This Day In Sox History...July 14

[Lip Man 1]

July 14, 1915 - In a 6-4 win over the Athletics at Comiskey Park, pitcher Urban “Red” Faber stole second, third and home in the contest. He’s one of only three Sox players to ever do this and the only pitcher to pull it off.

The circumstances surrounding Faber’s steals was strange in itself. Heavy rain was interrupting the game and in the fourth inning the A’s were stalling trying to force the game to be rained out already losing 4-2. Faber stole his bases uncontested as the Athletics didn’t even try to throw him out!  Even stranger, the next Sox hitter Harry “Nemo” Leibold struck out even though Philadelphia pitcher “Bullet” Joe Bush kept trying to hit him!

 

July 14, 1953 - Sox pitcher Billy Pierce, perhaps the greatest lefty in franchise history, started the All-Star Game in Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. Billy threw three innings allowing only one hit. He got no decision in the N.L.’s 5-1 win. Joining Billy in Cincinnati were teammates “Chico” Carrasquel (SS), Nellie Fox (2B), Ferris “Burrhead” Fain (1B) and “Minnie” Minoso (OF). Carrasquel also started the contest.

 

July 14, 1979 - It’s hard to believe given his reputation for sleepwalking and indifference, but Sox outfielder Claudell Washington actually had a good game from time to time. Washington hit three home runs against the Tigers in the Sox 12-4 win. He went 3 for 5 with five RBI’s. His home runs came in the third, seventh and eighth innings, part of the Sox six home runs in the game.

 

July 14, 1991- It was almost a no-hitter with an unusual twist. Sox starter Jack McDowell opened the game at Milwaukee by allowing a leadoff home run by Paul Molitor. It would be the only safety on the day for the Brewers, as Jack recorded the next 27 outs without allowing a hit. McDowell allowed only one walk and a base runner via error the rest of the afternoon in the Sox 15-1 laugher. Warren “the Deacon” Newson had four RBI’s with Robin Ventura adding three.

 

July 14, 2000 - Frank Thomas broke Luke Appling’s team record for most RBI’s when he drove in his 1,117^th. It came at home in a 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.

This was also the same game where Cal Eldred left in the fifth inning with soreness in his forearm/elbow which would require surgery.

In the midst of a tremendous first half of the season with seemingly all the pieces in place for a run to a championship, Eldred’s injury, coupled with the loss for a long period of time, of starter James Baldwin, forced the Sox remaining pitchers into a heavier work load which caused a rash of bad arms.

Two other starting pitchers, Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque basically saw their careers ended by arm injuries suffered later in the same season and had the Sox somehow got past Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs it would have been interesting to see who manager Jerry Manuel would turn to for the next series.

[The Grinder]

57 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

July 14, 1915 - In a 6-4 win over the Athletics at Comiskey Park, pitcher Urban “Red” Faber stole second, third and home in the contest. He’s one of only three Sox players to ever do this and the only pitcher to pull it off.

The circumstances surrounding Faber’s steals was strange in itself. Heavy rain was interrupting the game and in the fourth inning the A’s were stalling trying to force the game to be rained out already losing 4-2. Faber stole his bases uncontested as the Athletics didn’t even try to throw him out!  Even stranger, the next Sox hitter Harry “Nemo” Leibold struck out even though Philadelphia pitcher “Bullet” Joe Bush kept trying to hit him!

 

July 14, 1953 - Sox pitcher Billy Pierce, perhaps the greatest lefty in franchise history, started the All-Star Game in Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. Billy threw three innings allowing only one hit. He got no decision in the N.L.’s 5-1 win. Joining Billy in Cincinnati were teammates “Chico” Carrasquel (SS), Nellie Fox (2B), Ferris “Burrhead” Fain (1B) and “Minnie” Minoso (OF). Carrasquel also started the contest.

 

July 14, 1979 - It’s hard to believe given his reputation for sleepwalking and indifference, but Sox outfielder Claudell Washington actually had a good game from time to time. Washington hit three home runs against the Tigers in the Sox 12-4 win. He went 3 for 5 with five RBI’s. His home runs came in the third, seventh and eighth innings, part of the Sox six home runs in the game.

 

July 14, 1991- It was almost a no-hitter with an unusual twist. Sox starter Jack McDowell opened the game at Milwaukee by allowing a leadoff home run by Paul Molitor. It would be the only safety on the day for the Brewers, as Jack recorded the next 27 outs without allowing a hit. McDowell allowed only one walk and a base runner via error the rest of the afternoon in the Sox 15-1 laugher. Warren “the Deacon” Newson had four RBI’s with Robin Ventura adding three.

 

July 14, 2000 - Frank Thomas broke Luke Appling’s team record for most RBI’s when he drove in his 1,117^th. It came at home in a 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.

This was also the same game where Cal Eldred left in the fifth inning with soreness in his forearm/elbow which would require surgery.

In the midst of a tremendous first half of the season with seemingly all the pieces in place for a run to a championship, Eldred’s injury, coupled with the loss for a long period of time, of starter James Baldwin, forced the Sox remaining pitchers into a heavier work load which caused a rash of bad arms.

Two other starting pitchers, Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque basically saw their careers ended by arm injuries suffered later in the same season and had the Sox somehow got past Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs it would have been interesting to see who manager Jerry Manuel would turn to for the next series.

And I thought the cubs were cursed, we have them beat