with Gorton who has spent the last 20 years uncovering Donaldson's extraordinary career. Donaldson later became the first official black scout in the majors with the White Sox, scouting Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks. He's up for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame in December.

How do the White Sox turn their offense around and how quickly can they do it?  New director of hitting Ryan Fuller shares a lot of insight about his approach to hitting, his experience as a hitting coach with the Baltimore Orioles and how he'll improve the White Sox offense in both the major and minor leagues.  Fuller talks about his success stories working with Anthony Santander, Ryan O'Hearn and new White Sox outfielder Austin Slater, how Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Vaughn can improve next season, the messaging he will have to hitters throughout the White Sox organization and more.

Chuck Garfien brings Jason Coyle onto the podcast to answer questions from Chicago sports fans about the launch of the Chicago Sports Network. Coyle is asked about distribution issues with Comcast, why there haven’t been carriage agreements with YouTube TV and Hulu, the launch of the CHSN streaming app, the antenna experience, if Ozzie Guillen will be back on pre and post game shows and more.   

If you want to dream big about the White Sox, there’s no bigger hitter in their system than 6-foot-7 lefty power hitter George Wolkow. Chuck Garfien speaks with the 18-year-old phenom from Downers Grove about his first season in the minor leagues, how he grew as a player, what scouts are saying about him, his favorite home run last year, playing for a Class-A championship, what it would mean to play for his hometown White Sox and more.   

Who knows the managing potential of Will Venable? Bruce Bochy does.

Chuck Garfien speaks with the future Hall of Fame manager about Venable who was Bochy's associate manager the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers. Bochy talks about Venable's leadership style, how he helped the Rangers win a World Series in 2023, why he was hoping he wouldn't leave the Rangers and more. Bochy also tells stories about his 40-year relationship with Ozzie Guillen.

Chuck Garfien speaks with new White Sox manager Will Venable about what attracted him about the White Sox job, what he learned about managing from Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, Dave Roberts and others, the kind of coaching staff he wants to put together, if Grady Sizemore will be a part of it, holding players accountable, the kind of baseball he wants the White Sox to play, why he feels like he’s ready to be a manager and more.  

Chuck Garfien speaks with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers about new White Sox manager Will Venable. Jesse covered Venable when he was with the Cubs from 2017-2020.  They’ll share what people in the game are saying about Venable and what he’ll bring to the White Sox.  

The podcast is back! Chuck Garfien returns for the first pod with the new Chicago Sports Network, and his first guest is none other than Hawk Harrelson.   Hawk talks about the 2024 White Sox season, how he got through it and what the team was missing the most on the field and in the clubhouse.  Plus, what the White Sox need in a new manager, if Jerry Reinsdorf is considering selling the team, Hawk’s favorite Bob Uecker stories, how he would have called Scott Podsednik’s World Series home run and much more.  

As you may know, NBC Sports Chicago’s 20-year run serving Chicago’s passionate fans, its partners, and community is coming to a close on Monday, Sept. 30. This is our final episode of The White Sox Talk Podcast. In an emotional episode, Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey walk down memory lane, discussing the 20-year run of NBC Sports Chicago and the White Sox Talk Podcast, including some of the best moments in show history. We thank our viewers, readers, listeners, and followers for their incredible support over the last two decades. If you are a subscriber of the White Sox Talk Podcast, you will automatically receive podcast episodes from the new Chicago Sports Network.

What kind of pitcher are the White Sox getting in first round pick Hagen Smith? Chuck Garfien speaks with the former Arkansas Razorback about getting drafted by the White Sox, his 17-strikeout performance this year against Oregon State, why he’s a better pitcher with runners in scoring position, the seven no-hitters he threw in high school, how close he is to the majors and more.