This Date in Chicago Sports---July 31, 1985

Arlington Park, the Chicago area's fabled racetrack, is destroyed by a raging fire. Fortunately the fire, which started when the track was closed, does not spread to the stable area, and there is no loss of human or animal life.

I Wonder if They're Republicans

New White Sox Mark Kotsay was born in Whittier, California, where Richard Nixon attended Whittier College. Sox basher, Ben Zobrist of the Rays, was born in Eureka, Illinois where Ronald Reagan attended Eureka College. I just wonder their political affiliations, if any.

Fear and Dread

Tonight, with considerable fear and dread, I'll be at the White Sox game. I'm beset with gloom since in my prior six games this year the Sox have lost five, including the 20-1 debacle against the hated Twins. I guess I must be jinxing them. Tonight we face those bums from the Bronx, one of the hottest three teams in baseball. We can always have hope as President Obama says(or was that President Clinton)?

Reflecting White Sox Memories at Max and Benny's South Sider Night

Last night hundreds of former residents of South Shore, Hyde Park and Jeffrey Manor packed Max and Benny's restaurant at the eatery's first Max and Benny's South Sider Night. Lester Schlan, my cousin and the owner of the establishment, was looking great in his White Sox jersey and hat. It brought back fond memories to me when my uncles Julie and Jerry Schlan bought White Sox season tickets for the 1960 season after the Sox won the pennant in 1959. I remember the White Sox sending out Dizzy Trout (Steve's dad, who worked in White Sox community relations), outfielder Al Smith (of spilled beer fame) and outfielder Jim Landis (the best fielding center fielder that has worn white and black in my time) to the family business, Veterans' Supply at 9237 S. Houston in South Chicago. They spent over an hour schmoozing with my uncles and the employees. I was working part-time for my uncles then, a star-struck 14 year White Sox fan seeing and talking to those heroes of mine. What a thrill! And boy has the game of baseball changed! Can you imagine today major league players spending their off seasons peddling tickets for the team?

This Date in Chicago Sports History:

July 30, 1929

Kid Chocolate, the Cuban featherweight boxing phenom, wins a ten-round decision in a match against Steve Smith at Mills Stadium on the West Side.

This Date in Chicago Sports---July 27, 1973

July 27, 1973

The last College All-Star football game was played. The Miami Dolphins defeated the College All-Stars 14-3, behind two Larry Csonka touchdowns. A crowd of 54, 103 watched the event at Soldier Field.

Buddy Myer Once Again Ignored by HOF Veterans' Committee

Another Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony has concluded, and once again the Veterans' Committee has ignored second baseman Buddy Myer, who batted .303 over a career span of 17 years, 16 of them with the Washington Senators. Myer came up to the majors in 1925 and retired in 1941. Myer was a contemporary of Hall of Fame second baseman Billy Herman who had a lifetime batting average of .304, one point above Myer's. Myer played in 1923 games to Herman's 1922, and scored 1174 runs compared to 1163 for Herman. Myer also outpaced Herman in RBIs', 850 to 839.

Herman did have about 200 more career hits, but Myer had about 200 more walks. Herman did outpace Myer in doubles 486-353, but Myer hit 130 triples to Herman's 82, and Myer's 156 stolen bases far exceeded Herman's 67. Both players had minimal home run power, 47 for Herman and 38 for Myer. Myer even played in two World Series in 1925 and 1933, although the Senators fell short of the title in both years.

Buddy Myer happened to be Jewish. Besides Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax, we Jewish baseball fans don't have much representation among players at Cooperstown. This is why I am kvelling about Buddy Myer's career accomplishments, who I believe far exceeded yesterday's inductee, second baseman Joe Gordon who just happened to play for the Yankees and hit home runs.