Jerry’s father, Sam Hairston, was the first American-born black player signed by the White Sox; he caught two games in 1951. Working for Chicago as a scout in 1970, Sam signed his son. Jerry proved adequate at the plate, but his outfielding was suspect. After four unproductive seasons, he was sold to Pittsburgh in 1977, then drifted to Mexico. Re-acquired by Chicago late in 1981, Hairston led the AL in pinch at-bats each year from 1982 to 1985, and in pinch hits in 1983-85. On April 15, 1983, his two-out, ninth-inning pinch-hit ended a perfect-game bid by Detroit’s Milt Wilcox. Hairston switch-hit, but was stronger from the left side. When released in 1988, his 93 career pinch hits put him in a tie for 12th all-time; he came back in 1989 to get his 94th pinch hit. His brother John played briefly for the 1969 Cubs.
