Lip Man 1

Seven factoids today: September 28, 1902- For the second game of a doubleheader at Sportsman’s Park, the Browns and White Sox used the last day of the season to throw all non-pitchers in the game. White Sox left fielder Sam Mertes got the 10-4 win, beating St. Louis left fielder Jesse Burkett. First baseman Frank Isbell was the opener for the game, pitching one inning of three-hit, two-run ball. Then Mertes took over for the next seven plus innings! With just one earned run allowed, Mertes finished the year with a 1.17 ERA; it was the only pitching performance of his career. Both teams also had unorthodox lineups. St. Louis went bananas, with some players manning four different positions during the course of the game. The White Sox didn’t swap positions in-game, but there were some uncustomary assignments: White Sox two-way player Jimmy Callahan, normally a left fielder/pitcher, started at shortstop. Pitcher (and manager) Clark Griffith played left field. And Mertes himself started at catcher, then moved to the mound after one inning. Oh, the game ended one out early, with St. Louis fans rushing the field, apparently tiring of the unique exhibition. September 28, 1920 - Eight members of the 1919 White Sox Charles “Swede” Risberg, Arnold “Chick” Gandil, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, George “Buck” Weaver, Eddie Cicotte, Claude “Lefty” Williams, Oscar “Happy” Felsch and Fred McMullin — were indicted for throwing the World Series, which the White Sox lost, five games to three to the Cincinnati Reds. The grand jury returned five counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretenses and/or via a confidence game against these eight “Black Sox.” The group was exonerated by a Chicago jury the next summer but were nonetheless banned for life by the baseball commissioner, Kenesaw “Mountain” Landis who ironically was a White Sox fan. September 28, 1932 - J. Louis Comiskey, the new owner and son of Charles Comiskey tried to rebuild his franchise. He paid an unheard-of-sum (in those days) of 150,000 thousand dollars to the Philadelphia A’s for infielder Jimmy Dykes, outfielder Al Simmons and utility man George “Mule” Haas. Simmons would become a member of the Hall of Fame in 1953 and in three seasons with the Sox twice drove in over 100 RBI’s. Dykes played for the Sox for four full seasons and parts of three others while also managing the club starting in 1934! He’d manage the team for 12 full seasons and a part of a 13th. He’d have five winning years and one season at .500 in that time. He also had the distinction of scoring the first ever run in the All-Star Game going 2 for 3 in the 1933 contest. September 28, 1959 - The White Sox team photo appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The caption read, “Chicago’s New Champions Sit For Their Portrait.” September 28, 1997 - Frank Thomas won the batting championship with a .347 average. He joined Luke Appling as the only Sox players to do this at that time. Tim Anderson would also win the batting title in 2019. Thomas was one of only a handful of players in Major League history with a batting title and at least 450 home runs to their credit. Thomas had 184 hits in 530 at bats that year. September 28, 2003 - Sox starter Esteban Loaiza recorded his 21st win of the season, beating the Royals 5-1. The 21 wins tied the Major League record for the most wins in a season by a pitcher born in Mexico. Loaiza tied the mark set by Fernando Valenzuela in 1986. He went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA. He’d finish second in the Cy Young voting that season. Two 1-0 losses to a last place Tigers team probably cost him winning it. September 28, 2025 – The White Sox ended the year with a dismal record of 60-102. Not only was it their third consecutive season with at least 100 losses but the combined total of 324 losses was the worst stretch in franchise history. That broke the previous mark of 295 losses from 1968 through the 1970 years.

No it isn't. Red Sox/Yankees are on NBC with Benetti calling the game. Sox are on Peacock and NBCSN.

Absolutely. They have owned the Sox the past several years. Nothing the Sox can do about it now, just play the game with nothing to lose and see what happens.

That was part of it. I'll summarize the conversation as I was told. My friend has been connected to the organization for a long time and got together with JR. They had a long discussion. From what I was told, JR told him there would not be any baseball played next year. (I assumed JR knows what the feeling among the other owners is and remember he's on the six man committee advising Manfred on labor matters) As far as broadcasting my friend told me JR said to him that he knows Schriffen "isn't a baseball guy." JR asked my friend what he thought and my friend told him, "I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but he's just not very good." My friend asked JR what he was going to do given his contract is up and JR said, "You know that I don't do anything when there is a labor issue." My assumption (repeat assumption) is that when (if) baseball is played again Schriffen will say that he's found other work, the Sox won't object and that like when Ed Farmer passed away unexpectedly they'll promote someone in-house (Connor?) to temporarily hold the position and start a national search when the season is over for a permanent replacement.

Third time in my life the Sox lost a pennant or division by one game. 1964 (Yankees), 2020 (Twins), 2026 (Guardians)

He's isn't from what I'm hearing and what others have heard. And you have JR's direct quotes that I posted from my friend who had lunch with him recently.

Of course the Sox get a streaming game and a site that is not available on Dish Network. Typical

If he's not expected to start a game in the wild card, you want him to get some work in before then.

Thinking it over hell I'd start Martin Tuesday. He pitched less than an inning today and the way he performed I'm guessing he'll want to make things right.

“We had a stretch there where I think we were really pressing too much, before falling into second place and trying to hang on,” hitting coach Derek Shomon told the Sun-Times. https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/26/white-sox-lose-to-rockies-as-guardians-top-royals-to-clinch-al-central-title

I have no idea what this is.

ELEVEN factoids today: September 27, 1920 – A 2-0 win over the Tigers gave Dickie Kerr his 20th win of the season in a game that took all of 66 minutes, one of the quickest games in franchise history. But it also gave the White Sox their fourth 20-game winner of the season with Kerr joining Urban “Red” Faber, Ed Cicotte and Claude “Lefty” Williams in that category. Major League Baseball wouldn’t see four 20-game winners on a club again until the 1971 Baltimore Orioles did it with Mike Cuellar, Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson. This also was the final game the White Sox played before news broke nationally of the scandal that was soon to engulf the team and baseball regarding the 1919 World Series. Before the next afternoon’s game both Cicotte and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson admitted to involvement in the fixing of the series and owner Charles Comiskey promptly suspended eight players who were eventually found innocent in court but banned from the game by commissioner Kenesaw “Mountain” Landis. September 27, 1953 - The Sox beat the St. Louis Browns 2-1 in 11 innings behind Billy Pierce. It was the last American League game ever played in St. Louis since the Browns would be moved to Baltimore during the off season after they were sold by future Sox owner Bill Veeck. Pierce went all 11 innings allowing only seven hits, striking out eight. September 27, 1959 - The Sox closed their championship season with a 6-4 win at Detroit and when the final stats were in, second baseman Nellie Fox pulled off a rare feat. Fox wound up leading all American League second baseman in fielding percentage, put outs and assists. This game also saw one of the more unusual triple plays in Sox history. In the third inning Tiger first baseman Gail Harris hit a ground ball that turned into the triple play because of baserunning errors by Detroit. On the grounder back to pitcher Bob Shaw, the Tigers Tom Morgan broke for home and was thrown out. During the play Harris attempted to get to second and was out as Sox third baseman John “Bubba” Phillips covered and tagged him. On that play Harvey Kuenn then broke for the plate and was caught in a rundown, Phillips to Johnny Romano to Luis Aparicio who tagged him ending the inning. September 27, 1963 - During the last home double header, the White Sox caught on to the folk music craze sweeping the nation. Between games against the Senators the Sox had a hootenanny promotion where folk groups and singers held a concert on the field. September 27, 1967- The Sox finished the season with the two worst teams in the league, Kansas City and Washington and the fans could smell that elusive World Series in the greatest pennant race ever. However, it all began to fall apart this night as the Sox dropped a double header to the A’s 5-2 and 4-0 after rain postponed the single game Tuesday. The Sox, in the middle of a pennant race, got over three days off, not having played since Sunday afternoon in Cleveland. Pitchers Gary Peters and Joe Horlen got tagged with the losses on “Black Wednesday” but the final embarrassment was yet to come. The normally fundamentally sound White Sox made three errors in the twin-bill disaster and got seven hits. September 27, 1981- In the first game of a double header in Oakland Sox starting pitcher Ross Baumgarten got shelled early. He faced five hitters and all reached base. Manager Tony LaRussa lifted him and brought in LaMarr Hoyt, hoping he could throw a few innings and save the bullpen. Hoyt did a lot more than that. In fact, he went all nine innings, shutting out the A’s on five hits. Even better, his teammates picked him up, wiping out a five-run deficit and winning 9-5. Because Baumgarten never recorded any outs, Hoyt got credit for a complete game…in relief! The Sox would also take the nightcap 10-3 behind a complete game from Jerry Koosman. September 27, 1993 - In front of a capacity crowd at the new Comiskey Park, the Sox won the Western Division by beating Seattle 4-2. It was “Bo” Jackson who clubbed a towering three run blast that just dropped over the wall in left that was the difference in the game. The homer capped off an incredible comeback season for one of the finest athletes in history. Also, in this game Sox starting pitcher Wilson Alvarez saw his streak of 30 consecutive shutout innings snapped when Seattle got to him for two runs in the eighth inning. The Sox went 94-68 and took the title by eight games over Texas. After a .500 start the first two months, beginning on June 1, the Sox got rolling and went 69-45. September 27, 2003 - In one of the highest scoring games in their history, the Sox battered the Royals in Kansas City 19-3. The Sox had a seven run second inning and a five run fifth. They collected 21 hits for the game. Pitcher Bartolo Colon won this one easily going the distance. Joe Crede and Carl Everett both had four RBI’s in the game. September 27, 2011 - Pitcher Mark Buehrle set the franchise record when, for the 11th straight season he made at least 30 starts, won at least 10 games and pitched at least 200 innings. Buehrle set the milestone during a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. Those numbers were a testament to his ability, dedication and durability. September 27, 2014 - The Chicago White Sox have had a number of great players over the decades. One of them was first baseman Paul Konerko. On this day the Sox honored Paul with a ceremony and unveiled a sculpture of him. The numbers showed he was one of the best players in franchise history. Konerko hit 432 home runs and drove in 1,383 RBI’s with the Sox. He was a six-time All-Star, a World Series champion, the 2005 A.L.C.S. M.V.P. and the 2002 Comeback Player of the Year. He’d play his final game for the Sox the next day and retired after 16 seasons with the club. In May 2015 Konerko returned to U.S. Cellular Field and had his #14 retired. September 27, 2024 - The Chicago White Sox set the modern-day Major League record for the most losses in a season when they were beaten by the Tigers 4-1 in Detroit. It was loss number 121, snapping the tie they had with the 1962 New York Mets, an expansion team. Just three years earlier the White Sox won the division with 93 wins and had made the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history.

With the pitching situation that's a real possibility. Just hope to get a win, not get swept and send it to a game three, where anything can happen.

It matters to the players and absolutely does to the fan base. It's not like these guys aren't trying.

Don't want to play the Astros. They own the Sox and have for the past several seasons.

Probably.

It's a tough situation, this team was short on starters all year and they had to try to use the best because the division title was still a possibility, can't blame them for that. This is like the 2020 playoffs, same deal, only had two starters and had to go to a bullpen game for the third. Used nine pitchers and obviously that didn't work out. If there is an off season, if they play next year the priority has to be pitching, pitching and more pitching despite JR's unwillingness to pay the going rate for it.

NBC had already announced Boston/New York for Primetime. Just hope the Sox don't get stuck on Peacock the pay streaming service.

True but they got there and that beats being on the golf course in early October doesn't it?

Well they gave it a shot but hard to beat a team that's now won 23 of their last 33 games. Cleveland does what Cleveland does. You just wonder what may have happened had Taylor been able to get that final strike/final out in Cleveland which would have pushed their lead up to 2 1/2 games. It is what it is. Didn't realize Cleveland has now won the division seven times in the last 11 years. That's damn impressive especially for a smaller market. Play well Sunday give the home fans a good end to the regular season and get ready for Tuesday.

I would love for the Sox to be able to have a stretch like those three franchises have had. You can't win a World Series if you don't get to the playoffs in the first place. You get there, you have a chance. Beats sitting at home doesn't it?

Cleveland has now been in the playoffs eight of the last 11 years. They, Milwaukee and Tampa bay have found a formula that works for them and they do it very well.

Interviewed Ken and got to know him. he also authored books for kids and did a novel combining science fiction and baseball.

Good luck, fingers crossed.

Six factoids today: September 26, 1905 - In a double header at Boston, Sox pitcher “Big” Ed Walsh relieved starter Guy “Doc” White in the first inning of the first game and got the win 10-5. He then started and won the nightcap game 3-1. White didn’t retire a batter so Walsh got credit for a pair of complete games. September 26, 1943 - The Sox set the franchise record for the most runs ever scored in the fourth inning of a game when they put 13 on the board against the Senators at Washington. They’d win the game 15-3. Future Sox star pitcher Early Wynn was the victim of the Sox uprising. Also, of note in the 13-run inning, was the Sox triple-steal on one play, as Thurman Tucker, Guy Curtright and Luke Appling all swiped bases, with Tucker stealing home. The 13 runs are also the most the Sox have ever scored in any single inning. September 26, 1984 - Despite a disastrous season on the field, the Sox drew 2,136,988 fans to Comiskey Park becoming the first Chicago franchise to draw two million or more fans in consecutive seasons. September 26, 1998 - Sox outfielder Brian Simmons became the third player in franchise history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. Simmons connected off the Royals Brian Barber in the fourth inning and Allen McDill in the seventh. He drove in five runs in the Sox 13-5 win going 3 for 5 along with two runs scored. In January 2001 he’d be traded to Toronto as part of the David Wells deal that became known as “Shouldergate” September 26, 2011 – He was considered the face of the franchise for eight seasons but on this night after a 4-3 win over Toronto, manager Ozzie Guillen announced he was leaving after owner Jerry Reinsdorf agreed to let him out of the final year of his contract. Guillen, who was the 1985 A.L. Rookie of the Year with the White Sox, won the World Series in 2005 and also got the club into the playoffs in 2008. He had five winning seasons in the eight years as manager and was named Manager of the Year for his work in 2005. In that magical season of 2005, “Ozzie Ball” resulted in the Sox getting off to the best start in their history and with a perfect blend of pitching, speed, power and the ability to execute the fundamentals the Sox were in first place from wire to wire. Then they blitzed through the post season putting together an 11-1 record that was the third best post season record in baseball history. Guillen’s passion and enthusiasm for the franchise was unparalleled but at times he was his own worst enemy. Over his final years in Chicago, he became increasingly thin-skinned and defensive when criticism was directed his way and he lashed out at Sox fans on more than one occasion. Among his famous rants against the fans were one where he said that they could ‘‘Turn off their TVs and stop watching the game if they don’t like the [bleep]ing lineup’’ and another in May 2011 where he claimed Sox fans would not remember him, “As soon as you leave the ballpark, they don’t care about you. They don’t. The monuments, the statues…they pee on them when they get drunk.” On the afternoon of the day he left the team Guillen told reporters that he would not want to return to fulfill his 2012 contract unless he got an extension and more money. Ozzie’s relationship with G.M. Kenny Williams also deteriorated over the final few years because the two men appeared to have different viewpoints over how the roster should be constructed and the style to which the Sox should play. The Jim Thome/DH controversy was an example of the different ideas. Guillen’s family didn’t help the situation with social media comments derogatory to Williams. Many felt when Ozzie was hired in November 2003 that he was the right man for the right team at the right time and for a few years he was. Unfortunately, the manager with the longest tenure since Al Lopez let some personal foibles override a good situation and it was best for all that a parting of the ways took place. September 26, 2020 – In a most bizarre season, a most bizarre stat. The White Sox beat the Cubs Jon Lester winning an important pennant race game 9-5 at Guaranteed Rate Field but it also wrote the team’s name into the record books. For the first time in the modern era a club went an entire season without losing a game to a left-handed starter. The Sox went 14-0 against lefties. Yes, the season was only 60 games long due to COVID-19 but the record stands and was entered as such into the history books.