9/12/1976 - And That's A White Sox Doubleheader Sweep!!

[South Side Hit Men]

Celebrating a great doubleheader sweep from 36 years ago in this off day, a Sunday in 1976. 

Game One featured a 2-1 White Sox win over the California Angels in 10 Innings.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA197609121.shtml

1. This game marked Minnie Minoso's 2,113rd and final hit as a major leaguer, a single to left that advanced Chet Lemon to second base. Chet Lemon knocked in Buddy Bell previously for the Sox' only run in regulation.
2. California's starter Sid Monge went into the tenth, where he led off the inning walking Jim Spencer. After Ralph Garr was inserted as a pinch runner, White Sox catcher Brian Downing ended the game with a double to the CF gap to score Ralph Garr.
3. White Sox starter Goose Goosage pitched the full ten innings, resulting in a complete game win, his final win as a member of the White Sox.
4. Despite going 10 innings, this game was completed in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The White Sox went on to sweep the Doubleheader 5-1 in the nightcap, which also knotted the series at 2 games each (California won the first two).

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA197609122.shtml

1. Francisco Barrios also went the distance, and also surrendered just one run to the Angels, on a bunt single by leadoff hitter Dave Collins, plating Mario Guerrero who led off the top of the 3rd with a double.
2. The White Sox tied it on an RBI triple by Chet Lemon in the bottom of the 4th to score Bill Stein, who led off the inning with a single.
3. The White Sox would add two more runs the following inning, on back to back RBI triples by Jim Spencer and Jorge Orta. Pretty rare, wonder if that happened again for the Sox (or any team).
4. The White Sox wrapped up their scoring with two RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh, off the bats of Alan Bannister and Jorge Orta.
5. The game finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes. The doubleheader was played in front of a reported attendance of 11,919.

With the sweep, the White Sox closed the gap between them and California to just 3 1/2 games. However, these two teams went in opposite directions after this date, with California finishing the season 11-7 to finish in a fifth place tie with the Texas Rangers (76-86). Meanwhile, the White Sox closed out the season 3-15 to finish in last in the AL West with a 64-97 record. 

Glad Sox fans, Minnie Minoso and Rick Gossage had one final Hurrah! before closing out the season.

[WBWSF]

The 1976 season was just awful.  Even White Sox manager Paul Richards dumped on that team at the end of the season.

[pcq]

Bill Veeck came back and made a bunch of wonderful trades. His wife came up with the pajama unis. 

[The Grinder]

It was actually 46 yrs but thanks for the jog down memory lane!

[South Side Hit Men]

43 minutes ago, pcq said:

Bill Veeck came back and made a bunch of wonderful trades. His wife came up with the pajama unis. 

Well he came in already into the offseason, but made a bunch of moves to make the following season one of the most memorable in White Sox history. He also made going to the ballpark a great experience for fans.

[The Mighty Mite]

That 76 Sox team IIRC at one point won 10 games in a row early in the year, we could sure use a 10 game winning streak right now.

Edited September 12, 2022 by The Mighty Mite

[DoUEvenShift]

On the same day the Cleveland Indians lost in a blowout 11-3 to the Boston Red Sox. 

Carlton Fisk with a homer, triple, walk, and stolen base.