The White Sox presented all employees with a bottle of champagne to celebrate the 1985 season, which was highlighted by the 75th birthday of Comiskey Park.
This bottle remained unopened for 20 years until the White Sox won the World Series when I shook and sprayed that thing as if I were in the visiting clubhouse in Houston.
Note: This is the latest in a series showcasing some of the memorabilia I have collected over the years.
The White Sox presented all employees with a bottle of champagne to celebrate the 1985 season, which was highlighted by the 75th birthday of Comiskey Park.
This bottle remained unopened for 20 years until the White Sox won the World Series when I shook and sprayed that thing as if I were in the visiting clubhouse in Houston.
Note: This is the latest in a series showcasing some of the memorabilia I have collected over the years.
69 days until Opening Day, White Sox fans!
The White Sox made Ken Kravec the 69th overall pick of the June 1973 draft.
The Sox used a third round pick in the 1973 pickfest on the lefty out of Cleveland.
Some Kravec nuggets …
*Went 41-49 with a 4.35 ERA in 123 games (114 starts) for the Sox between 1975 and 1980.
*Joins Billy Pierce, Floyd Bannister, Mike Sirotka and Chris Sale as the only lefties to lead the Sox in strikeouts in at least three consecutive seasons
*Took the loss in shorts in the first game of a doubleheader vs. the Orioles on Aug. 21, 1976 at Comiskey Park
*One of two and the first product of Ashland (Ohio) University to play/pitch in the bigs
*Started and lost both the overall Opener and the home opener for the 1979 Sox
*Winning pitcher in the 6,000th win Sox history in an 8-3 win at Minnesota on June 7, 1978
*Part of Sox all-lefty rotation with Richard Wortham, Ross Baumgarten and Steve Trout in 1979
*Best game was a three-hit shutout in the White Sox 7-0 win over the defending World Series champion Yankees in the Bronx on June 2, 1979 … Limited a lineup that included Mickey Rivers, Willie Randolph, Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson to three hits while facing just two over the minimum. Kravec, a lefty, walked two and struck out three in moving to 6-3. He gave up a hit in the first, sixth and seventh innings and retired the last nine batters he faced. Kravec’s shutout was preserved in the sixth when Chris Chambliss was thrown out home by center fielder Chet Lemon to end the frame.
*Above performance was the first Sox complete game shutout vs. the defending World Series champions since Stan Bahnsen’s 12-hitter vs. the A’s in a 2-0 victory on June 21, 1973 at Comiskey Park. … Kravec’s complete game shutout was the first by a Sox pitcher vs. a defending World Series champion on the road since Gary Peters blanked the Tigers (and homered) on six hits in Detroit on Aug. 2, 1969.
As we head into the 1959 “Go Go” White Sox 60th anniversary season, here’s the pin the team handed out to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the franchise’s fourth pennant winner.
Here’s more on the team:
1959 WHITE SOX (*still living)
AL LOPEZ, MANAGER
–Managed the White Sox to their first pennant in 40 years in 1959
–Winning season in 1959 was the third of nine in a row he would have as Sox manager
–Coaches In 1959 were Ray Berres (pitching), Johnny Cooney, Tony Cuccinello, Don Gutteridge
LUIS APARICIO*
—Shortstop hit .257 with six home runs, 51 RBI and a league-leading 56 steals for the 1959 Sox
—Gold Glove winner at shortstop for the 1959 Sox
—Finished second to teammate Nellie Fox in the 1959 American League MVP voting
—Represented the Sox at both All-Star Games in 1959
—Led the A.L. for the fourth consecutive season with 56 steals for the 1959 White Sox
RUDY ARIAS
—2-0 with a 4.59 ERA and two saves in 34 relief appearances for the 1959 Sox
—1-0 with a 1.59 ERA with one save in 16 appearances at Comiskey Park for the 1959 Sox
–Unscored upon in his final seven outings covering 10.2 innings for the 1959 White Sox
EARL BATTEY
–Catcher hit .219 with two homers and seven RBI in 26 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Caught the sixth and part of the seventh inning for the White Sox in their 1959 pennant clincher on Sept. 22, 1959
–Caught two of Cy Young winner Early Wynn’s five shutouts for the 1959 White Sox
RAY BOONE
–First baseman hit .238 with one home run and five RBI in nine games for the 1959 White Sox
–Scored the White Sox first and seventh runs in an 11-run seventh inning in a 20-6 win at Kansas City on April 22, 1959
–Traded by the White Sox to the Athletics for Harry Simpson on May 3, 1959
JOHNNY CALLISON
—Outfielder hit .173 with three homers and 12 RBI in 49 games for the 1959 Sox
—At age 20, the Qualls, Okla., native was the youngest member of the 1959 Sox
–At age 20, he became the youngest White Sox player to start an Opener in 14 seasons in 1959
CAM CARREON
–Catcher played in one game and went 0-for-1 for the 1959 White Sox
–Replaced John Romano and went 0-for-1 in his big league debut vs. Detroit on Sept. 27, 1959
—Caught the four three innings of the Sox regular-season finale — a 6-4 win at Detroit on Sept. 27, 1959
NORM CASH
—First baseman hit .240 with four homers and 16 RBI in 58 games for the 1959 White Sox
—2-for-4 (singles) with a run in the White Sox 9-7 Opening Day win over the Tigers on April 10, 1959
—At age 24, the left-handed hitter was the youngest player start at first base on Opening Day in 29 seasons in 1959
—Scored the 1959 White Sox first run of the season in a 9-7 win at Detroit on April 10, 1959
LARRY DOBY
–Outfielder-first baseman hit .241 with nine RBI in 21 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Future Hall of Famer was purchased by the White Sox from the Tigers on May 13, 1959
–Pinch-RBI single in the White Sox 8-2 loss at Boston on June 20, 1959 was the final hit of his Hall of Fame career
DICK DONOVAN
—Right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 31 appearances (29 starts) for the 1959 White Sox
–Escaped bases load jam in the eighth and retired all five men he faced in earning the save in White Sox 1-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series before 92,706 at the Los Angeles Coliseum
–Posted a 3.14 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) at Comiskey Park for the 1959 White Sox
DEL ENNIS
–Left fielder hit .219 with two homers and seven RBI in 28 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Acquired from the Reds for Don Rudolph and Lou Skizas on May 1, 1959
–Three-time All-Star hit the last of his 288 homers in the White Sox 14-6 win at Boston on May 14, 1959
SAMMY ESPOSITO
–Infielder hit .167 with one home run and five RBI in 69 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Fenger graduate played the final six innings at third base in the White Sox 11-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series
–Singled and scored on Nellie Fox’s two-run homer in the 14th in the White Sox 9-7 Opening Day win on April 10, 1959
NELLIE FOX
–Second baseman hit .306 with two homers and 70 RBI in 156 games for the 1959 White Sox
–American League Most Valuable Player for the 1959 White Sox
–Struck out just 13 times in a league-high 626 at bats for the 1959 White Sox
–Gold Glove winner at second base for the 1959 White Sox
BILLY GOODMAN
–Third baseman hit .250 with one homer and 28 RBI in 104 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Concord, N.C., native hit .231 with a run and an RBI in five games for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
–1-for-2 with a run and an RBI in the White Sox 11-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series at Comiskey Park
JOE HICKS*
—Outfielder hit .429 in six games for the 1959 White Sox
—Only Don Mueller at .500 had a higher average than his .429 for the 1959 White Sox
—First big league hit was a single off Detroit’s Paul Foytack in the Sox 5-4 loss vs. Detroit at Comiskey Park on Sept. 19, 1959
–Played all six of his games against the Detroit Tigers for the 1959 White Sox
RON JACKSON
—First baseman hit .214 with one homer and two RBI in 10 games for the 1959 White Sox
–Handled 31 chances without an error in five games at first base for the 1959 White Sox
–Lone homer of 1959 was a go-ahead solo shot off the Orioles’ Billy O’Dell on May 3, 1959 at Comiskey Park
TED KLUSZEWSKI
–Hit .297 with two homers and 10 RBI in 31 games for the 1959 White Sox after being acquired from Pittsburgh for Harry “Suitcase” Simpson and Robert Sagers on Aug. 25
–3-for-5 with two homers and five RBI in the White Sox 11-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series at Comiskey Park
–Home run in the third inning of Game 1 of the 1959 World Series was the first by a White Sox player since Joe Jackson in Game 8 of the 1919 Fall Classic
–Hit .391 with three homers and 10 RBI for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series vs. the Dodgers
JIM LANDIS
–Outfielder hit .272 with five homers and 60 RBI in 149 games for the 1959 Sox
–Led the 1959 American League champion White Sox with seven triples, 78 walks, 13 sacrifices and nine sacrifice flies
–Topped the A.L. with 13 sacrifices and led A.L. center fielders in games, starts, complete games, innings and putouts in 1959
–Finished seventh in the 1959 A.L. MVP voting with teammates Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and Early Wynn placing first, second and third respectively.
–Hit .292 with a still-standing franchise postseason record six runs while hitting safely in five of six games in the 1959 World Series
BARRY LATMAN*
–Right-handed pitcher was 8-5 with a 3,75 ERA in 37 games (21 starts) for the 1959 White Sox
–Two of his five complete games were shutouts for the 1959 White Sox
–Went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA and two shutouts in August for the 1959 White Sox
SHERM LOLLAR
–Catcher hit .265 with 22 homers and 84 RBI for the 1959 White Sox
–Led the 1959 White Sox with a career-high 22 home runs and 84 RBI
–Represented the White Sox at both All-Star Games in 1959
–Gold Glove winner at catcher for the 1959 White Sox
–22 home runs in 1959 were a record for White Sox catchers
–Hit .227 with one home run and five RBI for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
–Hit the first World Series home run in California in Game 4 of the 1959 Fall Classic
TURK LOWN
—Right-hander was 9-2, 2.89 with 15 saves for the 1959 White Sox
—Led the American League with 15 saves and 37 games finished for the 1959 White Sox
—Unscored upon in three outings covering 3.1 innings with three strikeouts for the Sox in the 1959 World Series
J.C. MARTIN*
—Third baseman hit .250 with an RBI in three games for the 1959 White Sox
—Struck out by Camilio Pascual in his big league debut in the White Sox 8-2 loss to Washington on Sept. 10, 1959 in DC
—First big league hit was an RBI single off Pete Burnside in the Sox 6-4 win in Detroit on September 27, 1959
JIM McANANY
—Outfielder hit .276 with 27 RBI in 67 games for the 1959 White Sox
—First big league hit was a single off Whitey Ford in the White Sox 9-2 win over the Yankees on June 28, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Collected a bases-loaded triple in each game of the Sox doubleheader sweep vs. the A’s on July 12, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Started Games 2 and 6 in right and Game 5 in left for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
KEN McBRIDE*
—0-1 with a 3.18 ERA and one save in 11 games (two starts) for the 1959 White Sox
—Allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits in 7.1 innings for the White Sox in his big league debut on Aug. 4, 1959 (loss)
—Fired a scoreless ninth to earn his first big league save in the Sox 6-4 win at Detroit on Sept. 27, 1959
RAY MOORE
—3-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 29 games (8 starts) for the 1959 White Sox
—Posted a 2.74 ERA in 15 games at Comiskey Park for the 1959 White Sox
—Fanned one batter (Don Detmer) and gave up a homer (Chuck Essegian) in his lone inning of work for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
—Recorded the White Sox final World Series strikeout and threw the Sox final inning and pitch at Comiskey Park (Game 6 1959)
DON MUELLER
—Outfielder was 2-for-4 in four games in closing out his 14-year career with the 1959 White Sox
—Collected the last of his 1,292 big league hits with a pinch-single off Bob Grim in the Sox 8-3 loss at Kansas City on April 21, 1959
—0-for-1 in the last of his 1,245 big league games on May 2, 1959 before being released by the Sox 13 days later
GARY PETERS*
—Lefty was 0-0 with 0.00 ERA in two games (one inning) for the 1959 White Sox
—Pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout (Billy Consolo) in his big league debut in the Sox 8-2 loss at Washington on Sept. 10, 1959
—Fired a no-hitter for White Sox Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate vs. Minneapolis on July 24, 1959
BUBBA PHILLIPS
—Third baseman/outfielder hit .264 with five home runs and 40 RBI in 117 games for the 1959 White Sox
—Second on the 1959 Sox to Nellie Fox with 27 doubles and seven intentional walks
—Batted .300 (3-for-10 with a double) while hitting safely in each of his three games for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
—Singled and scored the run that would give the Sox the lead for good in their 4-2 pennant-clinching win at Cleveland on Sept. 22, 1959
BILLY PIERCE
–14-15 with a 3.62 ERA with 32 games (31 starts) for the 1959 White Sox
–Represented the White Sox at the 1959 All-Star Game at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh (did not play)
–Made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start (no decision) in the White Sox 9-7 win at Detroit on April 10, 1959
–Unscored upon three appearances covering four innings with three strikeouts for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
CLAUDE RAYMOND*
—0-0, 9.00 ERA in three games for the 1959 White Sox
—Fired two innings of relief and gave up two runs on April 15, 1959 vs. Kansas City
—Fanned Bob Grim for his first career strikeout in his big league debut on April 15, 1959 vs. Kansas City
JIM RIVERA
—Outfielder hit .220 with four homers and 14 RBI in 80 games for the 1959 White Sox
—At age 37, the New Yorker was the oldest position player on the 1959 Sox
—Started Games 1, 3 and 5 in right field in the World Series for the White Sox
—Squelched a Dodgers rally with a running catch to end the seventh in the White Sox 1-0 win in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series
JOHN ROMANO*
—Rookie catcher hit .294 with five homers and 25 RBI in 53 games for the 1959 White Sox
—Only Nellie Fox at .306 had a higher average with more at bats than Romano’s .294 for the 1959 Sox
—First career homer was a game-tying pinch blast on May 3, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Led the 1959 White Sox with three pinch-homers
—Tied Ron Northey’s 1956 club-record (since broken) with three pinch-homers for the 1959 White Sox
—Set Sox rookie record (since broken) with three pinch-homers in 1959
DON RUDOLPH
—Unscored upon with one save in four games covering 3.1 innings for the 1959 White Sox
—Retired the only man he faced to preserve the Sox 9-7 Opening Day win for his first save on April 10, 1959 at Detroit
—Threw more innings (3.0) without giving up a run than any member of the 1959
BOB SHAW
—18-6 with a 2.69 ERA in 47 games (26 starts) for the 1959 White Sox
—Led the American League with a .769 winning percentage for the 1959 White Sox
—Finished third in the Cy Young voting and 20th in the American League MVP voting for the 1959 Sox
—Tossed 7.1 shutout innings for the victory in the White Sox 1-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series before 92,706 at the LA Coliseum
HARRY SIMPSON
—Outfielder hit .187 with two homers and 13 RBI in 33 games for the 1959 White Sox
—Acquired from Kansas City for Ray Boone on May 3, 1959
—Last of his 73 homers was an eighth-inning go-ahead grand slam in the White Sox 5-4 win over the Yankees on June 27, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Traded with Robert Sagers to Pittsburgh for Ted Kluszewski on Aug. 25, 1959
LOU SKIZAS*
—Outfielder hit .077 in eight games for the 1959 White Sox
—Lone White Sox hit was a single off Whitey Ford in a 4-3 win over the Yankees on April 30, 1959
—Traded with Don Rudolph to the Cincinnati Reds for Del Ennis on May 1, 1959
AL SMITH
—Infielder-outfielder hit .237 with 17 homers and 55 RBI in 129 games for the 1959 White Sox
—Finished second to Sherm Lollar (22) with 17 home runs for the 1959 White Sox
—Hit .250 with three doubles and an RBI for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
—Tied with Nellie Fox for the White Sox lead with three doubles in the 1959 World Series
—2-for-4 with two doubles and a run in the White Sox 11-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series
GERRY STALEY
—8-5 with a 2.24 ERA and 15 saves in 67 games for the 1959 White Sox
—Led the American League with 67 appearances, 15 saves and 37 games finished for the 1959 White Sox
—Finished 20th in the American League MVP voting in the 1959 White Sox
—0-1 with a 2.16 ERA and one save in four appearances for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
—Unscored upon in five innings with one strikeout in two outings at Comiskey Park for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
JOE STANKA
—Right-hander was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two games for the 1959 White Sox
—Earned the win in his big league debut in the White Sox 11-4 victory at Detroit on Sept. 2, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Retired Gary Bell, Jimmy Piersall and Minnie Minoso in order in his final big league inning in the White Sox 6-5 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 5, 1959 at Comiskey Park
EARL TORGESON
—Veteran first baseman hit .220 with nine homers and 45 RBI for the 1959 White Sox
—White Sox regular first baseman in 1959 (103 games, 68 starts)
—Walked and scored a run in three games for the White Sox in the 1959 World Series
EARLY WYNN
—Right-hander was 22-9 with a 3.17 ERA in winning the Cy Young Award for the 1959 White Sox
—At age 39, he was the oldest member of the 1959 White Sox
—Led the A.L. with 22 wins, 37 starts and 255.2 innings for the 1959 White Sox
–Homered, tossed a one-hitter and fanned 14 for the victory in the White Sox 1-0 win over Boston on May 1, 1959 at Comiskey Park
—Started and threw seven shutout innings for the win in White Sox 11-0 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series at Comiskey Park
70 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Ivan Calderon, one of the most uniquely and oddly popular players in franchise history, is the only Sox player with exactly 70 home runs.
This time it counts!
This is the scoresheet I kept while working in the White Sox Department of Scoreboard Operations at the 2003 All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field.
I am posting this because on this date in 2003 Major League Baseball announced that the winning league in the annual All-Star Game will receive homefield advantage in that season’s World Series.
Owners unanimously approved the proposal after the 2002 All-Star Game ended in an embarrassing tie in Commissioner Bud Selig’s hometown of Milwaukee.
The 2003 All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field — the first hosted by the Sox since 1983 – was the first game played under these rules. The American League prevailed 7-6 behind MVP Garret Anderson and Hank Blalock.
I score every game I work. However, I only keep sheets from select games — playoffs and landmark tilts like the Buehrle perfect game or Thome’s 500th homer — and this was one of those games.
Some observations on this sheet …
*This card is way more kempt than my normal card. Usually, I am hurriedly sloppy with my scoring during a “mundane” game because I am doing 10,000 things at a time.
This was a game I had waited to work my whole life so I was going to do my best to document as cleanly as possible.
*I did not keep pitching lines because I did no stat work with pitchers during the game. During a “mundane” game, I don’t even list the pitchers. I just use “LHP” and “RHP” to update splits as the game goes on.
*I bounced back and forth between the rudimentary GO and FO and the more detailed 5-3 based on how busy I was during that particular inning.
*The only scrawls in the margin I can decipher is the attendance. I have no idea what the rest of my chicken scratching means!
Note: This is the latest in a series showcasing some of the memorabilia I have collected over the years.
71 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Win No. 71 of birthday boy Jack McDowell’s career came in Game No. 71 of the season for the 1993 White Sox.
In his Cy Young season, McDowell earned his 12th win as the Sox topped Seattle 7-4 before 43,559 at Comiskey Park on June 26, 1993.
In classic “Black Jack” fashion he battled and kept his team in the game long enough to get the win.
After giving up four runs on 10 hits in seven innings, the Sox put McDowell in position to win when Robin Ventura’s single scored Joey Cora with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning.
Scot Radinsky and Roberto Hernandez (who got the save) finished off the Mariners as the first-place Sox improved to 38-33.
72 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
This has got to be about the most famous 72 of them all, right? CARRRRRRLTON FISK, as the great Gene Honda used to say.
Here are some 72 nuggets on No. 72:
*Game No. 72 vs. the White Sox for Fisk came in the Red Sox 2-1 loss on April 30, 1980. “Pudge” was 2-for-2 with a homer in lifting his average to .347 as Richard Dotson and Ed Farmer got the best of Dennis Eckersley
*Fisk hit 72 home runs in July. 10 of those came in July of 1983 when he and the rest of the “Winning Ugly” White Sox were catching fire en route to the West title
*The 72nd inning Fisk caught for the Sox was the ninth inning in a 2-1 walkoff win over the Orioles before 10,715 at Comiskey Park. … Fisk crouched behind the plate as winning pitcher Ross Baumgarten retired Doug DeCinces, Rick Dempsey and Mark Belanger in order before Tony Bernazard drove in Rusty Kuntz in the bottom of the frame for the victory.
*Fisk went 2-for-5 with a run in his 72nd game with the White Sox and his 72nd career game at Comiskey Park on Sept. 6, 1981 (a 3-2 loss to Toronto at Comiskey Park)
*White Sox hit No. 72 for Fisk was the last of the 42 he would collect at the Twins’ Metropolitan Stadium (RBI single off of Doug Corbett on Sept. 11, 1981)
*White Sox home run No. 72 for Fisk was a solo shot in the fourth inning off the Yankees Joe Cowley in a 4-3 win at Comiskey Park on April 23, 1985
*Game No. 72 for Fisk at New Comiskey Park was his season debut in 1992 on June 9. … After recovering from injuries, Fisk went 0-for-3 in a 4-2 win over the Angels.
*Hit No. 72 for Fisk at New Comiskey Park was his last hit of the season at the venue — a single off the Indians Dennis Cook in a 2-1 loss on Sept. 13, 1992
“Calderon camps under it … and the White Sox have won the World Series!”
I love the 1990 White Sox.
Up until 2005, they were easily my favorite White Sox team.
Heck, some days — like today when I stumbled upon a relic from that season — the 1990 Sox are my favorite Sox team ever.
They were young, scrappy, energetic, surprising but most of all good.
So good that the Sox had to print postseason tickets (like the one pictured here) because manager Jeff Torborg’s team was in the hunt until late September.
The hated A’s won the West and the pennant but were swept by the Reds in the World Series.
Pictured is a bleacher ticket to Game 4 of the 1999 World Series.
In a perfect world, this would have been a ticket to the sweep-completing World Series clincher AND the final game at Comiskey Park.
How nuts would that have been?
Note: This is the latest in a series showcasing some of the memorabilia I have collected over the years.
73 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Chet Lemon is the only player in White Sox history with exactly 73 home runs.
Here are some Lemon drops on the homers he hit with the Sox … @soxnerd style:
*Lemon hit the 5,000th home run in Sox history on Sept. 2, 1981 off the Tigers Jerry Ujdur at Comiskey Park
*Lemon’s 450-foot blast on May 4, 1977 was the first home run to land in the fountains in Kansas City’s Kaufman Stadium in a 6-3 Sox win. … The Sox Matt Davidson celebrated the 40th anniversary of that homer with a 483-foot shot of his own into the drink.
*Lemon’s first homer was a two-run shot off Frank Tanana on May 17, 1976 that pulled the Sox to within 10-2 in a 10-5 loss to the Angels before 4,567 at Comiskey Park. … Bill Stein was on base in the eighth inning
*The homer was the first of a personal-best six he would club off Tanana
*Lemon hit 40 homers at Comiskey Park (tied with Jorge Orta for 18th all-time. … 37 of those dingers came with the Sox.
*Lemon’s first home run at Comiskey Park not in a Sox uniform was the only one hit by the Tigers in Jack Morris’ no-hitter on April 7, 1984 at Comiskey Park
*Lemon’s second career homer was his only game-starting shot. On July 15, 1976, leadoff man Lemon sent Jim Slaton’s second pitch into the seats in a 5-3 win over Milwaukee in 10 innings before 13,982 at Comiskey Park
*Lemon hit 71 of his Sox homers as a center fielder and two as a designated hitter.
*Lemon’s 19 homers were the fifth-highest output by a Sox centerfielder at the time (still ranks seventh)
*Lemon’s last Sox home run came on Oct. 2, 1981 off Pete Redfern in a 3-2 loss to the Twins at Comiskey Park
Oh the stories this brick could tell …
*Did Babe Ruth walk on you?
*Did Harold Baines blast a double off you?
*Did a Beatles song bounce off you?
*Did Ken Berry scale you?
RIP Comiskey Park. I miss you and think of you daily thanks to this brick which is proudly displayed in my living room.
*Note: This is the first in a series showcasing some of the memorabilia I have collected over the years.
74 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Jon Jay, recently acquired by the Sox, was the 74th overall pick in the June 2006 draft.
The Cardinals used a second round pick on the outfielder out of the University of Miami.
Jay made his big league debut on April 26, 2010 for the Cardinals. He was signed by the Sox on Jan. 10.
75 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Terry Forster, who gained fame or infamy as David Letterman’s “Fat Tub of Goo,” amassed 75 saves for the White Sox between 1971 and 1976.
Forster …
*set a Sox record (since broken) with 29 saves in 1972
*set a still-standing Sox record for lefties with 29 saves in 1972
*is the Sox all-time leader among lefties with 75 saves
*hit .480 in his 25 Sox at bats
*went 10-for-19 (.526) in 1972
76 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans.
Dave Nicholson (pictured) and Wayne Nordhagen are tied for 76th in Sox history with 37 home runs.
One of Nicholson’s homers was a roofer on May 6, 1964, which may have traveled 573-feet.
The prodigious shot is part of my blog on Comiskey Park roofers, which is one of the most popular pieces I have ever posted.
Here’s the link https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/notes-on-glorious-white-sox-roof-shot-homers/
77 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Opening Day No. 77 for the Sox was one of the most interesting in franchise history:
Consider …
*The White Sox 9-5 loss at Toronto on April 7, 1977 was the first American League game in Canada
*The game was played before 44,649 at Exhibition Stadium in absolutely brutal conditions. It snowed before the game prompting the Sox Jack Brohamer to don a pair of snowshoes, which made for a famous photo. The snow continued during the game as well. … Temperature at first pitch was 33 degrees.
*Harry Caray has the distinction of announcing the first Canadian game in both games. In addition to working the Sox at Jays tilt, Harry was behind the mike for the Cardinals for the Montreal Expos in April of 1969
*Richie Zisk ignited the Sox Southside Hitmen season with a homer in his first A.L. at bat
*Pete Vuckovich, plucked by the Jays from the Sox in the Expansion Draft, earned the save for Toronto
*The opened the door of Exhibition Stadium and closed the curtain on the place, too. On May 28, 1989, the Sox lost to the Jays 7-5 in the finale at Exhibition Stadium
The game:
78 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
White Sox Opening Day No. 78 featured the first Opening Day start in the career of Steve Stone.
The assignment was also the first time a right-handed pitcher started on Opening Day for the Sox since 1968. The next righty wouldn’t start until LaMarr Hoyt in 1983.
In the ’78 Opener, Stone got no decision (two earned runs in seven innings) min the Sox 6-5 walkoff win over Boston before 50,754 at Comiskey Park.
79 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
“Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Minnie Minoso — two icons of mythic proportions — are tied for sixth in White Sox history with 79 triples.
NOTE — I covered Jose Abreu, the White Sox No. 79, in last year’s countdown post:
https://soxnerd.wordpress.com/2018/01/09/countdown-to-white-sox-opening-day-79-days-2/
By the way, the Marlins’ Isaac Galloway joined Abreu as the only 79s in big league history to hit safely
80 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
There’s quite an eclectic gathering tied for 80th in home runs in White Sox history.
I mean, did you ever think Alejandro De Aza, Nellie Fox, Oscar Gamble, Ken Henderson and Chris Singleton would be mentioned in the same breath when it came to Sox history?
They are all logjammed at No. 80 with 35 homers.
Here’s a look at each players most significant Sox homer(s):
*ALEJANDRO DE AZA: On March 31, 2014, De Aza launched two homers in the White Sox 5-3 win over the Twins on Opening Day before 37,422 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Those roundtrippers made him the first Sox player to post a multi-homer game in a home opener since Tim Raines did it in 1994.
De Aza, Raines, Carlos May (1969) and Minnie Minoso (1960) are the only Sox players with a multi-homer game in home opener
*NELLIE FOX: On Opening Day 1959, Fox’s homer in the 14th was the difference in the Sox 9-7 win at Detroit.
The homer was one of 35 Fox would hit in his Hall of Fame career, one of two he would hit in 1959 and the third of four extra-inning shots he would have in his career.
*OSCAR GAMBLE: On Sept. 17, 1977, Gamble hit his 30th homer to set the club single-season record for lefties.
Gamble’s three-run homer off the Angels Dyar Miller allowed him to break the mark set by Eddie Robinson (the fifth-oldest living big leaguer at age 98) in 1951.
Gamble’s game-tying shot, one of 31 he would hit that season, came in a 4-3 loss at Comiskey Park.
*KEN HENDERSON: On Aug. 29, 1975, Henderson became the first player in Sox history to homer from both sides of the plate in a 4-2 win at Baltimore.
Henderson touched Wayne Garland and Ross Grimsley for solo shots for his seventh and eighth homers of the campaign.
https://www.mlb.com/video/singleton-hits-for-cycle/c-543432183
*CHRIS SINGLETON: On July 6, 1999, Singleton needed a home run for the cycle and he got it.
Singleton’s four-bagger in the seventh off Jeff Suppan made him the fourth player in Sox history and first rookie to hit for the cycle. He was also first Sox player to hit for the cycle at New Comiskey Park.
81 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
Win No. 81 of Mark Buehrle’s career was an eventful one and … ONE THAT THE @SOXNERD FAMILY WITNESSED.
On Aug. 1, 2005 the left-hander got the win but saw an impressive streak come to an end.
On an unbearably hot and humid day in Baltimore, Buehrle and the first-place Sox beat the Orioles 6-3 before 47,823 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Buehrle’s streak of going at least six innings was halted at 49 when he was inexplicably tossed without warning by plate ump Brian Gorman with two outs in the sixth.
The streak was the longest since Steve Carlton went 69 straight for the Phillies from 1979 to 1982.
Buehrle got the gate for the first time in his career after he plunked B.J. Surhoff with Sammy Sosa (THE TYING RUN) on first base.
The HBP was the latest in a series of plunkings in the four-game set.
Hawk Harrelson was not pleased.
“Oh, come on. What are you doing?” Hawk said on the telecast as reported in the next day’s Tribune. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What are you doing Brian Gorman? Are you nuts?
“Are you nuts? You have got to be. . . . “That is total BS.
“They drill [Tadahito] Iguchi last night … [A.J.] Pierzynski gets drilled . . . aw, I’ll tell you. That is absolutely BS from a veteran umpire.
“I’ll tell you. Some of these umpires have no clue, absolutely no clue. And evidently, he’s one of them. . . .
“The only guy who doesn’t know what’s going on is the guy behind the plate.
“That is so bad. For a veteran umpire . . . that’s so much BS, it’s unbelievable.
“(Buehrle’s 49-game streak of pitching through six innings) was ended by an inept call possibly by an inept umpire.”
By the way, Joe West was the third base ump that day. He would deliver Buehrle his second ejection five years later over a balk call in Cleveland.
Other highlights from that game …
*Prior to the game, the Orioles learned Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for steroids.
*Buehrle improved to 12-4.
*The win completed a four-game sweep, the Sox first in Baltimore since the Orioles moved there in 1954.
82 days to Opening Day, White Sox fans!
The 82nd 1-0 win in White Sox history was one of just two that featured a ninth-inning home run.
The heroes in those games were Eddie Collins and Daniel Palka.
On July 12, 1920 in Philadelphia, Collins broke up a scoreless duel with an inside-the-park home run to lead off the ninth.
The dinger (a vicious line drive to right, according to the next day’s game story in the Chicago Tribune) made a winner out of “Little” (also in the Tribune) Dickie Kerr, who threw six no-hit innings in the complete game effort.
The next time the Sox would win a 1-0 game on a homer in the ninth was courtesy of Palka on Aug. 10, 2018 vs. Cleveland.
On that Friday night a Guaranteed Rate Field, Palka’s leadoff blast off Cody Allen provided the Sox with one of their best wins of the season.
soxnerd 