This Day In Sox History...September 9

[Lip Man 1]

September 9, 1917 - It’s the only time the Sox have ever won a forfeited game. In Chicago against Cleveland, the Indians were protesting a close interference call that went against them in the top of the 10^th inning of a tie game at 3-3. The game was delayed for 10 minutes while they argued.

When they took the field in the last of the inning, Cleveland players threw their gloves in the air, some rolled around in the dirt and catcher Steve O’Neill deliberately threw a ball into center field.

Umpire Clarence “Brick” Owens had enough and declared the game won by the Sox.   

 

September 9, 1921 - At Comiskey Park, the White Sox and Tigers played one of the wildest games in Major League history in Chicago’s 20-15 win. Both teams combined for 35 runs, 42 hits and seven errors! The White Sox were led by first baseman Earl Sheely, who went 5 for 5 with five runs scored, five RBIs and fell a double short of a cycle. (Sheely’s was the only homer for the 35-run game.) Johnny Mostil chipped in with four RBI’s.

Perhaps most amazing is the fact that the 35 runs were all scored in the first seven innings of the game; the full eighth inning and top of the ninth all were scoreless.

 

September 9, 1931 – This afternoon at the cross-city exhibition game between the Cubs and White Sox at Comiskey Park a famous, or ‘infamous’ fan and his son sat along the White Sox side of the field in the front row.

The fan was Al Capone, the head of the largest crime syndicate in Chicago known as the “Chicago Outfit.” He took in the game with his son and a number of bodyguards who were seated directly behind them. They were part of a crowd of almost 35 thousand.

The game was to benefit an unemployment relief fund established by Illinois governor Louis L. Emmerson as the Depression strengthened its grip on the country.

Less than a month later Capone would go to trial on income tax evasion charges, be found guilty, and sent to prison.

Their is a famous photograph of the Cubs, "Gabby" Hartnett signing a ball for Capone's son as he and his bodyguards looked on from their front row seats.

 

September 9, 1983 - The Sox express roared on crushing former Sox great Tommy John and the Angels 11-0. What was significant in this one was, for the first time in team history, the Sox hammered back-to-back-to-back home runs. They were courtesy of Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek, and Greg Luzinski in the first inning.

Not to be outdone, pitcher Britt Burns threw a one-hitter. Outfielder Mike Brown’s two out single in the seventh inning was his only mistake. Burns struck out nine in the game.

 

September 9, 2003 - With one move Sox manager Jerry Manuel perhaps cost his team a post season playoff berth and eventually led himself to be fired.

In a game the Sox were leading Minnesota 8-2 in the ninth inning, Manuel brought in relief pitcher Jose Paniagua to get some work in. The Sox had a one game lead over the Twins and this was the second of a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Paniagua allowed four runs giving Minnesota momentum even though they’d lose 8-6. The Twins promptly won the final two games, swept the Sox the following week in Minnesota and won the second of three consecutive divisional titles.

Paniagua, as he was leaving the field, made an obscene gesture at home plate umpire Mark Carlson and was released by G.M. Kenny Williams the next day.

Manuel’s dismissal would come a few weeks later. There has always been debate over the impact of this incident in the divisional race but Twins players have been quoted as saying it was a difference maker.

 

September 9, 2017 – White Sox slugger Jose Abreu became only the sixth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle in the Sox 13-1 rout of the Giants.

Jose had a home run, double, single and triple in order, to get the rare occurrence.

For the night he went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI’s.

Edited September 9, 2023 by Lip Man 1