This Day In Sox History...May 6

[Lip Man 1]

May 6, 1903 - The White Sox were charged with 12 errors in a game in Chicago vs. Detroit.

While that’s a big story in itself, it’s not the most remarkable item to come out of this game.

That’s the fact that the Sox won the game 10-9 scoring three runs in the ninth inning! Pat “Cozy” Dolan had an error, Frank Isbell made three, Lee Tannehill had four and Pat “Patsy” Flaherty had three. 

 

May 6, 1963 - Making an emergency start in Kansas City, Sox pitcher Gary Peters hit the first of his 19 career home runs, 15 came as a member of the White Sox. It came in the third inning off Ted Bowsfield. Peters would toss eight innings allowing one run in the Sox 5-1 win.

It was the first win in 1963 for Gary, who’d go on to collect 19 of them and win Co-Rookie of the Year honors with teammate Pete Ward. Peters had 189 strike outs to go along with a 2.33 ERA.

Peters was told that he would be starting this game on the airplane flying into Kansas City by Sox pitching coach Ray Berres after scheduled starter Juan Pizarro got sick with a case of the flu.

 

May 6, 1964 - Dave Nicholson hit what may have been the longest home run in MLB history. On this night in the fifth inning, in the first game of a twin bill versus the A’s, Nicholson blasted a shot off future Sox pitcher Moe Drabowsky that went over the roof and was found across the street in Armour Square.

Some Sox fans claimed they heard the ball hit the top of the roof but White Sox officials said when they found the ball it had no signs of tar on it nor was it scuffed. Long time Chicago baseball reporter Jerome Holtzman was at the game and claimed he saw the ball bounce back up after hitting the roof and then go back out of sight. Nicholson’s shot went over the roof around the 375-foot sign in left center field. It was found 135 feet from the base of the wall. Plus, you have to add in the elevation needed to get the ball over the roof, approximately 70 feet. Hitting a ball on to the roof or over it required a ground-to-ground distance of at least 474 feet. Unofficial estimates place the drive as traveling 573 feet eclipsing Mickey Mantle’s shot at Griffith Stadium in Washington in 1956. That shot went an unofficial 565 feet.

For the night Dave would hammer three home runs and drive in five RBI’s in the twin bill as the Sox swept both games, 6-4 and 11-4.

The post script to the story is that a few months later on July 12 in Kansas City the next time Drabowski faced Nicholson he hit him in the forehead with a fastball that opened a gash which required stiches.

[South Side Fireworks Man]

@Lip Man 1 Always enjoy these posts.  Thanks for posting these.

[Lip Man 1]

54 minutes ago, South Side Fireworks Man said:

@Lip Man 1 Always enjoy these posts.  Thanks for posting these.

You are welcome.

[The Kids Can Play]

5 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

May 6, 1903 - The White Sox were charged with 12 errors in a game in Chicago vs. Detroit.

While that’s a big story in itself, it’s not the most remarkable item to come out of this game.

That’s the fact that the Sox won the game 10-9 scoring three runs in the ninth inning! Pat “Cozy” Dolan had an error, Frank Isbell made three, Lee Tannehill had four and Pat “Patsy” Flaherty had three. 

 

May 6, 1963 - Making an emergency start in Kansas City, Sox pitcher Gary Peters hit the first of his 19 career home runs, 15 came as a member of the White Sox. It came in the third inning off Ted Bowsfield. Peters would toss eight innings allowing one run in the Sox 5-1 win.

It was the first win in 1963 for Gary, who’d go on to collect 19 of them and win Co-Rookie of the Year honors with teammate Pete Ward. Peters had 189 strike outs to go along with a 2.33 ERA.

Peters was told that he would be starting this game on the airplane flying into Kansas City by Sox pitching coach Ray Berres after scheduled starter Juan Pizarro got sick with a case of the flu.

 

May 6, 1964 - Dave Nicholson hit what may have been the longest home run in MLB history. On this night in the fifth inning, in the first game of a twin bill versus the A’s, Nicholson blasted a shot off future Sox pitcher Moe Drabowsky that went over the roof and was found across the street in Armour Square.

Some Sox fans claimed they heard the ball hit the top of the roof but White Sox officials said when they found the ball it had no signs of tar on it nor was it scuffed. Long time Chicago baseball reporter Jerome Holtzman was at the game and claimed he saw the ball bounce back up after hitting the roof and then go back out of sight. Nicholson’s shot went over the roof around the 375-foot sign in left center field. It was found 135 feet from the base of the wall. Plus, you have to add in the elevation needed to get the ball over the roof, approximately 70 feet. Hitting a ball on to the roof or over it required a ground-to-ground distance of at least 474 feet. Unofficial estimates place the drive as traveling 573 feet eclipsing Mickey Mantle’s shot at Griffith Stadium in Washington in 1956. That shot went an unofficial 565 feet.

For the night Dave would hammer three home runs and drive in five RBI’s in the twin bill as the Sox swept both games, 6-4 and 11-4.

The post script to the story is that a few months later on July 12 in Kansas City the next time Drabowski faced Nicholson he hit him in the forehead with a fastball that opened a gash which required stiches.

- It is sad there is not a video of that historic home run hit by Dave Nicholson.