Herm Schneider, the longest-tenured athletic trainer in the Majors, is taking a step back after 40 seasons as the White Sox trainer. The 66-year-old will become head athletic trainer emeritus for the club, the team announced Monday.
The new role will make Schneider an adviser to the baseball operations department on medical issues relating to free agency, player acquisitions and the MLB Draft, as well as a resource to the training staffs in Chicago and the Minor Leagues.
"The Chicago White Sox have been incredibly fortunate to have Herm Schneider as our organization's trainer for the past 40 years," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "Herm was with the White Sox even before my partners and I acquired the team in 1981, and he has provided the very best care to our players over four decades. Countless players owe the extensions of their careers to Herm and his tireless work ethic when it comes to injury prevention and treatment. Well-respected across baseball, Herm's commitment to excellence at his craft and focus on keeping players healthy has had an immeasurable impact on our team's performance over the many years. Professional relationships aside, Herm is a very trusted and dear friend, and I look forward to him remaining with the organization in his new emeritus capacity."
Schneider joined the White Sox in 1979 after serving as an assistant trainer for the Yankees. He has been a crucial part of the organization for the four decades since. He has a long list of career awards and accomplishments, including head athletic trainer for the American League at the 2013 and '16 All-Star Games and assistant trainer for three other Midsummer Classics. He was honored as Trainer of the Year at the '09 Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago's Awards Banquet, and he was presented by Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley with the City of Chicago's Appreciation for outstanding service in '04. He and staff received the '06 Dick Martin Award for medical staff of the year by Baseball Prospectus.

Beyond the honors, however, are the players who benefited under Schneider's care. He oversaw major rehab programs for Bo Jackson following his hip injury, as well as Ozzie Guillen (knee), Robin Ventura (ankle) and Jake Peavy (lat). He worked with Michael Jordan on his transition from basketball to baseball in the early 1990s, and responded to life-threatening injuries to Greg Walker in '88 and Danny Farquhar this past season.
"While I certainly am proud of all the professional achievements and honors the medical and training staff has received over the past 40 years, it is the friendships and personal relationships that I remember best and make this decision to move into an emeritus role the hardest," Schneider said. "The friendships I have made here will last the rest of my life."
The White Sox used the disabled list 185 times for 9,057 total days missed from 2002-18, both Major League lows in that span. The team led the AL in fewest player days missed in eight of those seasons.
"Always the first at the ballpark and the last to leave each night, it is impossible to overstate what Herm Schneider has meant to the White Sox during his 40 years of service to our organization," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "The ability of our medical and training staffs to keep our players healthy and on the field is unmatched in baseball over the past four decades. We are pleased that Herm will remain with the organization in an emeritus status as his knowledge and expertise will continue to be valued."
Added Schneider: "I have been incredibly fortunate to work for Jerry Reinsdorf for the vast majority of my career and to work with an amazing group of doctors, trainers, executives, managers and staff who all share the same focus -- the best possible care for everyone who wore a White Sox uniform. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise across the organization in whatever manner seems appropriate in 2019."