This Day In Sox History...May 24

[Lip Man 1]

May 24, 1929 - In one of the greatest pitching performances in the history of baseball, Sox starter Ted Lyons threw all 21 innings in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Tigers. He allowed 24 hits in the 21 innings and faced an incredible 85 hitters. His opponent that day, George Uhle, pitched 20 innings and faced 79 batters himself. Only five other hurlers have ever thrown more innings in a game than Lyons, none of those from the White Sox     

 

May 24, 1946 - Sox manager Jimmy Dykes was fired by the organization. Dykes was in charge for 12 years, 13 days, the longest tenure in franchise history. His White Sox record was 899-940. The 899 wins is the franchise’s most ever by a manager. He also was involved in a footnote that could have changed White Sox and baseball history.

In March 1938, the White Sox played a benefit exhibition against the Pasadena Sox, a group of young players from that California city. Holding forth on the local team was a 19-year-old black youth who made several brilliant plays. Dykes said, “Geez, if that kid was white, I’d sign him right now.” In March of 1942, Dykes allowed the phenom and another black baseball player, Nate Moreland, to try out for the White Sox. He sent them away without an offer. Perhaps he allowed the tryouts only to deflect racial criticism, since no Major League team had yet expressed any positive attitude toward integration. In any event, nothing came of it. How history might have changed if he had been able to offer a contract to that phenom, a lad named Jackie Robinson!

 

May 24, 1961 - For the first time since the 1950 season the Sox dropped into last place in the American League for a time after they lost a double header in Baltimore 5-3 and 6-4.

The plight of the Sox actually caused some Chicago aldermen in city council session to publicly ask what was going on. The Sox would rebound though to end the year in fourth place with 86 wins.

 

May 24, 1967 - Sox first baseman Tommy McCraw had his career day. In a game at Minnesota, McCraw slammed three home runs and knocked in eight RBI’s as the Sox pounded the Twins 14-1. On the day he went 3 for 6, with three runs scored. The eight RBI’s, tied a franchise record.

 

May 24, 1983 - The 1983 season turned around completely on this evening as the White Sox destroyed Boston and pitcher Doug Bird 12-4. Bird, who hadn’t lost a game in two years, was roughed up as the Sox blasted five home runs on the night. Greg Luzinski hit one of them which was his fifth shot in five games. It was the start of the drive that would lead, four months later, to the Western Division championship and 99 wins.

 

May 24, 2011 - Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin wrote his name in the franchise record book when he hit three home runs in a game against the Rangers. Quentin hit them before and after a rain/high wind delay of almost three hours which caused the game to end at 1:27AM local time. He went 3 for 5 on the night with five RBI’s in the Sox 8-6 win.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Lip Man 1

[DoUEvenShift]

May 24, 2005  -  The Houston Astros would give up 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th and lose 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs. Chad Qualls started the inning off with a double and walk before being replaced. The loss brought the Astros to 15 games under .500 at 15-30. 

They would get hot and from from June 7th with a record of 21-35 they would improve to 63-52 by Aug 12th. A winning clip higher than Tampa so far this season.

The Astros would finish the season 89-73-1 and make a deep postseason run beating the Braves and Cardinals (a 100 win team). In a 4 game sweep they would lose the World Series to the Sox including an iconic grand slam by Paul Konerko off the aforementioned Qualls in game 2. 

 

 

I'll keep drinking my Kool-Aid, but if they could turn their year around 15 under from today, the Sox can do it 9 under. We have lots of ball to play and some big guys coming back soon. 3-4 (or what should be) 4-4 in Detroit and I think we get a lot more people giving this team a shot after abandoning the season. 

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by DoUEvenShift