September 22

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

White Sox Clinch Long-Awaited Pennant in 1959

On September 22, 1959, the Chicago White Sox ended a 40-year wait for an American League pennant. Their last title dated back to 1919, a season forever marred by the “Black Sox” scandal. This time, Chicago fans could celebrate without shadows—though not without drama.

The Sox entered Cleveland with a magic number of two but had stumbled through the weekend, dropping two straight to Detroit while the Indians kept winning. With a slim 3½-game lead, manager Al Lopez turned to his ace, 39-year-old Early Wynn, a former Cleveland star seeking his 20th win. The Indians countered with rookie Jim Perry.

Cleveland nearly struck first in the second inning, but a daring throw from Sox left fielder Al Smith cut down Minnie Minoso at the plate. Chicago then broke through in the third when Luis Aparicio and Billy Goodman delivered back-to-back doubles for a 2-0 lead. In the sixth, Smith and Jim Rivera hit consecutive homers to stretch the advantage to 4-1.

Still, the Indians refused to fold. They scored once in the sixth, then loaded the bases in the ninth with the Sox clinging to a 4-2 lead. Lopez called on reliever Jerry Staley, who needed just one pitch. Vic Power bounced into a 6-4-3 double play, with Aparicio to Nellie Fox to Ted Kluszewski sealing the pennant.

The win set off wild celebrations. An estimated 20,000 gathered downtown, while as many as 100,000 fans swarmed Midway Airport to greet the returning team. In one unforgettable twist, Fire Commissioner Robert Quinn honored the Sox by sounding Chicago’s air-raid sirens, sending thousands of startled residents scrambling in fear of nuclear attack.

Despite the false alarm, the message was clear: for the first time in four decades, the White Sox were champions of the American League.

LISTEN TO THE GAME

Historic Days!

September 22, 1911 -- Cy Young wins his 511th and final career game when he blanks the Piitsburgh  Pirates at Forbes Field, 1-0. The 35-101 Boston Rustlers (soon to be renamed the Boston Braves) have won only three contests in 22 attempts against Pittsburgh this season, with two of the victories coming on shutouts thrown by the 44 year-old veteran right-hander, who was obtained by Boston on waivers from Cleveland in late July. Young will finish the season 4-5 making 11 appearances on the year.

Young sprinkled 9 hits and struck out 3,  and shortstop Al Bridwell drove in the games only run. Babe Adams who took the loss dropped to 20-13 on the year, gave up only 6 hits to the Rustlers.

September 22, 1954 -- Karl Spooner, in his major league debut, blanks the Giants at Ebbets Field, 3-0. The 23 year-old Dodger southpaw fans 15 batters, including six straight, recording the most strikeouts in a first appearance by a rookie.

September 22, 1957 -- Duke Snider, with his second round-tripper in the Dodgers' 7-3 victory over Philadelphia, hits his 40th home run, tying Ralph Kiner's National League record of five consecutive seasons with forty or more homers. The Duke of Flatbush's seventh-inning homer off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts will prove to be the last one ever hit at Ebbets Field.

A year later, Duke Snider collected a single on April 18, 1958, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the first Dodger hit after the franchise relocated to Los Angeles. One last ballpark first, on April 10, 1962, when The Duke recorded the first Dodger hit at Dodger Stadium.

September 22, 1961 -- Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the Orioles' first baseman's four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore.

September 22, 1966 -- With only 413 patrons in attendance to see New York's 4-1 loss to the White Sox, the team's head of media relations denies Red Barber's request for a camera to scan the empty stands. The veteran broadcaster will reportedly lose his job when he continues to tell his audience, "I don't know what the paid attendance is today, but whatever it is, it is the smallest crowd in the history of Yankee Stadium, and this crowd is the story, not the game."

September 22, 1968 --  At Metropolitan Stadium, Cesar Tovar plays one inning at each position for the Minnesota Twins, becoming only the second major leaguer in history to do it. Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Athletics was the first, in the 1965 season.

Tovar starts the game and pitches a scoreless first inning giving up a walk and strikesout, Reggie Jackson, for the second out.  Tovar makes his way around the diamond in order, he catches in 2nd, plays first in the third, and plays all 9 positions without an error. He did commit a balk in the first.

Graig Nettles played first, centerfield, and third base. Nettles played Centerfield only 1 other time in his career. Rod Carew played second and shortstop, he played short only 3 other times in his career. Jackie Hernandez played Shortstop and First base. It was the first and only time he played first.

Tovar went 1-3 with a stolen base and run scored. With all the changes the twins made they didn't make an error and won the game 2-1 and he handled 7 chances cleanly, Blue Moon Odom takes the loss . The A's drop to 78-78, the Twins record there 75th win.

September 22, 1969, Willie Mays, joining Yankee legend Babe Ruth, becomes the second major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs. The historic two-run homer is delivered as a pinch hitter, for George Foster, in the top of the seventh inning off Padres hurler Mike Corkins and proves to be the difference in the Giants' 4-2 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium. And only With 4,779 fans in attendance.

His teammate sets a different standard, Giant outfielder Bobby Bonds, establishes a big league record when he strikes out for the 176th time this season. The California native will finish the year with a total of 187 and will extend the dubious mark next season with two additional strikeouts.

September 22, 1977 -- At Anaheim Stadium, Bert Blyleven no-hits the Angels, 6-0. Ron Jackson reached on a third-inning error by Mario Guerrero, erased on a double play one batter later, and a walk to Carlos May, issued with two outs in the ninth, account for the only two baserunners in the game for Anaheim.

September 22, 1986 -- Los Angeles Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela (20-10) two-hits Houston en route to a 9-2 victory at the Astrodome. The 25 year-old southpaw becomes the first Mexican to win 20 games in the major leagues. Teddy Higuera will be the second only three days later.

September 22, 1990 - At Wrigley Field Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs steals his 300th base in an 11 - 5 loss to the New York Mets, becoming only the second player in major league history with 300 home runs, 300 steals and 2,000 hits. Willie Mays was the other. Bobby Bonds was the only other player at the time with 300 Homers and 300 Steals.

The stole base was Dawson's 16th of the season, the battery was  Ron Darling and Mackey Sasser. Dawson will also hit his 25th homerun in the contest.

Dawson has a history with Darling, he also hit his 300th home run against Darling on April 23, 1989 and gets his 2,000th hit against pitcher Jim Clancy of the Houston Astros at the Astrodome August 18, 1989.

Quote of the day:

Jack Brickhouse on WGN-TV’s call: “The ballgame’s over! The White Sox are the champions of 1959! The 40-year wait has now ended!”

TRIVIA

Who is the only player not named Ted Williams to win an American League batting title in the 1940s or 1950s?

Hint:     A well-rounded defender, he played more than 300 games at each base in the infield.

Hint:     His first major league home run was a grand slam off Virgil Trucks.

Hint:     He was famously painted by Norman Rockwell.

Answer in tomorrow’s newsletter

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

BOB WELCH 

-  Ans.  Welch had a 27-6 season for OAK in 1990, complementing the team’s Bash Brothers offense approach.

-  #1  Pitching for LA, he gave up #400 to Schmidt on 15-May-1984.

-  #2  Welch coached the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.  It was his only season as a major league coach.

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