By Woodrow Carroll
After an 8-1 Opening Day victory over the Los Angeles Angels, fans of the Chicago White Sox started to think that last season’s 41-121 (.253) debacle had been put behind. No, true realists had no illusions about the White Sox suddenly becoming contenders. But, maybe better times were ahead. Well, after 22 games into the 2025 schedule, even worse times instead may be in store for the Pale Hose.
After last Monday’s 8-4 setback at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the White Sox were proud possessors of a 5-17 (.227) record. As you can see based on the White Sox final percentage from 2024, the White Sox are going to have to step it up just to equal, if you want to call it that, what the club did last season.
To take your mind off the negativity emanating from the White Sox struggles, here are some interesting baseball factoids.
For starters, the oldest living ex-Major League player is Bill Greason who did not play for the White Sox. Actually, Greason hardly played in the Majors at all! Born September 3, 1924, Greason played three games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954. Perhaps of greater interest might be the fact that Greason was an African American at a time Major League Baseball was just starting to integrate.
Another aspect of being the oldest anything usually means your time at the top is limited. Although, a laudable goal for the most part.
In 1959, the Chicago White Sox took on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series that season. Now, what can we dig up in the trivia department surrounding that Series?
The Dodgers captured the 1959 World Series four games to two, even though the White Sox scored the first 13 runs in the Series. The opening game in the 1959 Fall Classic, played in Comiskey Park, went the White Sox way by a 11-0 final score. The following day, Chicago grabbed a quick 2-0 lead only to see Los Angeles come back for a 3-2 victory that evened the Series.
Games three and four of the 1959 World Series were in Los Angeles’s favor. And the White Sox bats stayed mostly cool.
The Dodgers were ahead three games to one in the 1959 Series and game five of the 1959 World Series produced a rarity. No RBI was recorded by either team.
There was no score in the top of the forth inning when the White Sox’ Nelson Fox led off the inning with a single. Jim Landis then followed with a single that sent Fox to third. With a big inning, Sherm Lollar hit a double play that brought Fox into score. No RBI being awarded on a double play. The Sox mounted no further threats the rest of the game. The Dodgers had their opportunities! But. Sox pitching stood up and Chicago ended up winning the contest 1-0.
Historical note! The White Sox Luis Aparicio and the Dodgers Sandy Koufax, senior members of baseball’s Hall of Fame, faced each other in game five of the 1959 World Series. Aparicio led off against Koufax with a single. Trying to stretch the single in to a double, Aparicio was out at second.
The reprieve victory in game five gave the White Sox some hope going in game six back in Chicago. A false hope because the Dodgers won, 9-3, to bring the Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles the World Championship.