This Day In Sox History...June 15

[Lip Man 1]

June 15, 1950 – It was only the beginning for him. Sox pitcher Billy Pierce threw a one-hitter, the first of the four he had in his career. Pierce shut down the Yankees at Comiskey Park winning 5-0.

The only Yankee hit that afternoon, came off the bat of infielder Billy Johnson who singled to right in the fifth inning. Pierce would strike out seven for the afternoon. Two of the five Sox runs were unearned because of an error by Johnson. 

 

June 15, 1958 - Sox pitchers Jim Wilson and Dick Donovan both fired complete game shutouts in beating the Orioles in a double header at Baltimore. The Sox won 3-0 and 4-0.

Later that day the Sox acquired pitcher Bob Shaw as part of a four-player deal with Detroit. Shaw would come up big for the Sox during the 1959 pennant winning season going 18-6 with a 2.69 ERA.

Shaw began that season in the bullpen working with Sox pitching coach Ray Berres. After some refinements he was given a start in Boston where he shut out the Red Sox winning 5-0. After that he became a regular in the starting rotation and would cap off his year by winning a game in the World Series against the Dodgers at the Coliseum 1-0, with relief help, beating Sandy Koufax.

 

June 15, 1975 – It was a move made at the trading deadline that showed great foresight by Sox General Manager Roland Hemond. Hemond shipped pitcher Stan Bahnsen, who never recaptured the magic from 1972 to the A’s for pitcher Dave Hamilton and prospect Chet Lemon.

Hamilton would save 25 games including nine in 1977, win 16 more and never have an ERA above 3.61 Lemon would go on to a pair of All-Star Games representing the Sox and would become one of the best center fielders in baseball. Offensively he led the league with 44 doubles in 1979. In his six full years with the Sox Lemon would collect 278 extra base hits and drive in 347 RBI’s. His ability to cover ground, especially in spacious Comiskey Park, was unmatched in the league.

 

June 15, 1979 - With the Sox going nowhere G.M. Roland Hemond began looking towards the future. He traded third baseman Eric Soderholm to the Rangers for two players, one of whom was Chicago native Ed Farmer. Farmer would go on to make the All-Star team the next year, finish with 30 saves and become a top closer. In his three seasons with the club he’d save 54 games with 13 wins. His association with the Sox continued as a broadcaster in 1992 until his death in April 2020.

 

June 15, 1983 - Sox G.M. Roland Hemond swapped second basemen with the Mariners getting Julio “The Juice” Cruz for Tony Bernazard. Cruz energized the bottom half of the order, stole 24 bases, drove in 40 RBI’s and provided stellar defense to help the Sox go on a rampage and win the Western Division by a then record 20 games over second place Kansas City.     

       

June 15, 2004 - Sox slugger Carlos Lee established the team record when he got a hit in 28 straight games. It broke the old mark held by Luke Appling and Albert Belle. Lee ripped 45 hits in the streak (his uniform number), with 11 doubles and 22 RBI’s. Oddly though he only hit one home run!