While Anderson has never led off a game with a walk (in 70 plate appearances) aren’t a .483 on-base percentage or a .406 mark (which is his career output) hard to ignore?
Plus his power (Tuesday was his fourth career game-starting homer and third this season) and the prospects of a quick 1-0 lead are tempting.
*HE’S NO. 1: After serving as the Sox first batter, Anderson’s average as a leadoff hitter drops.
This season, he is batting .254 with a .276 on-base percentage overall in 29 starts as the Sox No. hitter this season. His career numbers in 70 starts there are .269 and .272.
*MORE TIM: Anderson is a .285 hitter (.287 on-base percentage) leading off innings in his career. … This season those numbers read .285 and .288.
*HIS TOP SPOT: Anderson’s best spot in the lineup is No. 7 where he is hitting .277 with a .295 on-base percentage there lifetime and .270/.291 this season.
*SOX ALMANAC, TODAY IN 1919, BABE’S BIG BLAST NOT ENOUGH: On this day in 1919, the White Sox overcame Babe Ruth’s tape measure blast in edging the Red Sox 7-6 at Comiskey Park.
Four innings after Ruth homered over the right field bleachers, Hap Felsch scored on Ray Schalk’s squeeze to end it.
Eight years later on this day, Babe hit the first roof shot homer at Comiskey Park.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: The White Sox face the Dodgers’ Yu Darvish on his 31st birthday today.
This will mark the 51st time (since 1913) the Sox will face a starting pitcher on his birthday.
The Sox are 23-27 vs. starters celebrating a birthday.
The last time that happened was when the Sox lost to the Twins and Phil Hughes, celebrating his 29th bday, 6-1 on June 24, 2015 at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Sox last win over a birthday boy starting pitcher was on July 27, 2011. On that day in Chicago, the Sox and John Danks outdueled Max Scherzer, who was marking his 31st birthday.
*ON FIRE! Rookie Nicky Delmonico raised his average to .400 with three hits in Wednesday’s night’s win over Houston at Guaranteed Rate Field.
At this moment in time, Delmonico is the Sox all-time average leader among those with 25-or-more at bats.
I posted the above graphic on the Sox video board after Delmonico’s second at bat on Wednesday. There will be more tonight!
Behind Delmonico are Joe Hall .393 (28 at bats), John Russell .385 (26 at bats) and Clint Courtney .378 (37 at bats).
*SWEEP: The Sox are going for their fourth sweep of the Astros tonight.
The first?
GAMES ONE THROUGH FOUR OF THE 2005 WORLD SERIES!
*DOUBLE/HR: The emerging Kevan Smith executed a rarity in Tuesday night’s win.
The Pitt product, who once played quarterback for former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, became the first Sox rookie catcher to double and homer in the same game since Miguel Olivo on May 1, 2003.
Others who have done this (since 1913): Josh Paul on Aug. 29, 2001; Ron Karkovice Oct. 2, 1986; Bill Nahorodny April 21 and June 2, 1978; Ed Herrmann June 4, 1969; Joe Tipton May 3, 1949 and Buck Crouse July 17, 1924.
*THANKS! A shout out to Kevin Luke @tvdirguy who pointed out that the White Sox Tyler Saladino and Astros pitcher James Hoyt, who squared Tuesday, were teammates at 2008 at Palomar (Calif.) College in 2008.
*1974, KAAT, ALLEN DERAIL RYAN EXPRESS: Lefty Jim Kaat bested Nolan Ryan, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth, in the White Sox 2-1 win over California before 11,636 at Comiskey Park.
Kaat’s only mistake was a second-inning home run ball to Frank Robinson.
The Sox made Kaat a winner in the ninth when Ken Henderson drove in Dick Allen with the tying run and Bill Sharp brought home B.B. Richard with the game-winner.
Allen ruined Ryan’s no-hitter with a one-out single in the ninth.
Kaat gave up six hits with three strikeouts in improving to 13-8. Kaat, who was 4-0 against California, was 21-13 in 1974.
Ryan struck out 13 in falling to 14-12.
More from this date …
*1910, NO. 1 SHUTOUT: Future Hall of Famer Ed Walsh fired a two-hitter in logging the first shutout at the Comiskey Park in the White Sox 4-0 win over Washington. The Sox tallied single runs in the second, third, sixth and eighth inning in improving to 38-58.
*1915, ODD POSITIONING: With Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson in right field and Hall of Fame outfielder Sam Rice on the mound for the Senators, the White Sox prevailed 6-2 in Washington. The victory halted the Sox six-game losing streak.
*1916, PITCHER STEALS HOME! Pitcher Reb Russell swiped home and got the victory in the third inning of the first-place White Sox 7-1 win over Boston. Chicagoan Jack Ness fell a double shy of the cycle as the Sox banged out 13 hits.
*1925, TED TERRIFIC: Future Hall of Famer Ted Lyons twirled a three-hitter in outdueling fellow future Hall of Famer Red Ruffing in the White Sox 2-0 win in Boston. Lyons walked four and fanned one in improving to 16-6. Willie Kamm and Earl Sheely each drove in a run as the Sox won by shutout for the second straight day.
*1931, TOUGH RED: The legendary Red Faber surrendered five singles in blanking the Browns in the White Sox 2-0 win at Comiskey Park. The future Hall of Famer also doubled and scored as part of his sixth win.
*1935, I CAN NOT TELL A LIE … SOX WIN IN OT: Outfielder George Washington’s two-run single in the 10th handed the White Sox a 2-1 win in Cleveland. Washington’s hit scored Al Simmons and Zeke Bonura and helped the Sox survive Cleveland’s rally in the 10th.
*1956, DROPO THE HERO: Veteran Walt Dropo scored the winning run in the first game and drove in the game-winner in the nightcap as the White Sox swept a doubleheader from Kansas City with a pair of walkoff victories before 5,397 at Comiskey Park. In Game 1, Dropo scored on Jim Rivera’s 10th inning triple to give the White Sox a 5-4 win. In the nightcap, Dropo drove in Sherm Lollar with a 10th inning for a 4-3 Sox win. Prior to Game 2, the White Sox Dave Philley was ejected for continuing an argument with Red Flaherty that started in the opener.
*1960, WALKOFF SWEEP: The White Sox scored a pair of walkoff wins – and Gerry Staley was the victor in both contests — in sweeping a doubleheader from Washington before 25,843 at Comiskey Park. Gene Freese’s two-run homer in the ninth powered the Sox to a 9-7 win in the opener while Minnie Minoso’s single in the ninth got the Sox a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
*1966, MOOSE SPARKS COMEBACK: Chicagoan Moose Skowron’s homer in the ninth tied it and Wayne Causey’s two-run triple in the 10th broke gave the Sox the lead in a 9-8 win at California. The Sox had to survive an Angel usprising in the 10th as Dennis Higgins came on to get the game’s final out for his third save.
*1981, BASEBALL IS BACK: The White Sox and Cubs battled to a scoreless tie before 27,048 in an exhibition game at Comiskey Park as baseball finally returned to Chicago after the game’s first protracted work stoppage. The game was the first in Chicago since June 11. The players went on strike June 12. The Sox gave away 10,000 batting helmets and staged a Sox-Cubs old-timers game before the exhibition. The teams also played the next day, this time at Wrigley Field.
*1990, NO. 1 FOR ALEX: Rookie Alex Fernandez notched his first Major League victory in the White Sox 5-3 win at Kansas City. Fernandez scattered nine hits in six innings. Bobby Thigpen, on course for a record-setting season, tossed the final 1.1 innings for this 36th save. The White Sox erased a two-run deficit with a three-run fifth behind a two-run single by Sammy Sosa and an RBI triple by Phil Bradley.
*1993, BLACK JACK DEALING: Future Cy Young winner Jack McDowell won his sixth consecutive start in the White Sox 6-4 win over the Angels before 42,535 at Comiskey Park. The Sox improved to 60-49 and increased their lead to 4.5 games in the AL West. Ron Karkovice homered twice for his 14th and 15th dingers of the season. McDowell (18-6) got help from Roberto Hernandez, who fanned Chad Curtis with the tying runs on base in the ninth inning for his 23rd save.
*1994, SPANKY GOES DEEP: Catcher Mike LaValliere’s first homer with the White Sox, a two-run shot in the ninth, forced extra innings in the White Sox 10-5 win in 12 innings over the Angels in Anaheim. Jose DeLeon fired 4.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory. Frank Thomas drove in two runs in reaching the century mark for the fourth consecutive season.
*1999, NO. 300 FOR FRANK: Future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas’ 300th home run accounted for the White Sox only highlight in an 11-1 loss to the Athletics in Oakland. Thomas reached the milestone off Kevin Appier in the sixth inning. Thomas became the 84th player in big league history and the 16th active player to reach the 300-homer plateau. Thomas also joined Barry Bonds, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire and Cal Ripken Jr. as the only active players with 300 home runs, 1,000 RBI and 1,000 walks.
*2001, NO. 100 FOR MAGGS: Right fielder Magglio Ordonez hit his 100th home run in a 9-3 loss at Anaheim. Ordonez’s blast, a solo shot, came in the ninth off Mark Lukasiewicz. Ordonez became the 10th player in White Sox history to reach the century mark in dingers. He reached the milestone in his 585th game with the White Sox. Only Frank Thomas hit 100 homers with the White Sox in fewer games. “Big Frank” clubbed his 100th homer in his 506th game.
*2005, FUTURE CHAMPS WIN: The future World Series champion White Sox got a two-run homer from Paul Konerko and a solo shot from Joe Crede in downing Seattle 3-1 before 35,706 at US Cellular Field. Jon Garland got his 16th win and Dustin Hermanson pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save.
*2013, A WALKOFF TRIPLE! Outfielder Alejandro De Aza’s two-run triple in the 12th delivered the White Sox a 6-5 win over the Yankees before 25,707 at U.S. Cellular Field. The Yankees took the lead in the top of the frame when Dylan Axelrod yielded a homer to Robinson Cano. The walkoff triple was the Sox first since Lyle Mouton came through with the game-winner on May 22, 1996.
Mrs. SoxNerd and I rarely pay face value for any baseball tickets but Friday night we made an exception for one reason:
BARTOLO COLON.
And the old (age 44), fat guy did not disappoint.
Colon went the distance in the Twins 8-4 win over the Rangers before a pulling-for-Bartolo crowd of 22,272 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
This was vintage late Bart as opposed to early blazing fastball Bart.
Colon was crafty, economical with his pitches (all 106 of them!) and let his defense work for him.
Bart has always been a bit of a legendary figure in my baseball world because of the results he has produced with the 285-pounds his 5-foot-11 frame supports.
His “this is who I am and I don’t care what anyone thinks” attitude just adds to his legend.
If fact, whenever Colon would pitch for the Sox, my co-worker, who was once mocked for his beefy appearance in a Chicago newspaper, would exclaim, “You ever wanted to know what I would look like on a baseball field, it’s right there on the mound.”
The fact that he doesn’t look like he’s expending much energy is also just plain comical to me.
Kudos to Twins manager Paul Molitor, who had two singles in eight at bats in his career vs. Bart, for sticking with the right-hander until the joyous end on Friday night.
When Colon got his 27th out, thanks to a nifty play by first baseman Joe Mauer, he became the oldest Twins pitcher to go to the distance and the oldest pitcher to do so since 1992.
Friday’s outing also highlights another aspect of baseball I love: In every game, no matter the importance, something incredibly special can happen. It could be so unique it may have happened before or never will happen again.
More on Colon …
*IS BART THERE? The White Sox were having a difficult time finding Colon during “Big Sexy’s” second stint on the south side in 2009.
Manager Ozzie Guillen found the situation both frustrating and humorous.
“To talk to Colon, you’ve got to talk to 20 different people,” Guillen said. “You got to talk to 30 different cousins, and then to his agent, who talks to his brother, his brother call his wife, his wife say he’s with Pedro, Pedro say he’s with Juan. I guarantee you I’ll call [President Barack] Obama, and we’ll have a talk before Colon answers the phone. Obama will put me on hold for one second.”
*SOX TIME! Colon was 36 when he appeared in the last of his two one-season stints with the White Sox in 2009.
Nothing more than a fifth starter, Colon was 3-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts for the ’09 Sox in an injury-shortened campaign that ended in July.
His 2004 Sox campaign was more Bart-like: 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA and team-bests in starts (34), innings (242) and batters faced (984).
*OLD SOX CG: The last 40-year old to twirl a complete game for the Sox was 41-year old Danny Darwin, who went nine in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore (a Cal Ripken Jr. RBI) on April 17, 1997 at Comiskey Park.
By the way, Darwin started one game with fellow 40-year old Tony Pena as his batterymate for the Sox that season.
*OLD SOX CG WIN: The last 40-year old to go the distance and win for the Sox was 44-year old Charlie Hough in 1992.
On June 22, the knuckleballer and the Sox bested Boston 7-1 in 2 hours and 20 minutes before 32,967 at Comiskey Park.
That was one of four complete games Hough would throw that season.
*40! The last 40-year old to appear in a game for the White Sox was 44-year old Omar Vizquel in 2011.
*THE FIRSTS: Colon gave up four runs in five innings and survived a first-inning home run by Frank Thomas in winning his first start against the White Sox on Sept. 6, 1997 in Cleveland.
Eight days later, Colon yielded two runs in six innings in getting a no decision in his first start vs. the Sox in Chicago.
An eight-run Indians outburst, highlighted by Jim Thome’s 40th homer (off Al Levine) took Colon off the hook.
*THE LAST: Colon’s last appearance vs. the Sox was a five-hit complete game shutout for Oakland on May 31, 2013.
That upped Colon’s record to 11-8 and dipped his ERA to 3.81 in 23 career outings (all starts) vs. the Sox.
That 2013 gem may not be his final outing vs. the Sox. The Twins invade Chicago for a five-game set beginning Aug. 21.
Some @WhiteSox related All-Star notes (@SoxNerd style):
*Garcia is the first Sox position player to be an All-Star since 2014 (first baseman Jose Abreu and shortstop Alexei Ramirez) … This was also the last time Sox players batted in the game (Abreu 0-for-1, Ramirez 1-for-2)
*Ramirez, who replaced Derek Jeter in that 2014 game, is the last Sox player to hit safely (single) and steal a base in the All-Star Game
*Garcia is the first outfielder to represent the Sox at an All-Star Game since Carlos Quentin in 2011
*Frank Thomas (1995) and Magglio Ordonez (2001) are the only White Sox players to homer in an All-Star Game. … TODAY IS THE 22ND ANNIVERSARY OF FRANK’S HOMER!
*The last Sox double, multi-hit game and RBI in All-Star Game was by Paul Konerko in the ill-fated tie in 2002 in Milwaukee. PK would have been the MVP that year if the A.L. had one, IMHO
*The only Sox All-Star triple belongs to Luis Aparicio. “Little Looie” led off the third with a three-bagger off Don Drysdale in 1962’s first All-Star Game in Washington DC
*The Sox are 3-for-3 in steals in All-Star Games (Ramirez, Ray Durham 1998, Aparicio 1958)
*Chris Sale started last year’s All-Star Game as the White Soz rep. The last position player to start an All-Star Game was Thomas at first base in 1995
*Right field is the only position, including DH (Harold Baines 1989) where the Sox have NOT had an All-Star starter
*The Sox are 1-for-13 in the All-Star Game since 2008.
*Between Carlton Fisk in 1991 and Konerko in 2002, Sox hitters were 14-for-20 (.700) with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI
*The game is in Miami, a National League park tonight. The Sox haven’t gotten an All-Star on NL grounds since Konerko went 2-for-2 in Pittsbugh in on this date in 2006
*Garcia is the sixth Venezuelan to represent the Sox at the All-Star Game. The others: Ordonez, Wilson Alvarez, Ozzie Guillen, Aparicio and Chico Carrasquel. A shortstop, Carrasquel was the first Latin All-Star as a Sox rep in 1954
On this date in 1990, Bobby Thigpen worked a perfect inning in the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field (image: http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/player/Bobby_Thigpen)
With the All-Star break picking up steam and the White Sox idle, here’s a look at some White Sox events that occurred on this date to satisfy our Sox fix!
*1901, FIELDER JONES!: Fielder Jones’ RBI single in the 11th was the difference in the White Sox 5-4 win at Milwaukee. Frank Shugart’s RBI in the eighth forced OT as the Sox won for the second straight day, improved to 42-24 and moved into a virtual tie for first place.
*1916, DOUBLE DIP SHUTOUT: Lefty Williams and Reb Russell each fired shutouts in the White Sox doubleheader sweep over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The White Sox and Williams won the first game 4-0 while Russell took the nightcap 3-0. It was the franchise’s second doubleheader shutout in 43 days. The Sox wouldn’t get another one for 24 years.
*1920, JOE AND RED: “Shoeless” Joe Jackson had four hits and Red Faber tossed a five-hitter in the White Sox 6-0 win at Philadelphia.
*1934, “BUCKETFOOT AL”: White Sox outfielder Al Simmons started the second All-Star Game at the Polo Grounds in New York and went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI in the A.L.’s 9-7 win. “Bucketfoot Al,” though, was the fourth of Carl Hubbell’s record-setting and eye-popping five consecutive strikeouts. Jimmy Dykes also represented the White Sox.
*1951, ALL-STAR SOX … SIX OF ‘EM! A record six White Sox players — Nellie Fox, Chico Carrasquel, Minnie Minoso, Eddie Robinson, Jim Busby and Randy Gumpert — were named to the American League All-Star team for the game in Detroit. Fox started at second base and went 1-for-3 with an error in the American League’s 8-3 loss. Carrasquel started at shortstop and went 1-for-2. Minoso also played and went 0-for-2 while Robinson went 0-for-1 and Busby made a late-inning defensive appearance in left field. Gumpert, a pitcher, was named to the A.L. team but he did not play.
*1956, TOUGH DAY FOR PIERCE: Billy Pierce was the tough-luck loser in the American League’s 7-3 setback in the All-Star Game at Washington. Pierce, starting his second consecutive All-Star Game and third in four years, allowed just one run on two hits in three innings with five strikeouts. Second baseman Nellie Fox, making his second consecutive All-Star start and sixth appearance in a row, was 2-for-4 with a run. Catcher Sherm Lollar and pitcher Jim Wilson both saw their first All-Star action. Lollar went 1-for-2 while Wilson, making his lone All-Star appearance for the Sox, gave up one run on two hits in an inning of work.
*1962, TRIPLE FOR LOOIE: Luis Aparicio became the first White Sox player to triple in an All-Star Game in the N.L.’s 3-1 win at Washington. Named to his seventh All-Star team, Aparicio was making his third start. His triple off Don Drysdale in the seventh was the first by an A.L. player in an All-Star Game since 1951. The three-bagger also ended Aparicio’s 0-for-12 All-Star drought. Aparicio also flew out to Willie Mays for game’s final out becoming the second Sox player to be the All-Star Game’s last out (Roy Sievers 1961). Aparicio tied an All-Star record for shortstops by participating in two double plays.
*1984, TOUGH DOT: Richard Dotson pitched two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts in the A.L’s 3-1 loss in the All-Star Game at San Francisco. The right-hander entered the game in the fifth in relief of Jack Morris and gave up a leadoff single to Tony Gwynn but then retired Ryne Sandberg, Steve Garvey and Dale Murphy to get out of the inning. Dotson struck out Mike Schmidt and Bob Brenly in the sixth. The strikeout of Brenly ended the inning and came with runners on second and third. Dotson earned a spot on the staff with an 11-4 record and a 2.64 ERA.
*1988, BOSTON GETS LaPOINT: Dave LaPoint tossed seven shutout innings as the White Sox closed the first half with a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox before 15,163 at Comiskey Park. The Sox scored two in the first and never looked back. LaPoint gave up three hits while walking two and fanning three in improving to 7-9.
*1990, OZ AND BOB STAR: White Sox representative Bobby Thigpen tossed a scoreless inning and teammate Ozzie Guillen handled three errorless chances at shortstop in the American League’s 2-0 win in the 61st All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. Guillen also had two assists while Thigpen logged a perfect seventh inning. Thigpen fanned Darryl Strawberry to cap his inning of work after retiring Will Clark and Tim Wallach.
*1997, RAY LEADS THE WAY: Ray Durham was 3-for-5 with a double and a homer as the White Sox opened the second half by waxing the Kansas City Royals 6-3 in Missouri. The Sox scored four times in the first two innings in supporting starter Jaime Navarro, who evened his record at 7-7. Three relievers blanked the Royals over the final four innings. Roberto Hernandez finished up for his 21st save.
*1998, BELLE RINGS UP ROYALS: Albert Belle homered twice as the White Sox plastered the Kansas City Royals 10-3 before 15,378 at Comiskey Park. Belle and Thomas reached milestones in this victory. Belle’s second homer was his 293rd tying Matt Williams and Kent Hrbek for 80th on the all-time list. Thomas’ third inning double was the 266th of his career, moving him past Hall of Famer Eddie Collins into fourth place on the Sox all-time list.
*2001, MAGS STAR BLAST: Magglio Ordonez hit the White Sox second All-Star Game homer in the A.L.’s 4-1 win in the Mid-Summer Classic in Seattle. Ordonez connected off the Cubs’ Jon Lieber in the sixth inning in joining Frank Thomas as the lone Sox players to homer in an All-Star Game. Thomas hit his homer in the 1995 All-Star Game at Texas off the Reds’ John Smiley. Derek Jeter followed Ordonez’s homer with a homer of his own making them just the fifth teammates in All-Star history to go back-to-back. Ordonez also singled in the eighth off Jeff Shaw making him the only player in the game to log two hits.
*2004, GOOD EYES: The Sox used a pair of bases loaded walks from Paul Konerko and Joe Crede in taking the lead for good in the fifth inning of their 3-2 win over Seattle before 37,405 at U.S. Cellular Field. Mark Buehrle went eight innings and Shingo Takatsu struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
*2010, Q! Carlos Quentin launched two homers and Gavin Floyd allowed one run in 7.2 innings for the win in the White Sox 5-1 win over the Royals before 32,339 at U.S. Cellular Field.
*2012, SALE, PAULIE IN ACTION: White Sox representative Chris Sale pitched a scoreless inning in his All-Star debut in the American League’s 8-0 loss in the All-Star Game in Kansas City. Paul Konerko made his final All-Star appearance but did not bat int the game where Melky Cabrera earned MVP honors fot the N.L.
*2015, SORRY CUBS: JB Shuck’s sac fly in the eighth was enough for the White Sox in a 1-0 win over the Cubs before 41,580 at Wrigley Field.
*MILESTONE: The White Sox are seeking their 100th victory on July 4th when they take on the Athletics in Oakland today.
I have the Sox at 99-78 on Independence Day.
*STREAKING: The Sox have won seven in a row on July 4th.
The run is the Sox best on the holiday since a 14-game winning streak between Game 2 in 1934 and Game 1 in 1941.
*HOME SWEET …: All seven of those wins have come at home.
The Sox last Fourth of July roadie was a 6-4 loss at Kansas City.
The streak of seven consecutive home games on July 4th is the longest in club history.
*GO 4TH AND HIT! Jose Abreu is 4-for-13 with a double, a triple, a homer and three RBI in his three games on the Fourth.
*FOR STARTERS … AGAIN: James Shields will be making his second consecutive Independence Day start for the Sox today,
Shields got the win in last year, going six innings and giving up two runs in six innings in the Sox 8-2 home win vs. the Yankees.
*FOURTH HOMERS: Carl Reynolds and Paul Konerko are the Sox all-time leaders with three homers on July 4th.
Those with two homers on Independence Day are Ollie Bejma, Cass Michaels, Sherm Lollar, Ed Herrmann, Ron Kittle, Frank Thomas, Ray Durham, Carlos Lee, Jermaine Dye, Juan Uribe and Adam Dunn.
*FIREWORKS: The first player to set off the fireworks with a homer on July 4th at Comiskey Park was Roy Sievers in 1960.
Bill Veeck installed the “exploding scoreboard” at Comiskey Park in 1960.
The last Sox player to give the Comiskey faithful an in-game fireworks show with a dinger was Kittle, who launched two in a 10-7 loss to Detroit in the stadium’s final year of 1990.
*DOUBLE DINGER: Kittle and Bejma (1939) are the only Sox players with a two-homer game on July 4th.
*THE FIRST: The White Sox first July 4th homer was hit by Hall of Fame pitcher Ed Walsh.
In 1908, Walsh, in relief of Doc White, went deep in an 8-4 win over St. Louis at South Side Park.
*THE LAST: Konerko hit the final home run of his career on the Fourth of July 2014.
PK launched his 439th bomb off Charlie Furbush in the eighth inning of a 7-1 win over Seattle at U.S. Cellular Field.
*YANKEE DOODLE DANDIES: This is the Sox first July 4th game in Oakland. … The Sox lost to Oakland 7-1 in Chicago in their last Independence Day meeting. … The Sox have played on every Fourth of July since 1982. The 1981 game was cancelled because of the strike. … Holiday doubleheaders were once a staple in baseball but are now a thing of the past. The Sox haven’t played a July 4th twinbill since splitting with the Angels at Comiskey Park in 1969. That was the last of the Sox 60 Fourth of July DHs.
Latest blog from the @SoxNerd …
