This Day In Sox History 4/5...

April 5, 1974 - The Sox opened the season at home under freezing conditions versus the Angels and Nolan Ryan. The Sox started Wilbur Wood which caused broadcaster Harry Caray to comment that the game was “The tortoise against the hare.” This time the hare won as Ryan and the Angels got an easy 8-2 victory.

The game did have its moments however. The streaking craze had hit college campuses and, on this day, a few young ladies in the upper deck decided to partially streak while a young man jumped the outfield fence and ran naked through left field before being hoisted back into the stands by his friends. Sox manager Chuck Tanner had one of the best lines anywhere when asked what he thought about the outfield streaker. “I wasn’t impressed by him.” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink...say no more!)

April 5, 1977 - Literally a few hours before the team was to head north to open the season, owner Bill Veeck traded shortstop Russell “Bucky” Dent to the Yankees. Salary was the reasoning behind it and Veeck’s comment that “I’d trade Dent even up for any other starting shortstop in the American League” didn’t help matters.

In return the Sox got outfielder Oscar Gamble, pitcher Bob Polinsky, minor league pitcher LaMarr Hoyt and 200,000 dollars. Gamble would be a big part of the 1977 hitting orgy, belting 31 home runs, while Hoyt would have some good seasons with the Sox culminating with the 1983 Cy Young Award when he won 24 games. Between 1980 and 1983 Hoyt won 61 games and saved 10 others.

April 5, 2004 - New Manager Ozzie Guillen figured he had his debut game all wrapped up as the Sox took a 7-3 lead into the ninth inning at Kansas City. 20 minutes later the Royals scored six runs to take the game 9-7. The amazing rally set the modern record for the most runs scored in the ninth inning to win a game on opening day.

Damaso Marte faced three batters, gave up three hits, two of them home runs to Mendy Lopez and Carlos Beltran, and allowed five runs to score in getting the loss. By the way that was Lopez’s only home run that season.

April 5, 2010 – It was opening day and for Mark Buehrle, it was his eighth opening day start setting the franchise record and breaking the tie he had with Billy Pierce.

Buehrle was brilliant in the 6-0 win over the Indians, but what everyone was talking about after the game was the play he made on a hard-hit ball off the bat of Lou Marson in the fifth inning. Both ESPN and the MLB Network called it the play of the year.

Marson’s shot ricocheted off Buehrle’s leg and was hit so hard it was headed towards foul ground on the first base side of the field. Buehrle sprinted off the mound, fielded the ball with his glove and flipped it between his legs to Paul Konerko who made a barehanded catch nipping Marson. It was simply an incredible play as it beat Marson to the bag by a step and a half.