This Day In Sox History...May 25

[Lip Man 1]

May 25, 1924 - In a game at Washington which the Sox won 10-9, future Hall of Famer Ray “Cracker” Schalk caught his 1,500^th career game. At the time of his retirement in 1929, Schalk had the third-most games caught all-time and second-most games caught in A.L. history.

 

May 25, 1952 - Sox pitchers Joe Dobson and Marv Grissom both fired complete game shutouts in beating the Tigers in a double header at Comiskey Park. The Sox won the games by the scores of 3-0 and 1-0. For the afternoon Detroit only had eight total hits. Grissom would later become the White Sox pitching coach under manager Eddie Stanky.

 

May 25, 1957 - Sox pitcher Dick Donovan hurled a one-hitter at Cleveland striking out four. Donovan allowed only a second inning double to right field from former Sox infielder Eddie Robinson in winning 4-0. He beat future teammate Early Wynn.

 

May 25, 1973 – It was the beginning of the end for what was expected to be a stellar season.

In the second inning of a game with the Indians, Sox outfielder Ken Henderson tore up his knee in a collision at home plate trying to slide through future Sox pitching coach Dave Duncan. The Sox at the time were 10 games over .500 at 24-14 with a two and a half game lead in the division.

This injury started a run that saw the Sox use the injured list 38 times in 1973.

Making matters worse, is that for some reason, the Sox refused to allow Henderson to have it operated on until September, meaning he was lost for the season, not that it would have made much difference considering all the other injuries that happened. The Sox would end 1973 with a record of 77-85. Remarkably he came back to play all 162 games in 1974 though and blasted 20 home runs with 95 RBI’s.