Today in White Sox History: August 22
José Abreu loses his mind — and his ability to hit anything but homers
1923
In a game at Comiskey Park, Sox pitcher Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston threw a perfect inning (striking out the side on only nine pitches) versus the Philadelphia Athletics. It came in the 12th inning. He retired Frank “Beauty” McGowan, Clarence “Chick” Galloway and Sam Hale.
Still Thurston, who came on in relief starting in the 11th inning, got the loss in the 13-inning game, 3-2.
1968
In Detroit, White Sox pitcher Tommy John was attacked by Dick McAuliffe of the Tigers. McAuliffe, who made the final out in Joe Horlen’s no-hitter in 1967, walked in the third inning but veered away on his way to first base to attack John, feeling that some of John’s pitches were close to him. John suffered a shoulder injury and had to go on the injured list, ending his season. John was 10-5, with an ERA of 1.98, at the time he was hurt. McAuliffe was suspended for only five games.
1980
White Sox owner Bill Veeck agreed to sell the team to Edward DeBartolo, a multimillionaire who invented the modern-day shopping mall in Ohio. DeBartolo would end up being voted down by the other league owners due to speculation about his possible association with mobsters, and his acknowledged horse racing interests. The way was then opened for Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn to purchase the team.
The White Sox were actually an afterthought for the two eventual new owners: Einhorn was part of a group trying to buy the San Diego Padres, and Reinsdorf was part of a group attempting to own the New York Mets.
2020
It seemed like every day during the pandemic-influenced season something record-setting was happening for the White Sox. On this date against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, José Abreu wrote his name in the record books by homering in three straight at-bats, driving in four runs in the 7-4 win. On the night, he went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Abreu had already homered twice in a Friday night win, and would add a solo shot on Sunday afternoon, giving him six round-trippers in the three-game set — the first time a Sox player had ever done that.
And Abreu’s home run Sunday would come in his first at-bat, giving him four in a row over those two days. He became the 15th player in team history to homer three times or more in a single game. Abreu’s amazing offensive production in the 60-game season would earn him the 2020 AL MVP.