In an effort to start improving a desultory offense, White Sox GM Roland Hemond and new owner Bill Veeck acquired former NL batting champ Ralph “Road Runner” Garr from Atlanta for pitchers Dan Osborn and Dick Ruthven, and outfielder Ken Henderson. (Larvell Blanks also came from Atlanta in the trade, but he was flipped quickly to Cleveland for Jack Brohamer.)
Garr had severe limitations in the field, but he did become the catalyst for the South Side Hit Men in 1977 with his speed and ability to hit to all fields.