This Day In Sox History...July 12

[Lip Man 1]

July 12, 1919 - On this day Babe Ruth slugged his first ever Comiskey Park home run. It took place while he was a member of the Red Sox, coming in the third inning off Dave Danforth with two men on base. Boston would rout the White Sox 12-4.

 

July 12, 1951 - Sox starter Saul Rogovin threw 17 innings against the Red Sox in the second game of a double header at Comiskey Park. He struck out nine and faced 63 hitters, but Boston won 5-4 sweeping the two games in front of over 52 thousand fans at Comiskey Park. The Red Sox won the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 17^th inning.

 

July 12, 1955 - It was déjà vu all over again for Billy Pierce. The Sox star left hander got the nod to start his second All-Star Game. This time it was in Milwaukee and just like in the 1953 game, he went three innings, allowing one hit and got no decision in the N.L.’s 6-5 win in 12 innings. Billy was joined on the team by Nellie Fox (2B), “Chico” Carrasquel (SS), Sherm Lollar (C) and Dick Donovan (P)

      

July 12, 1979 - On this night, between games of a double header with the Tigers, the infamous “Disco Demolition" was staged. Fans rioted after DJ Steve Dahl blew up a load of disco records. The second game was forfeited to Detroit because of unplayable field conditions.

The idea to stage the event came from Mike Veeck, Bill’s son who worked for the Sox at the time. No one expected the amount of people who came to the game that night and security which was in place had to leave the park itself to help outside of it because things were getting out of hand in the area of the ticket booths. Fans noticed that and began storming the playing surface.

White Sox players and coaches were locked and barricaded in their locker room after the situation got completely out of control. 

Among those in the stands that night for the game were future White Sox relief pitcher Donn Pall and future actor Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, Armageddon)

 

July 12, 1990 - Sox starter Melido Perez threw a rain shortened no-hitter against the Yankees in New York. The Sox won 8-0 with the game called after six innings.

Later baseball removed it, and all other shortened no-hitters from the official record book because it didn’t go the full nine innings. The Yanks starter that night? Andy Hawkins...the same guy who threw a no-hitter against the Sox 11 days earlier but lost 4-0. Like Perez his no-hitter was removed because it only lasted eight innings since the White Sox had the lead.

 

July 12, 2005 - The Sox Mark Buehrle got the nod to start the All-Star Game in Detroit and he also got the win as the A.L. held off the N.L. 7-5.

Buehrle’s win continued an interesting pattern in Sox All-Star history. When a Sox pitcher won the game, the Sox usually made the post season. Examples? Buehrle in 2005, James Baldwin in 2000 and Jack McDowell in 1993.

Buehrle was joined on the team by Paul Konerko (1B), Scott Podsednik (OF) and Jon Garland (P). Mark threw two innings with three strikeouts. Garland also threw a scoreless inning.

 

July 12, 2016 – The White Sox Chris Sale started the All-Star Game in San Diego for the American League. Sale joined Billy Pierce (three times), Early Wynn, Esteban Loaiza and Mark Buehrle as Sox pitchers to have been given that honor. Sale also joined Pierce as the only White Sox pitchers to ever be named to five consecutive All-Star teams.

Sale pitched one inning, allowing a run, facing four batters with one strikeout. He didn’t get a decision in the 4-2 A.L. win.

He was joined on the team by fellow Sox pitcher Jose Quintana who pitched a scoreless inning himself.

 

July 12, 2022 – In the second game of a double header in Cleveland Sox pitcher Dylan Cease set the franchise record with his ninth consecutive start allowing one or fewer earned runs. He pitched into the sixth inning striking out nine in the Sox 7-0 win.

The previous record of eight straight games was held by Tommy John who did it in 1968 and Jim Kaat who did it in two seasons starting in 1974 continuing into 1975.