This Day In Sox History...April 24

Lip Man 1 · April 24, 2023

April 24, 1901 - The White Sox played their first regular season game as part of the officially recognized American League. In fact, it was the first game ever played in the league overall. They beat the Cleveland Blues 8-2. Outfielder William “Dummy” Hoy got the first White Sox at bat. Fred Hartman’s hit scored the first two runs for the Sox in American League history.

Hoy was a deaf-mute and in order for him to understand what the umpires were calling; the arbitrators came up with a series of hand signals indicating safe/out/ball/strike.

The ceremonial first ball by the way, was supposed to be thrown out by Robert Burke, special counsel to the mayor. He declined however, stating that he was afraid the ball might get hit back to him. (True story!) Hoyt by the way, actually preferred being called “Dummy” instead of his first name.

April 24, 1955 - In a game at Kansas City, Sox starter Dick Donovan was hit early and often and when manager Marty Marion came out to take the ball from him, Donovan, showing his competitive spirit and concerned about a possible return trip to the minors, refused to give it to him!

Marion had to reassure Dick that he’d stay a part of the rotation before Donovan would turn the ball over and leave the field. That season he’d win 13 of 17 decisions with an ERA of 2.70 before an emergency appendectomy felled him in late July. That injury may have cost the Sox the pennant as Donovan wasn’t the same after the surgery. The Sox finished in third place, five games behind the Yankees at 91-63-1.