Tony La Russa gets an oddly-timed extension
1907
The White Sox Home Opener started off inauspiciously, as the World Champions pennant was raised — and the pole flying it fell over!
However, the game went more smoothly, in front of 10,000 fans at South Side Park. Nick Altrock pitched the distance, scattering seven singles in winning a 2-0 shutout over the Browns. The White Sox struck for their two runs in the fourth inning, when George Davis tripled home Jiggs Donahue and Patsy Dougherty.
The White Sox improved to 4-2 on the season, edging into first place by a half-game; it would be their first of 113 days during the season the White Sox sat atop the American League, although by season’s end they would finish 87-64-6 and sit in third place, six games out.
1972
Because of the labor impasse and the late start to the season, it wasn’t until the middle of the month that the White Sox finally opened at home. It turned out to be a night home opener, and the 20,000-plus fans who turned out gave a standing-ovation welcome to new Sox slugger Dick Allen.
Allen didn’t disappoint, going 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs in a 14-0 win over Texas. Afterwards Dick said, “I think I’m going to like it here.” Teammate Carlos May had six RBIs on the night. Bill Melton added two. The heart of the Sox lineup drove in 10 runs in the victory.
1982
After a season was delayed three times by snowout, once by rainout and another time by sheer cold, the 1982 season got underway on April 11. And interestingly, this stitched-together start became the most successful in White Sox history, with a winning streak extending to eight on this date.
The White Sox wound up a sweep (their third straight to start 1982) with a 6-4 win over Baltimore. Tied 4-4 after the seventh-inning stretch, Vance Law walked and Ron LeFlore singled Law to second. Then, on a double steal, Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey threw the ball into left field for an error that scored both Law and LeFlore.
LeFlore went 3-for-5 with the steal, plus an assist from CF to retire Rich Dauer at first base. Jerry Koosman had a mediocre start for the Sox but was in line for the win until LaMarr Hoyt blew the save; Hoyt vultured the win with three innings of one-run relief and Salomé Barojas kept his smoking-hot start to the season by bailing out Hoyt after a leadoff walk in the ninth and pitching clean to earn his fifth save (in eight games!). (Barojas had been purchased from the Mexico City Reds just 18 days earlier!)
After a day off, the Yankees came to Comiskey Park and finally snapped the White Sox streak with an 11-2 blowout, and Chicago would fall out of first place a few days after that. The 1982 White Sox finished 87-75 (their most wins since 1977) and in third place in the AL West.
The eight-game winning streak to start the season remains tied for the 14th-longest in MLB history.
1983
Despite a sluggish start to the season at 5-5, manager Tony La Russa was given a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the helm through 1984. White Sox owner Eddie Einhorn cited a worry that other teams might lure La Russa away after the season as a reason for the oddly-timed contract agreement.
La Russa, in expressing his appreciation at the confidence shown in him, helping to give him an “edge” in managing, proved prescient as quoted by United Press International.
“I will still keep things simple,” the skipper said. “In 1983, we’ll be a competitive and contending club, because we’ve got talent.”
La Russa’s 1983 White Sox remain tied for second in franchise history with 99 wins, pocketing the Western Division title.
1991
The White Sox opened the new Comiskey Park, in front of 42,191 fans, by falling flat on their faces and getting wiped out, 16-0.
The game started out quietly, scoreless through two innings. But in the third, the Tigers struck for six off of Jack McDowell, including the first home run in the new park, by Cecil Fielder. Brian Drahman relieved Black Jack and got out of the third, but then allowed five earned runs while recording just one out in the fourth, and Ken Patterson poured fuel on the fire, allowing another five runs for a 10-run Tigers inning. Through four frames, the score was 16-0.
The game was so out of hand, that by the eighth inning, Tigers manager Sparky Anderson let Detroit starter Frank Tanana bat for himself, striking out. Tanana threw a complete game shutout on the day.
The next day, White Sox players burned the jersey of pitcher Scott Radinsky (who tossed a one-hit, two-K seventh inning in the opener) at second base as a sacrifice to the baseball gods for leaving the original park, according to teammate and losing pitcher in the inaugural game, McDowell.
1994
White Sox leadoff man Tim Raines belted three home runs in a game at Fenway Park. He went 4-for-5 with four RBIs in the easy, 12-1 win over the Red Sox. It was the only three-homer game of Raines’ Hall of Fame career.
2000
The White Sox set their franchise record for their most runs ever scored in the fourth inning when they plated 11 of them in Chicago against the Mariners. They trailed, 6-2, before sending 14 batters to the plate. Tanyon Sturtze got the win in relief of Cal Eldred as the Sox won, 18-11.
2007
Mark Buehrle became the 15th pitcher in franchise history to toss a no-hitter (16th overall at that time), as he beat the Rangers, 6-0. Buehrle struck out eight and only allowed one base-runner, giving up a walk to former White Sox player Sammy Sosa in the fifth inning. Buehrle then picked Sosa off of first base, creating a sort of unique “perfect” game for himself.
Buehrle’s was the first White Sox no-hitter in Chicago since Joe Horlen’s in 1967. It also was the first no-hitter thrown at New Comiskey/U.S. Cellular Field.
Providing the scoring were Jermaine Dye with a grand slam, and Jim Thome adding two solo home runs.