This Day In Sox History 7/3...

SIX factoids today:

July 3, 1922 - Sox pitcher Ted Blankenship made his big-league debut in a big way.

Blankenship relieved starter Ferdinand “Ferdie” Schupp in the second inning of a game against Detroit. He’d pitch 12 innings before losing the game in the 14^th giving up nine hits.

The final score was 7-6. It took place at Comiskey Park and was the first game of a double header. The Sox won the second game 4-3.

July 3, 1940 – It was a wild ninth inning punctuated by a franchise first.

The White Sox came up with a seven-run final frame to put away the Tigers 12-7 in a game in Detroit with the highlight being a pinch-hit grand slam off the bat of Taft “Taffy” Wright.

It was the first time the Sox had ever recorded a pinch-hit grand slam. Wright was batting for Eric McNair when he sent a Lynn Nelson pitch over the fence scoring Joe Kuhel, Julius “Moose” Solters and Larry Rosenthal ahead of him.  

For the year Wright would only hit five home runs!

July 3, 1973 – In a 15-1 thrashing of Texas in the opener of a doubleheader Tony Muser tied a franchise record with five walks. The first baseman scored four times and added a single, meaning he reached base safely in all six of his trips to the plate from the two spot in the batting order.

Muser joined Dick Allen, who was walked five times in a game nearly a year earlier, along with Sammy Strang, “Minnie” Minoso, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome in franchise annals.

July 3, 1976 – It was the first morning start for a game in the history of Comiskey Park as the Sox hosted Texas. The first pitch was delivered at 10:30 AM. The Sox didn’t care much for the novelty as they lost 3-0 to Nellie Briles, getting only three hits. The Sox would play another morning game the following season in connection with McDonalds restaurants Egg McMuffin sandwiches, and hammer Cleveland 18-2.

July 3, 1993 - Former Sox announcer and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale was found dead in his hotel room in Montreal of a heart condition. Drysdale, then a Dodgers announcer, worked for the Sox mostly on television from 1982 through 1987. His broadcast partner Ken “Hawk” Harrelson broke down on the air, while making the announcement during the Sox 9-6 loss to the Orioles at Comiskey Park that evening.

July 3, 2012 – Sox pitcher Chris Sale earned his 10th win of the season as the White Sox ran out to a 19-0 lead and ended up crushing Texas, 19-2. An Ian Kinsler error at second base helped propel Chicago to a nine run fifth inning (seven unearned), capped by an A.J. Pierzynski three-run blast. Roy Oswalt started for the Rangers and surrendered 11 runs (nine earned) in a little less than five innings of work. Pierzynski, Alex Rios, Kevin Youkilis, and Alexei Ramírez all collected three hits apiece in the game.