Monday, December 31, 2012

White Sox Rally Late at Fenway Park

April 13, 1967 Fenway Park
The Sox batted around in the ninth inning scoring 5 times coming from behind to defeat the Boston Red Sox winning their first game of the season.  Bruce Howard started for the Palehose but back to back errors in the sixth cost Bruce an otherwise solid pitching performance.

After 8 innings, Chicago trailed 5 - 3. But, in the top of the 9th, the White Sox rallied with the assist of two Bosox errors. Don Buford started the comeback with a single. After a couple Red Sox errors Tommy McCraw had a rbi hit  followed by Ron Hansen doubling in the tying and go ahead runs. Jerry Adair continued a red hot early season start with his 3rd hit of the game, driving in 2 insurance runs.  Bob Locker closed the door in the ninth garnering his 1st save of 1967.

Jack Lamabe picked up the win. Pete Ward hit the first Chisox homerun. And, Manager Eddie Stanky flashed his aggressive managing style sending his runners at will as they stole 4 more bases.







Sunday, December 30, 2012

Opening Day at Fenway Park April 12, 1967

Manager Eddie Stanky tabbed John Buzhardt as his starting pitcher to face Bosox eventual Cy Young winner, Jim Lonborg.  Less than 9,000 in attendance witnessed Rico Petrocelli blast a 2-out 3-run homer in the 3rd, and the Red Sox would hold on to win 5-4.  Don McMahon recorded the save and Chicago's Jerry Adair went 2 for 4 with an rbi (ironically, both players would later switch teams during the season). 

Trailing by one in the eighth, the Sox pulled off a double steal (Tommie Agee and Tom McCraw), but both runners were left stranded at 2nd and 3rd as Ken Berry and JC Martin struck out to end the inning. Tony Conigliaro and Carl Yastrzemski were a combined 0 for 9. Chisox Pete Ward tripled and had two base on balls with a run scored.








Saturday, December 29, 2012

Bill Skowron and Jack Lamabe Traded in Spring of 1967

In late April, Jack Lamabe was shipped to the New York Mets and on May 6, 1967 Bill Skowron was traded to the California Angels for Cotton Nash (later plays an important role in Joel Horlen's September no-hitter) and cash.

Lamabe had pitched okay for the Sox in 1966 (including a 1-hit shutout), but with the pitching staff loaded for the '67 season, he was traded. Skowron at 36 years of age, was a team leader during 1965/66 and a hometown favorite. 1967 was to be his final major league season and played his last game against Joe Sparma of the Detroit Tigers on 10/1/67. I had the honor of meeting 'Moose' in 1996.







1967 White Sox Coaching Staff

Eddie Stanky, Manager - Les Moss - Kerby Farrell - Grover Resinger - Marv Grissom are shown here during spring training at Payne Park in Sarasota, Fl. It's interesting to note during 1967 spring training, the team donned the previous year's uniform style (numbers on sleeve). Not until opening day at Comiskey Park in 1967 did the team showcase the new 1967 style (numbers on chest).







Friday, December 28, 2012

Horlen and Peters hurled 518 innings in 1967

518 innings between two starting pitchers is the equivalent of 57 complete games! Eleven different White Sox pitchers started games during the '67 season, including rookies Cisco Carlos and Steve Jones making their major league debuts. With meager team hitting all season, Stanky relied heavily on his two allstar aces, Joel Horlen and Gary Peters, to give the team a chance to win the inevitable low scoring games.  






1967 Chisox starting pitchers

Sarasota, Fl. April 3, 1967
Pitching coach Marv Grissom has his starting staff ready for start of season: Joel Horlen, Bruce Howard, Tommy John, John Buzhardt and Gary Peters. Horlen, John and Peters later becoming the Big 3 while compiling a combined 15 shutouts during the 1967 campaign. Other starting pitchers during the exciting 1967 season would be southpawJim O'Toole (until injured), knuckler Wilbur Wood,  rookies Cisco Carlos, Steve Jones, Fred Klages, and Aurelio Monteagudo.



Chicago White Sox 56 Player Roster and uniform numbers during 1967 Spring Training at Payne Park in Sarasota, Fl


1967 Chicago White Sox

As retirement nears and my goal of becoming a connoisseur of leisure is within my grasp, I plan to upload interesting sports memorabilia pics and stories about baseball heroes of my youth, the 1967 Chicago White Sox . (some focus on earlier years, also).

Some players and coaches to be highlighted: Joel Horlen, Gary Peters, Pete Ward, Eddie Stanky, John Buzhardt, Cisco Carlos, Wayne Causey, Jim O'Toole, Al Weis, Tommy McCraw, Hoyt Wilhelm, Cotton Nash, Don Buford, Steve Jones, and more.