Here’s a look at what happened on this date (Oct. 19th) in White Sox history:
*1913, TOUR BEGINS: The White Sox played the first game of their “world” tour in Cincinnati and lost to the Giants 11-2.
Press reports of the day indicated the game was played on a swampy field on a cold day before a sparse crowd.
After a 31-game tour to Seattle, the Sox and Giants, fortified with players from other teams, headed for Japan, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France and England for a series of exhibition games.
The White Sox won 24 of the 44 games on the tour which culminated with a game in front of King George of England. King George watched the White Sox beat 25-year old Red Faber, who was loaned to the Giants for the tour.
The White Sox sailed home on the Lusitania, arriving on March 6, 1914.
*1949, FOX ARRIVES: In one of the all-time great trades in club history, the White Sox acquired second baseman Nellie Fox from the Philadelphia Athletics for catcher Joe Tipton, who had literally fought with manager Jack Onslow during the 1949 campaign.
Fox went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the White Sox, amassing 2,470 hits, three Gold Gloves, the 1959 American League MVP Award and 12 All-Star appearances. He was the heart and soul of the White Sox teams of the “Go Go Era.” Shortly after his death in 1975, the White Sox retired his No. 2.
Tipton, who played just one season for the Sox, kicked around the American League until 1954 as a backup backstop.
*1972 NO NECK GOES: The White Sox traded popular outfielder Walt “No Neck” Williams to the Cleveland Indians for infielder Eddie Leon. Williams played six seasons for the White Sox.
His best season was 1969 when he hit .304 with three homers in 135 games. After leaving Chicago, Williams played one season with the Indians and two with the New York Yankees.
In the last season of his 10-year big league career, Williams led the American League with 10 pinch-hits for the 1975 Yankees.
Leon played for the White Sox in 1973 and 1974.
*1978, DUAL ROLE DON: The White Sox named Don Kessinger player-manager, making him the first person to hold that position in club annals since Jimmy Dykes (1933-1939).
Kessinger, a shortstop, took over Larry Doby, who went 37-50 after succeeding Bob Lemon in 1978.
Kessinger didn’t last the 1979 season. The affable former Cub, who was acquired from the Cardinals late in 1977, guided the Sox to a 46-80 record before stepping down on Aug. 2.
The Sox named Tony LaRussa as Kessinger’s successor, a post he would hold into the 1986 season.
*2005, WORLD SERIES SET: The White Sox found out who their World Series opponent would be when the Astros clinched the National League pennant in six games with a 4-2 win in St. Louis. The World Series would start three days later in Chicago.