This Day In Sox History...June 13

[Lip Man 1]

June 13, 1946 - He set records that will never be broken including winning an incredible 40 games in 1908 and on this day Ed Walsh, White Sox star pitcher was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Walsh played all but four games in his 14-year career with the Sox leading the A.L. in various categories between 1904 and 1912 including games played, games started, complete games, shut outs, games finished, saves, innings pitched, strikes outs and wins.

In his miraculous 1908 season Walsh in addition to the 40 wins, threw 464 innings with an ERA of 1.41. He had a great fastball as well as a mean spitball (which was a legal pitch at the time.)

 

June 13, 1957 - The Sox and Yankees hooked up in perhaps the greatest ‘base-brawl’ in history.

In the first inning at Comiskey Park, New York’s Art Ditmar threw a pitch at the head of the Sox Larry Doby. As the pitch rolled to the wall, Ditmar ran to cover home. Doby warned Ditmar about the pitch, and then threw a left hook which dropped him. The fight appeared to have racial overtones and lasted a full 30 minutes. Chicago native and future Sox player Bill "Moose" Skowron jumped on Doby which brought Walt Dropo into the fray.

Dropo was 6-5, 220 pounds, and a monster for his time. At various times, “Whitey” Ford, Casey Stengel, "Jungle" Jim Rivera and Enos "Country" Slaughter were in the middle of it. Slaughter’s jersey and undershirt were ripped to pieces and his hat was backwards in one of the most famous photographs of the 1950's. After things settled down Billy Martin rushed into things and started in on Doby. Five players were ejected and fined for the melee. New York won the game 4-3.

June 13, 1978 - It was one of the greatest comebacks by any team in franchise history. After trailing Cleveland 9-0 going into the bottom of the third inning, the Sox wound up winning the game 10-9! They scored six runs in the third, four runs in the fourth inning and hung on to win. They scored 10 runs without benefit of a home run. Wayne Nordhagen led the way with three RBI’s. Rich Hinton went over six innings in relief allowing only a run on five hits to get the win.

 

June 13, 1997 - Interleague play began with the Sox in Cincinnati. Ray Durham inaugurated it with a leadoff home run. The Sox would beat the Reds 3-1 behind the pitching of Wilson Alvarez and Roberto Hernandez. All three Sox runs scored on home runs by Durham and Albert Belle.