Lip Man 1

August 22, 1923 - In a game at Comiskey Park, Sox pitcher Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston struck out the side on only nine pitches versus the Philadelphia Athletics. It came in the 12th inning. He retired the A’s Frank “Beauty” McGowan, Clarence “Chick” Galloway and Sam Hale. Thurston however, who came on in relief starting in the 11th inning, got the loss in the game, 3-2 which went 13 innings. Striking out three hitters on only nine pitches is called an “Immaculate Inning.” August 22, 1968 - In Detroit, White Sox pitcher Tommy John was attacked by the Tigers Dick McAuliffe. McAuliffe, who made the final out in Joe Horlen’s no-hitter in 1967, walked in the third inning then attacked John while going down the baseline. John knocked him down with an inside pitch for ball four just moments before. As the benches cleared McAuliffe and John wrestled on the mound, during it McAuliffe’s knee struck John’s shoulder damaging it so badly that he went on the disabled list and was lost for the year. He was 10-5 with an ERA of 1.98 at the time he was hurt. McAuliffe was suspended for only five games. August 22, 1980 - Sox owner Bill Veeck agreed to sell the team to Edward DeBartolo Sr., a multi-millionaire who invented the modern-day shopping mall in Ohio. DeBartolo though was voted down by the other league owners due to speculation about his possible association with mobsters and his acknowledged horse racing interests. The way was then opened for Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn to purchase the team. Einhorn was part of a group originally trying to buy the San Diego Padres and Reinsdorf was part of a group attempting to own the New York Mets. DeBartolo meanwhile eventually bought the San Francisco 49’ers, let his son run the franchise and promptly won multiple Super Bowls. August 22, 2020 – It seemed like every day during the pandemic influenced season something record setting was happening for the White Sox. On this date against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jose Abreu wrote his name in the record books by homering in three straight at-bats, driving in four runs in the 7-4 win. On the night he went 4 for 4 with three runs scored. Abreu had already homered twice in the Friday night win and added a solo shot on Sunday afternoon giving him six round trippers in the three-game set, the first time a Sox player had ever done that. And his home run Sunday came in his first at-bat giving him four in a row over those two days. He became the 15th player in team history to homer three times or more in a single game. August 22, 2023 – After a failed rebuild that saw the team win only two playoff games total in two appearances and with attendance and fan interest falling off a cliff. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf fired Executive Vice President Ken Williams and G.M. Rick Hahn. Reinsdorf who was very loath to make serious changes and was loyal to a fault, appeared to have no choice as the team, which was expected to contend for multiple championship became one of the worst clubs in baseball. Williams was in his 11th season as Executive Vice President with the Sox after serving as the club’s General Manager for 12 seasons. The Sox won the 2005 World Series under his guidance as G.M. Hahn served as the General Manager for the past 11 seasons, leading the Sox to consecutive postseason appearances in 2020 as a wild card and 2021 as A.L. Central champions but those were the only two winning seasons the franchise had under his guidance.

Heard back from a source who actually had dinner with JR last Wednesday along with people in the front office. JR likes to have everyone get together 2 or 3 times a year I was told. The stadium issue never came up during the dinner...all that was discussed were the internal interviews JR is doing. Am trying to find out what was said along those lines. And this from The Athletic today perfectly sums up this organization: "You can say a lot about the White Sox — they’re chronically mismanaged, consistently tone-deaf, frustratingly run, mostly oblivious to reality — but don’t ever say they lack devastating comedic timing. Hours after a story broke about the organization grasping for leverage for a new stadium, the actual team immediately fell behind by five runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 14-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners."

As I wrote in my State of the Sox story from November things along the lines of infighting and back stabbing from front office employees vying for the title of "president," his wife passing away last year, his close friend (almost like a son) Kenny Williams going to retire soon and possibly health issues. Like I wrote if he's willing to take a 200 million dollar (estimated) tax hit just from capital gains to say nothing of the Illinois state tax, something must really be wrong...because he's not losing money.

Given the fact that JR does not own the stadium or the land that it is on, I'd be stunned if they got 3 billion when the perception (even according to Forbes) is that the club is "only" worth 2 billion. A bidding war is always possible although they'd have a better chance of that happening if they weren't so dismal since the start of the 2007 season.

Interesting postgame quote from Grifol to Merkin after tonight's farce: “You're gonna have to go in there and ask them,” said Grifol on why the hitters did not adjust. “It's a good fastball, don't get me wrong. It moves and he commands it and he's good at what he does. But that's a better question for them.”

Buehrle/Wood brings up a very good point when talking about the TV market size. I agree with him Nashville isn't a threat, it, like Tampa, is going to be used by a bargaining tool by JR (if he is still around)

55 runs allowed in the last four games, that may be some sort of team record.

"The possibility of moving is serious enough, according to Crain’s, that a Chicago developer is preparing a bid." https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/8/21/23840794/white-sox-considering-move-from-guaranteed-rate-field-report

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/white-sox-exploring-new-stadium-options

https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/08/21/report-white-sox-may-be-pondering-a-move-out-of-chicago/ A good look at the situation and his bet is they aren't going anywhere out of Chicago but may be trying to get a new stadium or more likely this is to try to entice buyers. If JR does really want to sell and take that massive tax hit, things must be worse than we are being led to believe.

Folks: Relax...this is all a moot point (or a moo point, the point of view of a cow as Joey said on "Friends...")\ JR won't be around in six years.

Given JR's age change could be coming tomorrow or next week...you never know.

I have the radio broadcast of that 9th inning and Harry Caray said Bahnsen just stood on the mound with his hands on his hips and then Ed Herrmann came out to talk to him. From my interview with Stan: ML: Then on August 21, 1973 at Cleveland you came within a few feet of a no-hitter. I have the audio of the last of the 9th inning and I’d like to know what goes through a pitchers mind when he in the process of doing this, then what were you feeling when you lost out on it. (Author’s Note: The Sox won the game 4-0 but Bahnsen lost the no-hitter when with two out, ex-White Sox outfielder Walt Williams rolled a ground ball just to the left of Bill Melton on a 2-1 count.) SB: “Well I knew what was happening, that they hadn’t gotten any hits off me. That night I was warming up in the bullpen and just wasn’t feeling good, my stuff wasn’t working and I remember thinking ‘oh, no…’ because Cleveland had knocked me out the week before in Chicago. But when the game started it was one of those nights where if I’d miss on a pitch, they’d pop it up or hit it right at somebody.” “In the 9th inning, I knew that Bill (Melton) wanted to play in on the grass in case Walt Williams was going to try to bunt for a hit. I threw a breaking ball and he got on top of it and I thought I had it. He hit a two bouncer that I was sure Bill was going to get to but with him playing in, it got past him. I really wanted it, and naturally I was disappointed when it didn’t happen.” “A few years ago I saw Walt at a BAT convention and he told me something I didn’t know, that when he got to his car after the game, the fans had trashed it! They dumped garbage on it and everything. I guess they wanted to see me get the no-hitter too.”

I'd love to be a fly on the wall and listen to the "interview" between JR and Hahn. Considering McGuffy continues to say that Hahn wasn't allowed to finish the rebuild job, that he wanted to sign a few guys to nine figure deals...I mean what/how is he supposed to tell his boss (assuming what McGuffy says is true) 'YOU were the one who screwed this rebuild up!' ?

August 21, 1926 - Ted Lyons fired a no-hitter in beating Boston 6-0 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox would only get two baserunners in the game, one came on a walk and the other on an error by shortstop Bill Hunnefield who fumbled a ground ball and then threw high to first base. Lyons, a future Hall of Famer, would win 260 games in a 21-year career, all with the Sox. His number #16 would be retired by the club in 1987. August 21, 1959 – It was Nellie Fox night at Comiskey Park. In the midst of a pennant race the Sox honored their second baseman and future Hall of Famer. Fox was given a new boat, shotgun and other presents and teared up when he spoke to the home crowd. He’d go on to become the American League’s M.V.P. that season hitting .306 with 70 RBI’s. On this night he went 0-3 with a run scored in the 5-4 win over Washington before almost 38-thousand fans. August 21, 1973 - Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Cleveland. After getting the first two outs, former Sox outfielder Walt Williams got a ground single to left past third baseman Bill Melton. Melton inexplicably, was playing in, anticipating a possible bunt from Williams who later said under no circumstances would he try to break up a no-hitter by bunting late in the game. Stan then got the final out finishing with a one-hitter, striking out four, in the 4-0 win. August 21, 2005 - The Sox tied the club record by hitting four home runs in a single inning. It happened off the Yankees Randy Johnson in a 6-2 win at U.S. Cellular Field. The four who went deep were Tadahito Iguchi, Aaron Rowand, Paul Konerko and Chris Widger. The home runs came in the fourth inning. Iguchi, Rowand and Konerko went back-to-back-to-back.

Actually then Mayor Harold Washington insisted that the only place he'd agree to as far as city money and help for the project would be right next to the original Comiskey Park. He also had members on the stadium board that would do as he demanded regarding any votes in the matter. Dr. Fletcher's next book on the 1990 team and the new stadium comes out next year, I'm a contributor to it and have already seen the historical research that Dr. Fletcher and John Owens have done regarding the stadium and Washington's insistence on where the stadium was to be built is clear.

Didn't see this posted, this is the second time this season the kid is going to miss time with an arm-type issue: "The Sox put left-hander Noah Schultz, their first-round draft choice in 2022, on the injured list with a shoulder impingement after he was scratched from his start Sunday at Class A Kannapolis. Schultz has a 1.33 ERA with 38 strikeouts and six walks in 27 innings."

That was always Jay Mariott's contention. And in fact the owners removed JR from the committee that advised the commissioner on labor issues over it.

Brooks specifically said if one of the kids or dad happens to hit a line drive that nails another kid, the bat day promotion explains itself with the way people react to things today as in some drunk decides to get involved with someone and said person takes a bat to their head and regarding former players (old-timers) if there is a serious injury or a heart attack that results in a lawsuit.

Hooray the Sox won a game. That's all I got and that's all they deserve.

If he's having a good year he could be traded at the deadline. The Sox won't be doing anything so they may as well try to get something for him.

One classic example came in 2000 when he showed up in the locker room in Minnesota after the Sox clinched and he said, 'I'm sure all Sox fans are now glad we made the White Flag Trade...' And then of course this on national TV the night the Sox clinched in 1983: "Harry and Jimmy wherever you are, eat your hearts out. I hope people realize what scum you are..."

Just wondering since the guy supposedly conducting the interviews is a BIG part of the incompetence and dysfunction, can JR fire himself??????????? ?

Unfortunately from what Brooks told me when I interviewed him past promotions like Old Timers Day, Bat Day and Fathers vs. Sons & Daughters are no longer being held because of insurance risks.

August 20, 1915 - The White Sox purchased the contract of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson from the Cleveland Indians for $31,500 dollars and three journeyman players. Jackson even with the “Black Sox” scandal is still considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. “Babe” Ruth said he modeled his swing after Jackson’s and Ty Cobb said Jackson was the best hitter he ever saw. Joe hit .356 for his career in the Major Leagues. August 20, 1928 - Sox rookie Art “The Great” Shires made a sensational debut with four hits against the Red Sox in a 6-4 win. His first at-bat was a triple then he added three singles. He’s one of only 11 players to ever get four or more hits in their first big league game. “The Great” nickname by the way was self-given! August 20, 1929 - The Sox honored pitcher Urban “Red” Faber with a day at Comiskey Park. The Hall of Famer won 254 games, all with the Sox and had four seasons of 20 or more wins. On this day he threw 11 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Yankees. Before the game he was given a check for $2,700 dollars, a Majestic radio, a diamond ring and several baskets of flowers. August 20, 1948 - The Sox played before the largest regular season crowd in franchise history as they faced the Indians on a Friday night in Cleveland. An amazing 78,382 were on hand to see the Tribe edge the Sox 1-0 at Cleveland Stadium. The winning pitcher that night for the Indians was none other than Leroy “Satchel” Paige who only gave the Sox three hits. August 20, 1957 - Pitcher Bob Keegen tossed the first night no-hitter in Sox history as he blanked Washington 6-0 at Comiskey Park. It was the second game of a double header. He’d walk two Senators and only faced 28 men in a game that lasted only 1:55. Only one ball was really hard hit and that came in the first inning when outfielder Larry Doby made a backhand catch of a drive by Herb Plews. Keegen also drove in the last run of the night for the Sox with an RBI single. At 37 he became the oldest Sox pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter. Keegen would go 10-8 on the season that saw the Sox win 90 games and finish in second place. August 20, 1989 - After Sox star Harold Baines was traded to Texas on July 29, the team retired his uniform number #3 when the Rangers came to Chicago. He was only the third active player to have his uniform number retired by a club, joining Frank Robinson and Phil Niekro.