Memorable Moments in White Sox History: April 28 Highlights

On April 28, the Chicago White Sox have experienced a series of remarkable milestones throughout their storied history. From record-breaking performances to significant trades, this date has seen it all.

In 1901, the White Sox delivered a stunning offensive display against the Cleveland Blues, winning 13-1 at South Side Park. Remarkably, the Sox accomplished this feat without any extra-base hits, as Bock Baker of the Blues allowed a record 23 singles. Fred McMullin led the charge with four singles, while every player in the lineup contributed at least one hit. Clark Griffith not only secured the complete-game victory on the mound but also added a single to his performance. Cleveland, on the other hand, managed to collect seven hits, all of which were also singles, bringing the total to an astounding 30 singles in the game.

Fast forward to 1926, and the White Sox celebrated their 2,000th win in franchise history with a 9-5 victory over the Tigers in Detroit. Tommy Thomas pitched deep into the eighth inning to earn the win, while outfielder Johnny Mostil contributed two RBIs, and Jim Edwards notched the save, marking the only one of his career.

The year 1946 marked a bittersweet moment for the White Sox as pitcher Ted Lyons achieved his 260th career victory, which would ultimately be his last in the majors. Lyons edged out the St. Louis Browns with a 4-3 win, closing out his illustrious career with an impressive streak of 28 consecutive complete games dating back to 1941, despite missing three years for military service during World War II. The White Sox honored his legacy by retiring his No. 16 jersey in 1987.

In a rare twist of fate in 1950, the White Sox reversed a trade that sent reliever Joe Ostrowski and cash to the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Dick Wakefield. Despite Wakefield’s declining career, White Sox GM Frank Lane was willing to take a chance, yet the trade fell apart when Wakefield demanded a salary restoration that the team refused. The Yankees protested, but Commissioner Happy Chandler sided with the White Sox, officially sending Wakefield back to New York.

April 28, 1984, witnessed a memorable moment at Comiskey Park as Tony Armas hit a home run into the center field bleachers, becoming only the sixth player to achieve this feat. This was the first occurrence in 14 years and just the second time in 46 seasons. However, Britt Burns, who pitched in relief, blew the save, costing Tom Seaver his 274th career win. The White Sox had initially surged to a 6-0 lead, but an error by Scott Fletcher allowed the winning run to score.

In 2008, a rare suspended game unfolded as the White Sox faced the Orioles amid unrelenting rain. After a delay of over two hours and a muddy infield, the game was called after the 12th inning, with Juan Uribe hitting a solo shot to keep the White Sox alive. The game was eventually completed on August 25, where the Orioles emerged victorious 4-3 on a bases-loaded single by Luis Montañez.

The year 2015 brought unprecedented challenges as protests in Baltimore over the arrest of Freddie Gray led to the cancellation of the White Sox-Orioles game, which was ultimately played without spectators the following day.

Most recently, in 2019, White Sox pitcher Reynaldo López showcased his potential with a stellar performance against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field. He struck out 14 batters in six innings, allowing just one unearned run, and the White Sox won 4-1. López’s remarkable outing marked only the third time since 1908 that a pitcher struck out 14 in six innings without allowing an earned run, while the team collectively fanned 20 Tigers hitters, tying the record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.