CATCHING UP: THIS DATES IN SOX HISTORY: MAY 14-18/Highlights

[StatManDu]

MAY 14TH

HAVE A DAY JIM SPENCER

1977: Jim Spencer tied the franchise record with eight RBIs in the White Sox 18-2 win over Cleveland before 13,923 in a morning game at Comiskey Park. The game started at 10:30 a.m. to promote McDonald’s new breakfast sandwich “the egg mcmuffin.” Spencer was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run, a grand slam and a two-run single in helping the Sox bang out 17 hits. Spencer joined Tommy McCraw (May 24, 1967) and Carl Reynolds (July 2, 1930) as Sox players with eight RBI games. Spencer would duplicate the feat on July 2, 1977.

 

MAY 15TH

NO. 1 FOR NELLIE

1951: Nellie Fox’s first big league home run lifted the White Sox to a 9-7 win over at Boston. The game featured Ted Williams’ 300th career home run and a bold maneuver by Sox manager Paul Richards. In the eighth, Richards moved reliever Harry Dorish to third and brought in the left-handed Billy Pierce to face the left-handed hitting Williams. Pierce retired Williams and Dorish returned then to the mound but the Red Sox tied it in the ninth, setting the stage for Fox’s heroics. … Also on this date, the Sox acquired Saul Rogovin from Detroit for fellow pitcher Bob Cain.

 

MAY 16TH

SOX BYRNE YANKEES

1953: Pitcher Tommy Byrne’s pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning lifted the White Sox to an improbable 5-3 win over the New York Yankees before 24,966 at Yankee Stadium. Byrne victimized Ewell Blackwell and was pinch-hitting for Vern Stephens, who had 10 career grand slams. The slam was the second of Byrne’s career.

 

MAY 17TH

GARLAND GOLDEN

2005: Jon Garland became the first White Sox pitcher to win his first eight starts in 69 years in a 5-2 win over Texas before 18,333 at US Cellular Field. The last Sox pitcher to accomplish this feat was John Whitehead in 1936. Garland gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in becoming the Majors’ first eight-game winner.

 

MAY 18TH

13 IN A ROW FOR HOYT

1982: LaMarr Hoyt set the franchise record by winning his 13th consecutive game in a 10-2 win before 11,633 at Comiskey Park. The victory was Hoyt’s eighth of the season and – coupled with his five victories from the end of 1981 – he broke Jim Kaat’s record of 12. “The Lammer” also extended his Comiskey Park career record to 15-0 with the victory.