This Day In Sox History...August 31

[Lip Man 1]

August 31, 1926 - In a twin bill at Detroit, Sox infielder Ray Morehart cranked out nine hits in 10 at bats! Morehart went 5 for 6 in the opening game, and then capped it off with a 4 for 4 performance in the nightcap. Two of his nine hits were doubles. The Sox would gain a split on the day.

 

August 31, 1935 – It was the highlight of his career. Sox rookie pitcher Vern Kennedy threw a no-hitter against the Indians. It took place in Comiskey Park. The Sox won it 5-0. The no-hitter was saved in the ninth inning when with one out, outfielder Al Simmons made a diving catch on a ball. Kennedy didn’t even realize he had a no-hitter going until the final out! He also had the game breaking hit in the contest; a bases loaded triple driving in three runs in the sixth inning. It was also the first no-hitter in the American League since 1931.

 

August 31, 1964 - Sox catcher Jerry McNertney was part of the cover shot for Sports Illustrated. It was one of the few black & white covers ever done by the magazine. The caption read, “Orioles vs. White Sox.”

 

August 31, 1993 - Outfielder Tim “Rock” Raines became only the second Sox player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. It took place at Yankee Stadium as he victimized Sterling Hitchcock and Rich Monteleone helping the Sox coast to an 11-3 win. Raines went 3 for 5, with two runs scored and four RBI’s. His home runs came in the fifth and ninth innings.

 

August 31, 2023 – After the firing of both Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, White Sox fans were hoping that owner Jerry Reinsdorf would go out and bring in a top-notch executive from a consistently winning organization to rebuild the franchise which sank to new lows both on and off the field.

Instead Reinsdorf decided to promote former Sox infielder Chris Getz to the G.M. position.

Getz had been in charge of the White Sox minor league operation for the past seven years, an operation that saw it usually rank near the bottom in Major League Baseball and failed to develop anyone outside of a few high draft picks to produce for the big-league club.

White Sox fans, and even many in the mainstream media, were highly critical of the decision but not completely shocked given Reinsdorf’s history.