Note: This is an occasional series on random ticket stubs in the @SoxNerd‘s collection
The White Sox had no trouble dispatching the defending American League champions on June 27, 1996 at then-named Comiskey Park.
A four-run first and Darren Lewis’ four-hit effort propelled the Sox to a 15-10 win over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a series before what was dubbed in the Chicago Tribune as a disappointing crowd of 27,782 at 35th and Shields.
The turnout was ripped because this was in the heat of the Albert Belle era Sox-Indians rivalry and Cleveland was one of the game’s marquee franchises at the time.
“Sox ‘crowd’ pleaser” the Tribune headline sneered the day after with a drop head that read, “Less than full house for opener,”
The Sox poo-poo’ed the attendance talk by banging out 15 hits in pulling to within two games of first-place Cleveland.
“That’s their choice,” Robin Ventura said in the Tribune. “They’re the ones who pay to come out. If they don’t want to come out, they won’t. We’ve got to keep playing. It doesn’t matter how many people are here.”
The attendance storyline isn’t as prominent as it once was. During this time, though, attendance was a big deal for many reasons: the upper deck, the work stoppage of 1994, the performance of the team, the Cubs, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
This was Lewis’ best game with the Sox. He was 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and two doubles while Lyle Mouton and Ventura homered in support of starter and winner Alex Fernandez.
The 1996 team was one of the most frustrating in recent memory. Stacked with talent, this team managed by Terry Bevington finished second in the Central and three games out of a wild card spot.