Three factoids today:

May 13, 1957 - Sox pitcher Billy Pierce became the first member of the team and the first Chicago athlete, to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The caption read, “Pride of Chicago, Billy Pierce.”

In 1957, the year the magazine cover came out; Pierce went 20-12 with an ERA of 3.26. It was his second straight 20-win season. He led the league with 16 complete games, had four shutouts, two saves, threw 257 innings and had 192 strike outs.

May 13, 1975 - Sox pitcher Jim Kaat’s 12-game winning streak ended as he was beaten 3-2 in Baltimore.  Kaat had won his first five decisions in 1975 and his final seven decisions in 1974. He’d become a 20-game winner in both seasons averaging 290 innings pitched in those years. He’d also make the All-Star team in 1975.

May 13, 1982 - SportsVision made its debut.

The first regional pay cable service devoted exclusively to sports began operations with a game at Comiskey Park versus Milwaukee. The service was the brainchild of Sox co-owner Eddie Einhorn and while brilliant, was ahead of its time. The technology wasn’t there and more importantly, the attitude on the part of the fans wasn’t ready to pay for something they had been getting for free all their lives. At best roughly 20,000 fans subscribed to it. The service also included broadcasting games of the Bulls, Blackhawks and Sting (professional soccer).

The decision to go to a pay service caused popular announcer Harry Caray to leave the team after 11 seasons and go to the Cubs despite an offer by the Sox that was worth more before the 1982 season began.

SportsVision, in its original version, lasted until the end of 1983, then it was sold to the Cablevision Company and turned into SportsChannel-Chicago.

The Sox blew out the Brewers in the game 13-2.

Billy Pierce was my dads favorite player. I remember he'd visit the tv booth once or twice a year. A true class act.

1 hour ago, zisk said:

Billy Pierce was my dads favorite player. I remember he'd visit the tv booth once or twice a year. A true class act.

Bill was one of the finest people I ever got to know.

I visited him at his home in Lamont one year he and his wife picked me up at the train station. My uncle and mom then drove out later in the afternoon to pick me up since I didn't have a car when I returned to Chicago.

Bill came out and talked with both of them for I guess 20 minutes.

Miss him, Roland Hemond and Jeff Torborg very much.