THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: APRIL 3RD

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: APRIL 3RD

 

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BLACK SOX FILE SUIT

1923: Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch, banned from baseball for life as part of the attempt to fix the 1919 World Series, sued the White Sox, seeking $400,000 damages and $6,750 back pay. Their suit would ultimately prove unsuccessful.

 

A WISE PURCHASE FROM ST. LOUIS

1931: The White Sox purchased first baseman Lu Blue from the St. Louis Browns. Blue, a switch-hitter, had the best season of his 13-year career for Donie Bush’s Sox. The native of Washington DC hit .304 with one homer, 62 RBI, 15 triples, 119 runs and 127 walks. Blue finished second in the American League in walks and triples and he led American League first basemen with 1,452 putouts. The 127 walks were a club record and stood until Frank Thomas drew 138 free passes in 1991. Blue’s 119 runs were a club record for switch-hitters and stood until Ray Durham scored 126 times in 1998. Blue’s 15 triples are still tied for first among Sox switch-hitters.

 

HELLO BO … GOODBYE OLD FRIEND

1991: On the day the wrecking ball first struck Old Comiskey Park, the White Sox signed outfielder Bo Jackson as a free agent after he was released by the Kansas City Royals. Jackson was immediately placed on the 60-day emergency disabled list to rehabilitate his ailing hip. Jackson, who suffered the injury while playing for the Oakland Raiders, rehabbed his way into a September appearance with the Sox where he hit .225 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 23 games. Jackson had hip replacement surgery in 1992 and sat out that season before returning for 1993 where he was a contributor – artificial hip and all – to the Sox run to the A.L. West title. As for the old park, it took a while but it finally bit the dust.

 

ABNER COMES ABOARD

1992: The White Sox signed Shawn Abner. The outfielder spent one season with the Sox as a fourth outfielder and hit .279 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 97 games. The first overall pick of the June 1984 draft made quite splash with the Sox. Abner hit safely in his first three at bats with the team with two doubles and three RBIs.

 

A WIN OVER THE CUBS

1993: The White Sox tipped the Cubs 9-8 in an exhibition game in Las Vegas.

 

TONY PHILLIPS, THE IGNITOR

1996: The White Sox notched their first win of the year by defeating the Seattle Mariners 4-2 at the Kingdome. Tony Phillips, who fell a single shy of the cycle, got things going by leading off the game with a home run. It was Phillips’ 22nd leadoff homer which tied him for ninth all-time. Joe Magrane, in relief of ailing starter Kevin Tapani, got the victory with 2.2 scoreless innings. Tapani left after three innings with a slight groin strain. Roberto Hernandez pitched a perfect ninth for the save. Harold Baines appeared in his 1,380th game with the Sox, which moved him past Minnie Minoso into eighth place on the club’s all-time list.

 

FIRST MEETING, FIRST WIN WITH THE RAYS

1998: The White Sox netted their first win of the season by trampling the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-4 in the inaugural meeting between the clubs. Frank Thomas drove in four runs and Robin Ventura went 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead the 15-hit attack. James Baldwin limited the Rays to one run on seven hits in six innings in winning his first start of the season.

 

21ST CENTURY DEBUT NOT SO GOOD

2000: The White Sox opened the new century and a season which would see them win the American League’s Central Division by falling to the Texas Rangers 10-4 at the Ballpark in Arlington. The game marked the Major League debut of left-handed Kelly Wunsch, who made the first of his league leading 83rd appearances with a scoreless ninth inning.