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 (1987–1990).
[6][7] Baines' bat wasn't enough to lift the Rangers to an American League West title, and Fletcher and Sosa found starting jobs with the White Sox in 1990.
Sosa blossomed into a star several years later, causing then-Rangers managing partner George W. Bush to muse that his approval of the trade was one of the worst mistakes he ever made.
Thanks in part to Himes' moves, field manager Jeff Torborg's performance, and strong seasons from veterans like Iván Calderón, Ozzie Guillén, Carlton Fisk, and Bobby Thigpen, the White Sox won 94 games in 1990, contending with the eventual American League champion Oakland Athletics into the final week of the season.
Himes was not there to see the White Sox make the move, as he and his director of scouting Al Goldis were fired after the 1990 season.
Himes declined, stating that he spent Maddux's money on Randy Myers, José Guzmán, Dan Plesac, and Candy Maldonado.
Maddux made his Braves' debut on Opening Day 1993 at Wrigley Field, beating the Cubs and his former teammate Mike Morgan 1–0.
Maddux's departure is regarded as one of the Cubs' franchise's worst moves, on par with the trading of future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Ernie Broglio.
The Cubs started the year losing their first 10 home games, causing new manager Tom Trebelhorn to conduct a "Town Hall" meeting on a park bench in front of the fire station on Waveland Avenue.
The low point of the 1994 season came in June, when perennial All-Star second baseman Ryne Sandberg, now a member of the Hall of Fame, abruptly announced his retirement.
Still, Sandberg cited Himes' draconian clubhouse rules and management style as one of the reasons for his departure in his autobiography 'Second to Home,' co-authored by Barry Rozner.