Hey everyone,

Awesome game last night! You're gonna like this update - I guarantee it.

In the last email I sent you guys, I pointed out how recently Jose has been
playing very well in his first two games back after any time off (more on
that later). The Sox were off on Monday, so I was hoping for good things
Tuesday and Wednesday. I ALMOST went so far as to guarantee a homer (you
long time subscribers will remember when I used to do that quite regularly
and impressively accurately, if I do say so myself), but I whimped out and
decided not to. Then again, I didn't know last night was Cancer Survivors
Night at Comiskey Park.

During batting practice, Jose told 4 young cancer patients that he was
going to try to hit a couple of home runs for them during the game. Some
game reports are saying he "promised" them he would homer, a la Babe Ruth,
but in Jose's words, "I said hopefully I can hit a couple home runs for you
guys tonight." Either way, I'm impressed.

In his first at bat, behind in the count 0-2, Jose came through and
launched a homer into the first row of the left field bleachers. It
actually hit some poor little kid on the head. OUCH - that's gonna leave a
mark. Then again, that'll be a great story for him to tell for the rest of
his life. I'm jealous.

In the third inning, Jose was careful to not hit the ball anywhere near the
same kid, when he homered to right center field. Two trips to the plate -
two homers (and a season high five RBIs). Can you imagine what those kids
who were on the field before the game must have been thinking?

During his at bat, the crowd gave Jose a standing ovation. It's really
nice to see how the Chicago fans are supporting him. Believe me, they've
come a long way in the past couple of years. I practically got heckled out
of there in 1999, as some friends and I proudly displayed my giant "JOSE"
bullseye and he homered twice. That's interesting - I just realized that
Jose's last three multi-homer games have all been in Comiskey - two this
year, and the one I was at in 1999 when Jose was playing with the Devil Rays.

Jose ended up striking out in his last two at bats, but the damage was
already done and the Sox won the game 7-6. Pretty cool story, isn't
it? Something tells me Jose has at least four new fans for life after last
night.

I added a couple more photos Canseconet.com today - both from the first
inning of last night's game. I like the first one a lot, where you can see
some kids holding up a "HIT 1 OUT CANSECO" sign in the background. Pretty
cool.

-Mark

P.S. As for my "Jose plays great in the first 2 games back after time off"
theory, check this out: In the 8 games immediately following Jose's last 4
days off, Jose is 14 for 27 (.518), with 5 homers, 11 runs scored, 10 RBIs,
and a 1.111 slugging percentage. Now that's a stat you won't hear on
SportsCenter!

==========
From the AP:
Chicago 7, Kansas City 6

CHICAGO (AP) _ Think Jose Canseco's two homers were big? Imagine what they
meant to the young cancer patients he talked to before the game.

After telling four cancer patients _ all under the age of 16 _ that he
hoped to hit a home run for them, Canseco went out and homered in his first
two at-bats Wednesday night as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City
Royals 7-6.

"I said hopefully I can hit a couple home runs for you guys tonight. But I
also said, if I don't, watch batting practice because I'll probably hit a
couple out in batting practice," Canseco said.

"Whether it was coincidental, whether it was luck or not, who knows? But
like I said, I'm glad and happy for them it actually happened."

On Cancer Survivors Night, 450 patients and their families turned out at
Comiskey Park. The children, two boys and two girls, were standing near the
on-deck circle during batting practice, meeting the players and getting
their autographs.

Canseco wasn't trying to be Babe Ruth, who reportedly once called a home
run for a sick child. But he didn't waste any time making good on his word.

With two on and two outs in the first inning, he lofted an 0-2 pitch just
over the left-field wall. Dee Brown jumped for the ball, but it sailed over
his head for a three-run homer that tied the game at 3.

Told about Canseco's talk with the kids, teammate Ray Durham's eyes widened
in disbelief.

"That's pretty impressive," Durham said, shaking his head. "If I said that
and went out there, I think I'd be 0-for-4, 0-for-5."

And Canseco wasn't done. He hit a two-run homer in the third inning, giving
the White Sox a 5-3 lead.

Canseco's 454 career home runs moved him past Carl Yastrzemski (452) for
22nd on the all-time list. The five RBIs gave Canseco a total of 1,378,
passing Johnny Bench for 57th on the career chart.

The crowd of 15,620 gave Canseco a standing ovation when he came to the
plate in the fifth inning for his third at-bat. He struck out, but the fans
applauded him again as he walked back to the dugout. He got another ovation
when he batted in the seventh, and he struck out.

The homers _ both off Royals starter Chris George _ were Canseco's seventh
and eighth of the season.

"I think when Canseco got him in the first inning, it kind of put him on
his heels a little bit," Royals manager Tony Muser said. "After the two-run
homer, I'm not going to leave him out there to test him any more."

George, making his second major league start, lasted only three innings.
George (0-2) gave up five runs _ all on Canseco's two homers _ and six hits.

"I used to collect Canseco baseball cards in high school," he said. "I
tried to put that out of my head."...

..."To say you'll hit a home run for someone and go out and do it, it had
to have meant a lot," Durham said. "I'm pretty sure Jose's got fans for life."

==========
From www.billy-ball.com:
BIG BOYS GO YARD

...Then there is Jose Canseco who led his Chicago White Sox to a 7-6
victory over the KC Royal driving home 5 runs enabling Jose to pass Johnny
Bench for 27th on the all-time RBI list. Canseco’s homers enabled him to
pass Carl Yastremski for 22nd on the all-time list and give Jose a career
total of 454. But, of course, with Jose there is always more to the story.
I recently saw Jose and those huge muscles of his seemingly could not get
around on a good fastball, but on the other hand you knew if he would make
contact the ball would still travel a long way with his powerful swing.
Truly a case of hit or miss. So as, the White Sox celebrated 'Cancer
Survivor Night' with 450 cancer survivors and their families in attendance
at Comiskey Park, there was Jose talking to the kids before the game,
making them feel special. Patrick O’Connell of mlb.com reports, "I met four
kids who are recovering from cancer before the game, signed some autographs
and spoke to them a little bit," Canseco said with a smile. "I told them
that hopefully I could hit one for you, but just in case I didn't, to stick
around and watch me hit some out during batting practice." Jose has 48 hits
and 48 strikeouts, it would have been safer for him to say that he would
dedicated a “K” to the kids. But Jose came through…twice and that’s what
makes the Canseco legend grow.

==========
From the Chicago Sun Times:
Canseco gesture twice as nice
August 2, 2001
BY CHRIS DE LUCA

White Sox designated hitter Jose Canseco proved Wednesday night he still
has plenty of power and a flair for the dramatic.

Canseco hit two homers and drove in five runs in the White Sox' 7-6 victory
over the last-place Kansas City Royals before 15,620 fans at Comiskey Park.
The victory moved the Sox 71/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the
wild-card race.

Canseco also took a page out of Babe Ruth's book.

With 450 cancer survivors and their families attending the game, Canseco
enjoyed a visit during batting practice with four kids who are battling
cancer. After signing autographs and chatting with the kids, Canseco
offered one final treat.

''I said, 'Hopefully, I can hit a couple home runs for you tonight,' ''
Canseco said. ''But I also said, 'Watch batting practice just in case I
don't because I probably will hit a couple in B.P.' ''

He delivered on both counts.

His first homer highlighted a three-run first inning against rookie
left-hander Chris George (0-2), who made his second major-league start. Ray
Durham, who left the game in the fourth inning because of a mild strain of
his left lower hamstring, hit a leadoff double and Aaron Rowand beat out an
infield single. Two outs later, Canseco hit his 453rd career home run.

His next at-bat came in the third inning, one out after Carlos Lee's
leadoff walk. Home run No. 454 broke a 3-3 tie.

''I've gone to hospitals and seen kids fighting cancer,'' Canseco said.
''I'll tell you what, it gets to you, especially the young kids. Those kids
could be my daughter [Josie]. I'm just happy my kid is healthy.''

Since signing with the Sox on June 20, Canseco, 37, has exceeded everyone's
expectations. He has eight home runs and 20 RBI in 30 games, and boasts a
.292 batting average.

Still, he worries about his status daily.

''I don't take anything for granted,'' Canseco said. ''Every day I come in,
I check that lineup and when I see my name in there, it is a great relief.

''Basically, I am trying to find the thing that has been destroying my
career, which is fighting injuries.''...

==========
HOME-RUN DERBY: Jayson Stark of ESPN.com found this nugget through the
Elias Sports Bureau. Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds each
homered last Thursday, the first time three players with at least 450 home
runs homered on the same day since Aug. 17, 1973.

(And guess what - it happened AGAIN last night)

==========
From the Chicago Daily Southtown:
Canseco delivers the goods
Thursday, August 2, 2001
By Joe Cowley

When the White Sox gave slugger Jose Canseco the chance to return to the
majors, Manager Jerry Manuel talked about the "presence" Canseco would
bring to the field. Wednesday, Canseco's presence was felt not only on the
field, but off it.

Before the game with Kansas City, Canseco met with four children battling
cancer. He told them he would try to hit a home run for them against the
Royals.

In Babe Ruthesque fashion, Canseco not only homered in his first at-bat,
but he hit another his second time up, as the Sox beat the Royals 7-6 in
front of 15,620 at Comiskey Park.

The win pulled the Sox (52-53) to within 7˝ games of Boston in the
wild-card chase.

Canseco, who was playing for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic
League when the Sox signed him in late June, finished the night with five RBI.

"I told them that I would like to hit a couple of home runs for them,"
Canseco said. "But I also told them that if I didn't, make sure to watch
batting practice and maybe I would hit out a few in batting practice.

"I just hope this is something they won't forget. I hope they can remember
it for a long time. Whether it was coincidental or just luck, but I did
mention it to them."

Manuel was amazed for other reasons, the biggest being that most teams had
written off Canseco.

"I am surprised," Manuel said. "When we got him, there were a couple of
times in Baltimore where you saw glimpses of (his power). To see him hit
the ball out like he did to right-center (on the second one) was
impressive."...

...Canseco wasted little time tying the game, driving an 0-2 offering from
George 368 feet over the wall in left field.

The three-run homer was Canseco's seventh since joining the Sox.

Two innings later, he delivered No. 8. The two-run shot off George put the
Sox up 5-3.

Canseco's multihomer performance gave him 454 home runs for his career. His
five RBI moved him ahead of Johnny Bench for 57th place on the all-time
list with 1,378.

"I'm just trying to make the most out of this by helping out the team as
much as possible," Canseco said. "I don't take anything for granted in this
game. When I come into the clubhouse every day I still look at the lineup."...

..."We just have to keep playing well and see what happens," Canseco said.
"Hopefully, good things happen."

==========
From the Kansas City Star:
Canseco delivers

Shades of the Bambino? Jose Canseco's two homers followed a pregame talk
with some young cancer patients during which he promised to try to hit a
home run for them.

"I told them that I hopefully would hit a home run for them," he said, "but
just in case I didn't, to stick around and watch me hit some out during
batting practice."

Nice story. But it probably doesn't make Royals starter Chris George feel
any better....

==========
From the Chicago Sun Times:
GM Williams' learning curve can be deceiving
Thursday, August 2, 2001

Give Ken Williams credit.

The White Sox's first-year general manager already has learned a key aspect
of his new position - deception.

The ultimate illusion has been played out on the South Side over the past
month, and it continued after Tuesday's trade deadline passed.

With Jose Canseco's 2000 World Series Championship ring from the Yankees in
one hand Tuesday at Comiskey Park, Williams might as well have had a magic
wand in the other. As he addressed the Sox players, he chanted the words,
"I still believe, I still believe."

==========
From CNN/SI:
Man of his word
Power play: Canseco fulfills promise to cancer survivors

CHICAGO (AP) -- The four young cancer patients stood near the on-deck
circle during batting practice, meeting Chicago White Sox players and
collecting autographs.

But the best gift of all came from Jose Canseco.

After telling the youngsters -- all under age 16 -- that he hoped he could
hit a home run for them, Canseco homered in his first two at-bats Wednesday
night as Chicago beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6.

"That's pretty impressive," teammate Ray Durham said, his eyes widening in
amazement when told of Canseco's chat with the kids.

"If I said that and went out there, I think I'd be 0-for-4, 0-for-5. To say
you'll hit a home run for someone and go out and do it, it had to have
meant a lot. I'm pretty sure Jose's got fans for life."

But that wasn't what it was about. Canseco wasn't trying to be Babe Ruth,
who -- if legend is correct -- once hit a home run to fulfill a promise to
a sick child.

It was Cancer Survivors Night at Comiskey Park, and Canseco wanted to
brighten the kids' day. He didn't make any promises, even telling the two
girls and two boys to watch batting practice just in case, because he was
sure to put one over the fence then.

"I said, 'Hopefully, I can hit a couple home runs for you guys,'" Canseco said.

He didn't waste any time making good on his word. With two on and two outs
in the first inning, he lofted an 0-2 pitch just over the left-field wall
for a three-run homer that tied it at 3.

And Canseco wasn't done. He hit a two-run homer in the third inning, giving
the White Sox a 5-3 lead.

"The couple of home runs were for them," Canseco said. "Whether it was
coincidental, whether it was luck or not, who knows? But like I said, I'm
glad and happy for them it actually happened."

Canseco's homers gave him 454 in his career, moving him past Carl
Yastrzemski (452) for 22nd on the all-time list. The five RBIs gave Canseco
1,378, passing Johnny Bench for 57th on the career chart.

The crowd of 15,620 gave Canseco standing ovations when he came to the
plate in the fifth and seventh innings. He struck out both times, but fans
applauded again as he walked back to the dugout.

"My swing feels pretty good, I'm healthy. When I'm making good contact, the
ball's going out," said Canseco, who has eight homers since joining the
White Sox on June 21....

..."I used to collect Canseco baseball cards in high school. I tried to put
that out of my head," George said.

Royce Clayton also homered for the White Sox, and Dan Wright (1-0) gave up
four runs and seven hits in five innings in his first major league start.

"I have to thank the Chicago White Sox for giving me the opportunity," said
Canseco, who spent 41 games with the Newark Bears of the independent
Atlantic League after being cut by Anaheim in spring training.

"I'm trying to make the most of it right now by trying to help the team as
much as possible."

Notes: Canseco has two multihomer games this season and 36 in his career...

==========
From the Chicago Tribune:
Canseco performs a Ruthian feat
Slugger's 2 HRs deliver on promise to sick children

Jose Canseco did his Babe Ruth imitation before Wednesday's game when
talking with four children who were guests at Comiskey Park on Cancer
Survivors Night.

During batting practice, Canseco promised two boys and two girls he would
hit a home run for them, just as Ruth did with a little boy in a scene that
was later immortalized by William Bendix in "The Babe Ruth Story."

But Canseco managed to outdo Ruth, hitting two home runs off Royals' rookie
left-hander Chris George.

Canseco had been in something of a slump of late, striking out 15 times in
his past nine games before Wednesday. Canseco said that it's par for the
course and he's always been a streaky hitter.

"My hitting is like this," Canseco said. "That's how I've always been. I
could get three hits again today, so it's hard to explain. I feel great
physically. Everything is definitely there. As a power hitter, my whole
career has kind of been that way. You get in hot streaks, hit some home
runs, have some strikeouts . . .

"My average fluctuates up and down. You're going to run into some tough
pitching, and they're going to make some plays on you. It's hard to tell
every day. The game has so many ups and downs, especially for a power
hitter, especially for me. It's just incredible. My average dropped 30
points, then I got up to .300. Now it's back to [.292] or whatever. I go
three or four games without striking out, then I strike out nine times in
three games. You figure it out. I can't."

==========
From the Kansas City Star:
Canseco homers twice as White Sox beat Royals 7-6
By BOB DUTTON - The Kansas City Star

CHICAGO -- Royals rookie Chris George was all of 6 years old when Jose
Canseco first reached the majors in 1985.

On Wednesday, George learned Canseco can still jump all over a pitcher's
mistake. He learned it twice. And he learned it the hard way --
surrendering two homers to Canseco in a 7-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I used to collect Canseco's baseball cards when I was growing up," George
admitted through a wry grin. "I try to put that out of my head. I don't
think about it when I'm pitching.

"It's more in retrospect when I come in and watch him hitting on TV. Then,
it hits me a little bit. But during the game, I'm focused."

Canseco, now 37, is in the twilight of a career that remains fringed in
Hall of Fame possibilities. His two homers, which accounted for the White
Sox's first five runs, pushed his career total to 454.

"I'm just lucky to be healthy, lucky to be in the lineup and lucky to be on
a team after spring training," said Canseco, who started the season in an
independent league.

"Right now, my swing feels pretty good. I'm healthy and making good contact
on the ball."...