The Maris-Mantle home run race gets wild in doubleheader sweep of the South Siders
1954
In the first game of a twin bill at Boston, White Sox pitcher Jack Harshman set the franchise record by striking out 16 Red Sox. Harshman, a converted first baseman, was taught a “slip pitch” (a variation of a palm ball) by manager Paul Richards. Harshman got the win, 5-2. At the time, Harshman’s 16 Ks were two shy of the major league record. Thirteen of his strikeouts were swinging on the day.
The White Sox ended up sweeping the doubleheader by taking the second game, 4-2.
It would be 69 years before a White Sox pitcher tied Harshman’s record, as Lance Lynn whiffed 16 at Seattle in 2023.
1955
White Sox pitcher Ted Lyons and teammate Ray Schalk entered the Hall of Fame.
Lyons spent his entire 21-year career with the White Sox, winning a total of 260 games. He won at least 10 games in a season 17 times, and in three of those years he won more than 20. He had a staggering 356 complete games, and saved 25 as well!
Schalk retired having caught more games than anyone in history, and as the best defensive catcher in baseball in the early part of the 20th Century he led the league in fielding, putouts, assists and chances in various years. He caught four no-hitters, including Charlie Robertson’s perfect game.
The two were teammates on the South Side from 1923-29.
1959
Marathon game No. 2 of the 1959 season took place (again) against the Orioles (and again) at Comiskey Park. This one was another 17-inning affair that saw the White Sox tie the game in the ninth, and later win it thanks to Harry “Suitcase” Simpson’s single, scoring Sammy Esposito. The final was 3-2. Bob Shaw started and went 11 innings, and Turk Lown then went the last six innings and got the win.
1961
In the bottom of the fourth inning of a doubleheader opener at Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris tied Mickey Mantle for the MLB home run lead with his 37th homer of the season to bring in two runs. The tie lasted just one batter, however, as Mantle went back-to-back with Maris for his 38th homer of the year, helping the Bombers to a 5-1 win over the White Sox.
However, Maris would not be denied, adding a second homer in the eighth inning to re-tie Mantle, then clubbing two more in the 12-0 nightcap whitewash to end the day with 40 homers.
It wouldn’t be the last tie between the sluggers, although Maris prevailed in the end, hitting a record 61st homer on the final day of the season.
1967
Only one time in franchise history have the White Sox had two walk-off home runs on the same day. It was a twi-night doubleheader at Comiskey Park hosting Cleveland, with both won in dramatic fashion.
In the first game the Sox rallied from down a run in the eighth inning then got the game winner when J.C. Martin slugged a two-run shot off of “Sudden” Sam McDowell scoring Tommie Agee ahead of him to win the game, 3-1.
The nightcap went into the 16th inning after the Sox again rallied with two runs in the eighth inning. They then trailed in the 16th, 5-4, before Ken Berry belted a two-run blast off of Steve Bailey, scoring Ken Boyer ahead of him to win it, 6-5.
Only other time (2010) since have the White Sox won back-to-back games with sayonara homers.
2002
The White Sox traded second baseman Ray Durham to Oakland for pitcher Jon Adkins.
While not exactly a White Flag move, the White Sox were just three games under .500 and six games out of first place. At the time of the trade, Durham sported a team-best 3.4 WAR in 96 games, while primary replacement Willie Harris would log -0.2 WAR in Durham’s stead the rest of the season. Durham would have four more full, productive seasons after the trade.
Durham’s 21.4 WAR places him 22nd in White Sox history among all hitters, and third among second basemen behind only Eddie Collins and Nellie Fox.
Adkins would pitch in 59 games over three seasons for the White Sox, accumulating 0.1 WAR.
2014
José Abreu became the 26th rookie in MLB history to hit 30 home runs in a season. The 30th long ball came in his 89th game of the season, which was the third-fastest pace behind Rudy York (79 games) and Mark McGwire (84).
2020
Some afternoons, you just can’t miss. Such was the case, in this game, for White Sox utility player Leury García. Against the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field, Leury homered from both sides of the plate in a 10-3 pasting of Minnesota. His first home run came hitting left-handed, off of Zach Littell. The other long ball came hitting right-handed off of Devin Smeltzer. On the day, García went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. He became the eighth White Sox player to have switch-hit homers in a game.