Today in White Sox History: June 23

1956

It was first of the two great fights on the field between Yankees and White Sox players; almost one year later, June 13, 1957, the second one took place.

In this one Bob Grim (uncle to former White Sox director of business development and broadcasting Bob Grim) threw one high and tight to outfielder Dave Philley in the home half of the sixth inning. The ball glanced off of Philley’s shoulder and bounced into his batting helmet, knocking it off. Philley charged the mound, as the benches and bullpens emptied. Both players swung at each other, as the rest of the teams held each other back.

Order was restored after about 20 minutes. Philley was tossed from the game. Grim was allowed to stay in, but perhaps shaken; he was tagged for two runs ... driven in by Sherm Lollar and Luis Aparicio, the only runs on the day in Chicago’s 2-0 win.

1958

The White Sox purchased the contract of pitcher Turk Lown from the Reds. Lown and teammate Gerry Staley, also acquired via the purchase route in 1956, gave the White Sox one of the top bullpens in baseball during the late 1950s/early 1960s. They were especially effective during the 1959 AL pennant season. That year, Lown would go 9-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 15 saves. Staley also had 15 saves that year, and the pair led the league in that category.

1963

White Sox catcher J.C. Martin set an American League record by being involved in three double plays in a 2-0 loss at Cleveland. Martin had two strike-out/throw-out double plays, and was also in the middle of a third base-to-catcher-to-first base one. His record would later be tied by another Sox catcher, Ed Herrmann.

And in both cases, the Sox would lose the game!