Games and Moments

September 18,1970
vs. Minnesota Twins
at White Sox Park

The brand new manager of the Chicago White Sox strode into the visitors' clubhouse of Kansas City Municipal Stadium, looking resplendent in his grey road uniform, the first major league uniform he had worn in a while. Outside, the weather perfectly matched the mood of the clubhouse and the franchise in general-dark, gloomy and with a steady, continuous rain.

"I'm...

Games and Moments
The Rebuild Begins
September 1, 1970


All summer long Sox fans sent letters to the Tribune begging John Allyn to do something, anything, in order to whip the team into shape. Fire Gutteridge, fire Short; bring back Frank Lane, Eddie Stanky (they were both gainfully employed elsewhere by this time and may not have any desire to go back to the Sox, but no matter). Hire Billy Martin, whose firebrand style got the Twins to the playoffs in 1969 but later...

Games and Moments

August 29, 1970
vs. Boston Red Sox
at White Sox Park

Just when the Boston Red Sox thought it was safe to pick on the White Sox again...

The White Sox continued to lose, lose and lose some more. Occasionally they would give their fans something to cheer about, but those moments were few and far between.

The team decided to have a little fun with themselves. Soxers Bill Melton, Ed Herrmann and Gail Hopkins restored...

Games and Moments

August 19, 1970
vs. Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park

The quaint internet phrase '***' was decades away from becoming a thing. However, I suspect that more than one fan of the 1970 Red Sox (and perhaps the players themselves) were shouting the full phrase that those initials stand for more than once while watching their team play the White Sox.

First, there was the 22-13 massacre at Fenway at the end of May. Boston rooters got a bit...

Games and Moments

July 19, 1970
vs. Baltimore Orioles
at White Sox Park

The losing continues unabated for our hapless 1970 heroes. The team bags last place on July 7, rises out for a day, then settles in for good on the 10th.

One positive is Carlos May, whose comeback continues to be a success, as he is batting .299. Meanwhile Bill Melton is shifted to the outfield for his own protection.

This day belonged to Luis Aparicio. The star...