SEVEN factoids today: July 30, 1933 - Never had two Sox hitters had days like this on the same afternoon. Sox outfielder George “Mule” Haas reeled off eight hits in 12 at bats in a sweep of a double header with the St. Louis Browns. If that wasn’t enough, his teammate, All-Star outfielder Al Simmons drilled seven hits on the day in 12 at-bats. The Sox would win 8-7 in 10 innings and then 15-2. July 30, 1955 - With the Sox in a three-way tie for first place, pitcher Dick Donovan had an appendicitis attack. At the time, Donovan was 13-4 with a 2.64 ERA. He didn’t return until late August and went 2-5 the rest of the season. The Sox fell out of contention with his illness and ended the season at 91-63, good for third place. He’d pitch with the Sox from 1955 through 1960 winning 73 games. July 30, 1962 - Sox starting pitcher Ray Herbert, who would eventually win 20 games on the season, was named as a last-minute replacement for the All-Star Game. Herbert then got the win, pitching three innings, as the A.L. beat the N.L. 9-4 in Wrigley Field. He was joined on the team by Luis Aparicio (SS) and Jim Landis (OF). In his three innings of work, he allowed only three singles, two of the infield variety. July 30, 1977 - It was the brightest moment for Comeback Player of the Year, Eric Soderholm. In a nationally televised Saturday Game of the Week, on NBC, before a full house at Comiskey Park, Soderholm blasted a three-run home run to left center field, in the last of the seventh inning to put the Sox ahead in a key game they’d win 6-4. The shot came off the Royals Doug Bird, one of the toughest relief pitchers in baseball because he threw almost side arm. Soderholm would finish the season with 25 home runs, 67 RBI’s and a .280 batting average. July 30, 1995 - So this is what a good teammate does? In a game at Baltimore, DH John Kruk who un-retired in May to take the Sox offer, decided to retire just as quickly. Kruk singled in the first inning, raising his average to .308, then went back to the clubhouse, packed his bags and left the game for good. He did this before the game ended mind you, then told certain reporters it was no fun DH’ing on a losing team that “Didn’t have any heart.” July 30, 2003 - In a game at Kansas City, Sox infielder Jose Valentin blasted three home runs in the 15-4 win. Jose went 3 for 5 with five RBI’s. One of his home runs was a three-run shot. His homers came in the second, third and fifth innings. July 30, 2021 – Capping off a wild 24 hours at the trade deadline the White Sox showed they were all in acquiring three players including future Hall of Fame relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel. First the Sox got second baseman Cesar Hernandez from the Indians and relief pitcher Ryan Tepera from the Cubs. Minor league pitchers were traded in both cases to get them. But then the Sox went back to the Cubs to get Kimbrel trading second baseman Nick Madrigal and relief pitcher Codi Heuer in the process. Losing Madrigal, a highly regarded young player was difficult but getting Kimbrel gave the team a chance to have not only the best starting rotation in the American League but also the best bullpen, a throwback to the 1950’s and 60’s when the franchise usually had that. Unfortunately it did not work out as Kimbrel lost his effectiveness pitching in non-closing roles and Hernandez offensively dropped off the face of the Earth. In the off-season Hernandez’s contract would not be picked up. Kimbrel would be traded late in spring training to the Dodgers for outfielder A.J. Pollock. Tepera who was effective in relief for the Sox, signed a free agent deal with the Angels.
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