IRISH IN THE PROS
BY ANDREW OWENS
J
eff Samardzija grew up a White
Sox fan in Valparaiso, Ind., which
is located 55 miles from Chicago. This
spring, he'll finally don the cap of his
childhood favorite as a member of the
organization.
Samardzija, 29, was traded for the
second time in six months Dec. 10
when the White Sox acquired him from
Oakland. The Athletics, who traded for
Samardzija from the Chicago Cubs last
July in an effort to win an American
League championship, decided to trade
the starting pitcher now rather than
lose him in free agency next winter.
"Being a Chicago guy, that's one of
the craziest things I've thought about,"
Samardzija told reporters of returning
to Chicago. "I'm sitting here thinking,
'Now, do I really have to go get my
cleats on and go play for the Bears?' If
I could skate, maybe the Hawks. My
jumper's garbage, so the Bulls are out
of the question."
Jeff Samardzija Returns Home
Samardzija went a combined 7-13 with a 2.99 ERA in 33 starts for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland
Athletics last season.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL ZAGARIS/COURTESY OAKLAND ATHLETICS
