THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 2ND/Black Sox

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 2ND/Black Sox

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1921: After only two hours of deliberation, the jury in the “Black Sox” trial returned a not guilty verdict in the eight Sox players' roles in fixing the 1919 World Series. That didn’t matter to Commissioner Kennesaw “Mountain” Landis. He later banished each player – including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver and Ed Cicotte – from the game for life.

1936: The White Sox overcame a nine-run deficit in the second game to sweep a doubleheader from the Red Sox at Comiskey Park. After winning the first game 9-1, the Sox trailed 10-1 heading into the last of fifth but rallied to win the nightcap 12-11 in 12 innings for the biggest blown lead in Red Sox history. Clint Brown got the win in the opener while Italo Chelini earned the victory in the second game.

1979: Tony LaRussa replaced Don Kessinger as White Sox manager. LaRussa got his first big league post in just his second season as a professional manager. LaRussa came to the White Sox from Triple-A Iowa where he was 54-51. LaRussa took over the White Sox with the team at 46-60 but was able to help the club split its final 54 games. LaRussa compiled a 522-510 ledger as White Sox manager between 1979 and 1986 and guided the team to the 1983 American League West championship.

1985: Carlton Fisk tagged two Yankees out at home on the same play in the seventh inning of the White Sox 6-5 win at New York. With the game tied at 3, Fisk got Dale Berra and Bobby Meacham at the plate in rapid succession on a relay that started with Luis Salazar in center and continued with Ozzie Guillen at shortstop. In the 11th, Guillen scored from second on Salazar’s slow roller down the first base line.

1990: Alex Fernandez and Frank Thomas each debuted in a doubleheader sweep in Milwaukee. Fernandez, the Sox first round draft pick in June, started the first game and pitched seven strong innings but settled for a no decision in a 4-3 win. Thomas drove in the winning run with a fielder's choice in the ninth. In the second game, Melido Perez gave up just one earned run in 7.1 innings for his 10th victory in the Sox 4-2 win. The doubleheader win was part of a five-game sweep in Milwaukee.