Having hit rock bottom the year before with 106 losses and total home attendance of just 495,355, the Chicago White Sox opened their season on April 7, 1971, with new uniforms keyed to the color red, a new manager in Chuck Tanner and a new radio announcer.
Caray, then 57 despite claiming to be younger, made his regular-season debut with the Sox 50 years ago in Oakland, the same place he ended the 1970 season after a fitful year covering the Athletics and clashing with owner Charlie Finley, broadcast partner Monte Moore and others (although Caray later said he and Finley got along).