The Chicago White Sox can use some positive publicity these days, hinging on their historic losing season of 2024. They officially outdid the 1962 Mets, losing 121 games. Only the 1899 Cleveland Spiders compiled a worse record throughout the entire history of the sport. Maybe, they should be known as the “Black Sox” rather than the 1919 gamblers? Where’s my bleach?

As a result of doing such “dirty” laundry, I’ve decided to write a few sparkling articles about my White Sox childhood hero, John Sherman Lollar, inspired by a recent E-Bay purchase for my growing collection. I bought the August 3,1955 edition of the The Sporting News, based out of St. Louis. It was 25-cents back then but cost me nearly $20 with shipping & handling. The tease read: “Lollar Proving White Sox Pillar – See Page 3.“

On Page 3 of the now-yellowed tabloid was an impressive illustration by Lou Darvis of him in a Sox hat and several related cartoons under the title of “As Catcher, Lollar His Team’s Best Pitcher.” An underlined preview just above read “Nabbed 18 of 22 Base Pilferers” and a sub-title stated: His Motto: ‘They Shall Not Steal’. A series of articles by John C Hoffman of Chicago, Illinois were nicely written on the next few pages. 

I will get into more details in subsequent posts, but each of the four cartoons surrounding his caricature had an intriguing caption highlighting his early career and touting his quiet leadership skills:

“His dad, an old semi-pro ballplayer, used to play catch with Sherman outside their grocery store…probably started the first self-serve store in Fayetteville.” The Illustrator drew his butcher’s apron-cladded father behind the counter saying to a woman customer, “Would y’ mind helpin’ yourself, Mrs. Skinner? I wanna catch a few with Shermy.”

“Conducts Clubhouse meetings before each series. Instructs hurlers on how to pitch to opposing pitchers.” In this cartoon insert, Lollar’s, wearing shin guards, is pointing to a body drawn on the chalkboard and advising, “Pitch ‘im close an’ high aroun’ the clavicle.”

“At the age of 12, he was a batboy for Fayetteville, in the Arkansas-Missouri League.” Sherm is portrayed by the artist lugging seven huge bats and saying, “Whew! ‘an those guys big guys carry on’y two bats to th’ plate.” 

“No. 1 catcher for the white-hot White Sox, Sherman Lollar hit seven homers in ten days earlier this season.”

“Wrote Sports for his local paper at Pittsburg (Kan.) State Teacher’s College” His character is shown carrying a reporter’s notebook and quipping, “Nuthin’ to this racket – I’d rather make th’ news!

As a young fan who followed his career and now a collector of his memorabilia, I was pleased to see that his skills got some attention. The publication was popular because it combined the appeal of a comic book with some serious background information. You could read the articles or just look at the pictures and learn something about the man. The illustrations were worthy of framing. You can’t frame the current digital version of today’s The Sporting News that discontinued print publication in 2012, but I’m sure that they’ve had lots of illustrative fun lambasting the 2024 version of the Chicago White Sox, who with 121 losses with two games to go, have now officially surpassed the 1962 New York Mets as the worst team in baseball since 1899. Sherm would not be happy! 

More on John Sherman Lollar in upcoming posts…