THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: APRIL 10TH (an eventful one)

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: APRIL 10TH

FOX ROCKS FOR THE SOX

1959:

Nellie Fox’s home run in the 14th inning capped one of the great Opening Day performances in big league history as the White Sox kicked off one of the most memorable seasons in team history with a 9-7 win at Detroit. Fox’s homer came with Sammy Esposito on first base and two outs. Fox had five hits (including a double), two runs, a sacrifice and three RBIs in becoming the last player in Sox history to accomplish that feat on Opening Day. The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the 14th but left-hander Don Rudolph retired the only man he faced to save Gerry Staley’s victory.

JFK STARTS THE SOX DAY

1961:

After President John F. Kennedy threw out the ceremonial first ball, the White Sox defeated the “new” Washington Senators 4-3. The “old” Washington Senators moved to Minnesota where they became the Twins. According to Rich Lindberg’s definitive book on White Sox history “Who’s On Third,” Sox outfielder Jim Rivera pushed aside the Senators’ Hal Woodeschick to catch JFK’s heave into a crowd of players. After getting vice-president Lyndon Johnson’s signature on the ball, Landis handed it to Kennedy and the president signed it. Rivera was not impressed with Kennedy’s autograph. “You’ll have to do better than that, John,” Rivera told the Commander-In-Chief. “This is a scribble I can hardly read.” Another Jim – Landis – helped get the Sox even in the seventh with a triple. The Sox took the lead in the eighth when Roy Sievers’ sac fly scored Minnie Minoso. Dick Donovan went the distance for the victory.

WELCOME, MILWAUKEE

1970:

In their first game ever against the Milwaukee Brewers, the White Sox and Jerry Janeski pulled off a 5-4 win before 1,036 at Comiskey Park. Janeski, making his big league debut, gave up three runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 7.1 innings in winning his big league debut. He got relief help from Wilbur Wood, who fired the final 1.2 innings for the victory. The Sox broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth on a Bobby Knoop homer and RBIs by Luis Aparicio and Carlos May. The visitors moved to Milwaukee for the 1970 campaign after spending 1969 in Seattle as the expansion Pilots.

HAROLD DEBUTS

1980:

Harold Baines made his Major League debut in the White Sox 5-3 loss on Opening Day to the Baltimore Orioles before 35,539 at Comiskey Park. Baines batted sixth, played right field and went 0-for-4 against Jim Palmer and Tim Stoddard.

ONE HECKUVA HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR “PUDGE”

1981:

Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script for Carlton Fisk in his first game with the White Sox. On Opening Day in the park he had called home 11 seasons, Fisk launched a three-run home run in the eighth inning to lift the White Sox to a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Fisk’s homer left the conflicted Boston crowd in stunned silence while the Sox traveling party was overcome with glee.

 

For the rest of this eventful day see www.whitesoxalmanac.com

Edited April 10, 2007 by StatManDu

[My Dixie Normus]

HAROLD DEBUTS

1980:

Harold Baines made his Major League debut in the White Sox 5-3 loss on Opening Day to the Baltimore Orioles before 35,539 at Comiskey Park. Baines batted sixth, played right field and went 0-for-4 against Jim Palmer and Tim Stoddard.

 

I was there. It was my birthday.

Edited April 10, 2007 by My Dixie Normus