 Outside the clubhouse, Himes built the White Sox farm system, drafting All-Stars Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, and Alex Fernandez in the first round in consecutive years (from 1987 until 1990).By late 1990, all four were integral parts of the White Sox.Himes also traded one of the Sox franchise's most popular players, Harold Baines, in July 1989.