I'm delighted. I don't know of anybody who had a statue built of them while they were living. It's a great feeling.

The cigar industry was most important in Tampa at the time and Lopez's father Modesto Lopez worked in a cigar factory. In 1955 and 1956 Lopez's squads again finiAl Lopezd second to the Yankees. Lopez died in Tampa at the age of 97 just four days after the White Sox won the 2005 World Series their first championship in 88 years and their first pennant-winning season since Lopez led them to the World Series in 1959.

584 career winning percentage he ranks 4th in major league history among managers of at least 2000 games behind Joe McCarthy (. 615) Frank Selee (.