THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 13/DeBusscher, Forster and Varn

[StatManDu]

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: AUGUST 13/DeBusscher, Forster and Varney

 

For the rest of the day, visit www.whitesoxalmanac.com

 

1963: Dave DeBusschere, who would later star in the NBA for the Pistons and Knicks, tossed a six-hitter in the White Sox 3-0 win over Cleveland before 17,902. The 6-foot-6 right-hander walked one and struck out three in posting his third win of the year, the only complete game and shutout of his career and the final win of his two-year big league career.

 

1973: Terry Forster fashioned a complete game in the White Sox 5-2 win at Milwaukee. The hard-throwing lefty gave up five hits and four walks while striking out five. He received offensive help from Carlos May and Jorge Orta, who both homered.

 

1975: Pete Varney’s bases loaded walk in the 12th got the White Sox a 4-3 win over the Indians before 5,551 at Comiskey Park. Bucky Dent pulled the Sox even in the seveventh when his two-out single scored Brian Downing.

 

[Yossarian]

De Busschere made the right career choice. I remember when Forster and Gossage were Sox stars of the future.

[BigEdWalsh]

De Busschere made the right career choice. I remember when Forster and Gossage were Sox stars of the future.

 

Sadly, I suppose you're right about the career decision. However, he may have been a star pitcher for many years. Remember he was only 22, I think, when he retired from baseball.

[Yossarian]

Yes, DeBusschere showed promise as a pitcher. He had a near HOF career in the NBA. Gene Conley who pitched for 12 years (1952-1963) in the ML, also played in the NBA. Dick Groat, who was the NL MVP for the Pirates, was a standout basketball player at Duke, then played one season in the NBA, before going with baseball full time. Guys that are talented enough to play more than one professional sport well have my greatest respect. Bo Jackson was maybe the best in that select group.

[BigEdWalsh]

And who could forget Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors, who didn't excel professionally at either basketball or baseball, but you still gotta respect that he was good enough to make it in 2 sports. And yeah, Bo has got to be the best of the best in the 2 sport category.

[StatManDu]

Yes, DeBusschere showed promise as a pitcher. He had a near HOF career in the NBA. Gene Conley who pitched for 12 years (1952-1963) in the ML, also played in the NBA. Dick Groat, who was the NL MVP for the Pirates, was a standout basketball player at Duke, then played one season in the NBA, before going with baseball full time. Guys that are talented enough to play more than one professional sport well have my greatest respect. Bo Jackson was maybe the best in that select group.

I think the only thing keeping DeBusschere from continuing his baseball career was that he was a great basketball player. His career got off to a decent start with the Sox in the early 1960s. While he didn't have a winning record (3-4), his ERA was 2.90 in 36 appearances (10 starts). He also may have seen the logjam in front of him: Peters, Pizarro, Horlen, etc.

 

Years later, the Sox employed the reverse DeBusschere: Ron Reed gave up the NBA to play baseball. The last year of his career was 1984 when he led the Sox with 12 saves.

[klaus kinski]

I think the only thing keeping DeBusschere from continuing his baseball career was that he was a great basketball player. His career got off to a decent start with the Sox in the early 1960s. While he didn't have a winning record (3-4), his ERA was 2.90 in 36 appearances (10 starts). He also may have seen the logjam in front of him: Peters, Pizarro, Horlen, etc.

 

Years later, the Sox employed the reverse DeBusschere: Ron Reed gave up the NBA to play baseball. The last year of his career was 1984 when he led the Sox with 12 saves.

 

Now, he'd pick baseball-but back then, salaries werent out of control and also 6'6 was good size for basketball then