THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: DEC. 5TH/RIP Shoeless

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: DEC. 5TH

 

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

 

1951: Joe Jackson died. The “Shoeless” one played for the White Sox from 1915 to 1920. He has turned into a mythical and tragic figure over the years but one thing remains true: The numbers. Jackson left the game with a .356 average. The 21 triples he collected in 1916 are still a Sox record and his .382 average in 1920 was surpassed only by Luke Appling’s .388 mark in 1936.

 

1977: The White Sox pulled off a blockbuster when they sent catcher-outfielder Brian Downing and pitcher Chris Knapp and Dave Frost to California for outfielders Bobby Bonds and Thad Bosely and Richard Dotson. The Sox were looking to make a splash on the field and at the gate with Bonds, who was one of the most exciting but erratic performers of the 1970. Barry’s dad quickly he fizzled and was dealt to Texas just 26 forgetful games into his Sox career. The cornerstones of this deal proved to be Downing and Dotson. Dotson went on to become a 20-game winner for the Sox while Downing turned into one of the most potent offensive players in Angels’ history.

 

1986: The Illinois General Assembly passed funding legislation to build a new home for the White Sox across the street from Comiskey Park, the franchise’s home since 1910. This was an earlystep toward the construction of what would become New Comiskey Park and, ultimately, U.S. Cellular Field.