Today in White Sox History: September 16
Twelve decades ago, Doc White spun a masterpiece in the middle of a historic run
1900
With the pennant already clinched (on September 12), fall approaching, and of course no lights at South Side Park, White Sox player-manager Dick Madden suggested shortening the nightcap of that day’s doubleheader to five innings. Milwaukee manager Connie Mack agrees — and proceeds to let ace Rube Waddell handle the “lighter” workload and pitch both games of the twinbill. Waddell won both games, although the sweep was bittersweet; the second-place Brewers were the team eliminated four days earlier when the White Sox clinched.
1904
Smack in the middle of an amazing, 45-inning scoreless streak, Doc White painted a masterpiece: a 1-0, one-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.
Without play-by-play data it’s hard to know how these games played out 120 years ago. But we do know that the one hit White allowed was a Tom Jones triple, so whether in the first or ninth inning, or with none out or two, that hit put the shutout and win in some jeopardy.
Likewise, White’s scoreless streak is commonly regarded as 45 innings, but even basic research would place it at 45 1⁄3 innings, minimum. The streak was snapped on October 2 in a 7-1, complete-game win for White against the Yankees — but yes, the run came in the first inning and could conceivably been scored with none out. However, before the streak of complete-game shutouts began White finished up a complete-game win on September 9, 5-3 over Cleveland; while the Napoleons did score in the ninth, White must have retired at least his final batter in order to end the game. (Note to self: research further!)
1992
The White Sox hit the Bronx with a barrage of 18 hits in a 9-6 win over the Yankees. Frank Thomas went 5-for-5, for his only five-hit game in the majors. For such a prodigious slugger, the five hits — three singles, two doubles — were modest. Thomas ended up leading the major leagues with 46 doubles in 1992.
The White Sox improved to 78-67, and while 10 1⁄2 games out of first were still battling the Minnesota Twins for second place in the AL West.
2007
White Sox slugger Jim Thome joined an exclusive club when he hammered his 500th career home run, two-run shot in the ninth inning of a White Sox 9-7 win over the Angels at U.S. Cellular Field. Thome was playing in his 2,000th career game when he connected off Dustin Moseley for the win.
The Sox trailed, 7-1, at one point before coming back. It was the first time that the 500th home run for a player was a walk-off winner. Jim would hit 134 home runs in a White Sox uniform.
Thome became the third player to reach 500 home runs in 2007, after Frank Thomas and Álex Rodríguez. The baseball was sent to the Hall of Fame.