THIRTEEN (!) factoids today: September 30, 1904 – Guy “Doc” White fired his fifth straight complete game shutout running his scoreless streak to 45 innings in a 4-0 win over the New York Highlanders (Yankees) at South Side Park. The streak started on September 12 with a win over the Cleveland Naps (Indians). During his shutout run he won two games by the score of 1-0, one of those was a one-hitter on September 16 against the Browns. In 45 innings White allowed only 17 hits. His shutout streak ended in his next start, two days later, against the same New York team when they got a run in the first inning although White went on to win that game 7-1. September 30, 1921 - Sox catcher Ray “Cracker” Schalk tied a Major League record with three assists in one inning. It happened in a 3-2 loss to Cleveland at Comiskey Park. It happened in the eighth inning. Schalk fielded three ground balls, throwing to first to record an out each time, to tie the mark. September 30, 1949 - Sox G.M. Frank Lane started the connection between the franchise and Venezuela when he dealt two minor leaguers and 35,000 thousand dollars to the Dodgers for shortstop Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel. “Chico” would be named to three All-Star teams and would become the first Venezuelan to appear in the midseason classic. He’d then be traded before the start of the 1956 season, to the Indians for Larry Doby and to open up the position for another countryman of his, Luis Aparicio. September 30, 1956 - In the season ending game at Kansas City, Sox pitcher Jim Derrington became the youngest person to ever appear in a game wearing a Sox uniform. Derrington was 16 years old when he started against the A’s. He went six innings allowing six runs (five earned) in a 7-6 loss. The teenaged lefty didn’t last long in the big leagues. He pitched a total of 43 innings in the majors, appearing in 21 games, and had a career record of 0-2. He was signed as a bonus baby by the Sox only 18 days before making his big-league debut! September 30, 1966 - The Sox defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 in 11 innings on a single to left by Johnny Romano. It scored Wayne Causey. Why was that important? The loss guaranteed the Yankees a last place finish. It was their first since 1912. They went 70-89-1. September 30, 1971 - When Bill Melton smashed a home run on the last day of the season off the Brewers Bill Parsons in the third inning, he became the first Sox player to ever win a home run championship. Melton hit three home runs in the final two games to pass former Sox player Norm Cash and Reggie Jackson for the title. Typically, White Sox, he only had 33, the lowest total for a champ since 1965. In an effort to give Melton an additional at bat or two, manager Chuck Tanner had the power hitter leading off in the Sox final two games. His homer was the difference in a 2-1 win. September 30, 1980 - For all of his contributions to baseball and to the White Sox organization, owner Bill Veeck was honored with his own night. The ceremonies took place before the Sox would drop a 5-1 decision to Oakland. September 30, 1990 - 80 years of baseball history ended as the original Comiskey Park closed with a 2-1 win over the Mariners. An emotional and capacity crowd, including politicians, musicians, sports and Hollywood figures were in attendance. Among the celebrities in the park were Governor Jim Thompson, Major Richard M. Daley, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Ron Howard, George Wendt, John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, Billy Cunningham and Maureen O’ Hara. The Oak Ridge Boys sang the National Anthem and the rock group Styx sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning. Bobby Thigpen got his 57th save in the game. The Sox would close out a miraculous 1990 season with 94 wins. September 30, 1997 - After controversies on and off the field (calling for a relief pitcher with no one warming up, a fistfight with umpire Richie Garcia at a steakhouse, a brawl near third base with Brewer’s manager Phil Garner) manager Terry Bevington was fired. No flowers were sent and no Sox fan (or player) shed any tears. September 30, 2000 - Sox infielder Jose Valentin became the fourth player in franchise history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. Valentin connected off the Royals Blake Stein and Scott Mullen. He drove in three runs in the Sox 9-1 win. This had only happened six times in franchise history and Valentin did it three times himself! Also, three times this feat happened against the Kansas City Royals. September 30, 2008 - For the first time the White Sox played an extra game to get into the post season. They hosted the Twins in the 163rd contest of the year known as the “Blackout Game” and won 1-0 clinching the Central Division title. John Danks threw eight shutout innings, Jim Thome belted what turned out to be the game winning home run and Ken Griffey Jr. threw out a Minnesota runner at home. The Sox won the division with a record of 89-74. The 1-0 score was the lowest tiebreaker playoff game in Major League history. September 30, 2016 – Sox left hander Carlos Rodon tied the franchise and the American League record by striking out the first seven Twins hitter in a game at U.S. Cellular Field. The original record was set by the Sox Joe Cowley back in 1986 at Texas. Unlike Cowley though, Rodon actually won his game 7-3. Rodon struck out 11 on the night pitching eight innings. September 30, 2023 – It was the final embarrassment to an embarrassing season on and off the field. The White Sox loss to the Padres 6-1, on the next to last day of the season, was number 100 on the year. It was the fifth time in franchise history the team lost at least 100 games. In two years’ time, in the middle of a supposed window of contention, after a three year rebuild, the Sox went from 93 wins to triple digit losses. A number of players were traded at the deadline and then a few weeks after it both Executive Vice President Kenny Williams and General Manager Rick Hahn were fired by owner Jerry Reinsdorf who called the season embarrassing and said that if he were a fan he’d be “pissed off.”
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