THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 17TH/A couple of Fisks and a Ca

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 17TH

 

For the rest of the day, see www.whitesoxalamanac.com

 

1971: Steve Huntz had the game of his life in leading the White Sox to a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader before 17,887 at Comiskey Park. Huntz, a second baseman, hit two homers, including a three-run go-ahead shot in the eighth, off Mickey Lolich to key a sweep. The Sox went on to win the second game 4-1 to extend their winning streak to four.

 

1986: The White Sox took care of Milwaukee 7-4 in a game of historic firsts at Comiskey Park. Steve Carlton picked up his first American League win with help from rookies Ron Karkovice and Bobby Thigpen. Karkovice made his Major League debut behind the plate and had a single, an RBI and a run. Bobby Thigpen earned his first Major League save. Ozzie Guillen added two doubles before a matinee crowd of 19,064.

 

1988: Carlton Fisk slammed two home runs to power the White Sox to a 5-1 win over Toronto before 14,367 at Comiskey Park. It was first believed this was the contest that tied Fisk for the career lead in games caught in the American League, but a discrepancy in the records was discovered that still left “Pudge” one game shy of the record. He tied the record the next night in Detroit and then broke it two nights later.

 

1990: With one swing of the bat, Carlton Fisk became the most prolific home run-hitting catcher of all-time and the White Sox all-time home run leader. Fisk’s second-inning homer off Charlie Hough in Texas gave him 328 as a catcher and 187 with the White Sox. He eclipsed Johnny Bench’s mark for catchers and Harold Baines’ White Sox record. The historic homer came in the White Sox 4-2 win.

 

2000: Jose Valentin tied Ron Hansen’s single-season White Sox record for homers by a shortstop in a 5-3 loss to the Orioles in the Baltimore. Valentin’s homer was his 20th of the year and equaled Hansen’s 1964 franchise mark for homers at the position. Valentin’s blast was a two-run shot in the ninth inning. He would break the record the next day. Also in the game, James Baldwin tied an American League by hitting five batters.