Today in White Sox History: August 20

1915

The White Sox purchased the contract of Shoeless Joe Jackson from Cleveland for $31,500 and three journeyman players. Jackson, despite the “Black Sox” scandal, is still considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Babe Ruth said he modeled his swing after Jackson’s, and Ty Cobb said Jackson was the best hitter he ever saw. Joe hit .356 for his career in the major leagues.

1928

White Sox rookie Art “The Great” Shires made a sensational debut, with four hits against the Red Sox in a 6-4 win. He’s one of only 11 players to ever get four or more hits in his first big-league game. “The Great” nickname, by the way, was self-assigned!

1929

The White Sox honored pitcher Urban “Red” Faber with a day at Comiskey Park. The Hall-of-Famer won 254 games (all with the Sox), and had four seasons of 20 or more wins.

1948

The White Sox played before the largest regular-season crowd in franchise history, on a Friday night in Cleveland. An amazing 78,382 were on hand to see the Tribe edge the Sox, 1-0, at Cleveland Stadium.

1957

Pitcher Bob Keegan tossed the first night no-hitter in White Sox history, as he blanked Washington, 6-0, at Comiskey Park. It was the second game of a doubleheader. Keegan walked two Senators in the game, and only faced 28 men. At 37, he became the oldest Sox pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter.

Keegan would go 10-8 in a season that saw the Sox win 90 games and finish in second place.

1989

After White Sox star Harold Baines was traded to Texas on July 29, the team retired his uniform number No. 3 when the Rangers came to Chicago. He was only the third active player to have his uniform number retired by a club, joining Frank Robinson and Phil Niekro.