It’s an unbelievable story, one that only happened once for the White Sox: they won a game that was officially declared forfeited. Back in 1917, at Comiskey Park, Cleveland lost its mind in a 3-3 tie game, leading umpire Clarence “Brick” Owens to make a call that sealed a 9-0 victory for the Sox.
The Day the Rulebook Took Over
The chaos erupted in the top of the 10th inning. A close interference call went against Cleveland’s Jack Graney. When they took the field for the bottom half, players started throwing their gloves in the air, some literally rolling in the dirt. This argument dragged on for 10 minutes. White Sox pitcher Dave Danforth struck out to lead off the inning, but Cleveland catcher Steve O’Neill deliberately threw the ball into center field. Umpire Owens had seen enough, declaring the White Sox the winners by a final score of 9-0. Imagine the scene!
Scoreboards Blown Up and Infamous Spectators
Just a few years later, in 1921, the White Sox and Tigers went utterly bonkers, setting an American League record for most runs (35) and hits (42) in a single game! The Sox came out on top, 20-15, at Comiskey Park, racking up 22 hits themselves. First baseman Earl Sheely put on a show, going 5-for-5 with five runs and five RBIs, falling just a double shy of the cycle. His was the only homer in that 35-run explosion. Johnny Mostil chipped in with four RBIs, and those 20 runs are still tied for the fifth-most ever scored by the White Sox. All 35 runs came in the first seven innings, with the eighth and top of the ninth going completely scoreless! Relief pitcher Dickie Kerr “earned” the win despite giving up nine runs (seven earned) in four innings, but Shovel Hodge locked it down with a two-frame, scoreless save. Umpire Brick Owens was behind the plate for this slugfest too! Fast forward to 1931, and the notorious Al Capone, head of Chicago’s largest crime syndicate, was spotted in the front row on the White Sox side of the field during a Crosstown exhibition game against the Cubs at Comiskey Park.
Streaks Snapped, Legacies Begun
Let’s flash back to 1913, when Ping Bodie delivered a solo homer that mercifully ended a brutal 26 ⅓-inning scoring drought for the White Sox. That streak had dragged on for nearly three full games! The Sox had won 1-0 against the St. Louis Browns, then been shut out 4-0 and 1-0 by them, and were still scoreless in the game in Philadelphia before Bodie’s blast. Ironically, the White Sox went on to win that game in shutout fashion themselves, 2-0, against the 85-45 Athletics. Reb Russell tossed a gem for his 20th win, finessing through six hits and six walks, with Ray Schalk catching all three attempted steals. Then in 1930, future Hall-of-Famer Luke Appling, acquired from the minor-league Atlanta Crackers, made it to Comiskey Park just in time to catch the end of a 10-1 win over the Red Sox. The very next day, Appling made his big-league debut, notching his first of 2,749 career hits for the White Sox with a single to center in a 6-1 loss. He went 1-for-4 that game.
White Sox history is absolutely packed with unforgettable moments, from players throwing gloves and umpires making unprecedented calls, to record-smashing run totals and future legends taking their first steps.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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