Through all of my years attending games at both Wrigley and what ever name Sox Park was using I have been able to see all thirty major league teams at least once. So, here thanks to retrosheet (an invaluable resource to any baseball nerd) are my most memorable games that I have seen for each team in the majors. I will do the AL teams today and the NL in my next post. Please go to www.retrosheet.org if you have any interest in baseball box scores like I do.
Baltimore Orioles – July 1st 2001 at the Cell, Orioles 11 White Sox 3 - This game was memorable in that it was Ripken’s last year. I actually went in on a 7 game ticket package with Dell and Chuck and we picked this game based on the logic of wanting to see Ripken one last time. Rocky Biddle started for the Sox and got rocked leaving the field to a cascade of boo’s.
Boston Red Sox – June 16, 2003 at the Cell, White Sox 4 Red Sox 2 - The game itself was rather dull. It had rained and the game was in doubt as we were headed to the Park. I was meeting my Mom, Lou and Joyce in the Stadium Club. There I went in with my Mom and bought three Sox Split tickets. Sure enough what happens, our number comes in and my Mom and I split $1,700 bucks.
New York Yankees - August 8th 2005 at Yankee Stadium, Yankees 3 White Sox 2 – This one was memorable because it was at Yankee Stadium. We were in the right field bleachers and got an up close and personal look at Yankee fans. Park itself was kind of a disappointment and the game was not really noteworthy.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays – August 5th, 2001 at the Cell, Devil Rays 6 White Sox 4 – Not a huge sample of games for me to pick from as this is the only time I have ever seen the D’ Rays. Don’t remember much of this one other then it was a Sunday and Ray’s scored two in the ninth to beat current Cub Bob Howry.
Toronto Blue Jays – September 16th, 2000 at the Cell, White Sox 6 Blue Jays 3 – This one was memorable because we all went in on a skybox for the game. We get in there and immediately our friend Rick is escorted out of there for stealing a party sub from the box next to ours. With no limit on booze, the game itself was an afterthought. All I remember was the Sox scored fivve in the eighth to pull this one out.
Chicago White Sox – June 28th 2003 at the Cell, White Sox 7 Cubs 6 – Since I have seen the Cubs and Sox more then any other team I thought I would use the cross-town classics as my most memorable for each team. The low point for me in the series was this game. 2003 would be a magical season for the Cubs but on this day it would be a nightmare. The Cubs took an early lead and both teams battled back and forth. Emotions were running high as they usually do in this series. Then in 9th with the game tied, D' Angelo Jimenez would hit a 15 hop single up the middle to win the game for the southsiders. It was the longest walk back to a car in my life. The irony was the Sox would cut Jimenez two days later.
Cleveland Indians – August 6th 1983 At Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Rangers 6 Indians 1 – My Dad and I traveled from Columbus to Cleveland with his neighbor to check out the Indians. All I can say is that old ballpark was a pit. We had box seats and we got nose bleeds. My front lawn was manicured better then the infield. The hot dog vendor was clipping his nails as he was selling us hot dogs. The pinnacle of the game was when Otto Velez who was the Tribe’s DH that day after striking out on 9 pitches in his first 3 at bats fouled off a pitch in his fourth. The 13,000 who were in attendance that day gave him a standing ovation.
Detroit Tigers – April 22nd, 2000 at the Cell, White Sox 14 Tigers 6 – My friend Dell had a ticket to the game but could not go. He called me and offered it to me for free. Since my friends Chris and Wally were already going, I took the ticket off his hands. It was a nice balmy April day and the game started innocently enough. The in the 7th when Jim Parque plunked Dean Palmer for retaliation of Carlos Lee getting hit the inning before it was on. A bench clearing brawl for the ages. All told by the end of this game there would be eight total ejections. There were so many fights going on at the same time I didn’t know which one to concentrate on. My favorite memory was Robert Fick heading back to the bullpen with both middle fingers extended to the fans and the fans showering him with beers on his way out of the park.
Kansas City Royals – July 16th 2001 at Wrigley Field Royals 4 Cubs 2– My brother worked at a law firm with former Mayor Jane Byrne’s daughter. One day he calls me and tells me he got two tickets from Kathy Byrne for the Cubs game. My friend Tony and I head down and find we are three rows behind the Cub dugout. Just great seats even though the outcome of the game sucked.
Minnesota Twins – August 10th 2006 at the Metrodome Blue Jays 5 Twins 0– I was stuck in Minnesota for work and had nothing to do. So I decided to check out a Twins game. I went up to the box office and got a pretty good seat down the right field line. I got to see future Cub Ted Lilly pitch six shutout innings. All in all the Metrodome was pretty sterile and I see no reason to go back.
Anaheim Angels – May 18th, 2002 at the Cell White Sox 10 Angels 4– Again, Dell had two tickets and could not use them. So I took Joyce to the game. It was 31 degrees at first pitch. We were bundled up and were in survival mode. Of course it would be a three hour nightmare and there is no way I am going to leave a game early. Somehow she still married me.
Oakland A’s – August 18th, 2001 at the Cell A’s 5 White Sox 4– Chuck, Dell and I were all set to meet our friends Kevin and Wally in the parking lot before the game to grill. We went out the day before and bought some burgers and dogs. So, we head to the park and it starts pouring rain. It was coming down so hard we had no choice but to abandon our cookout idea and head into the park for shelter. The game would start over two hours late. That sucked because I had a ticket to a sneak preview of Jay and Silent Bob Strike back that night. Finally the game starts and it is nip and tuck. Then in the eighth the A’s score two runs off of the Sox pen sending my friends into Tourette's Syndrome. I was able to race to Crestwood to catch the flick however.
Seattle Mariners – September 10th 1978 at Comiskey Park White Sox 2 Mariners 1– My Grandfather worked for J.C. Deacon Plywood. Once or twice a year Mr. Deacon would throw my Gramps a couple of golden box seats for a ballgame. So, my Grandpa and I headed down to Sox Park for this game. I remember it simply because the game was short. 1 Hour and 58 minutes for an American League game is rare. Still, my Grandpa and I had a good time as we hit Huck Finn on Archer and Damon for breakfast before the game and Les Brothers for dinner after it. I was nine years old and I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
Texas Rangers – May 12th 2001 at the Cell Rangers 16 White Sox 6 – I went to the game with Dell, his brother John and Chuck. There we saw the Rangers score eight runs in the first two innings. The game was over an hour and half old and we were still in the second inning. The game would take almost four hours when it was all said and done and I believe has to go down as the longest nine inning game I have ever been to.
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