This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 30, 1922

White Sox hurler Charlie Robertson pitches a perfect game against the Tigers at Detroit, as Chicago wins the game, 2-0.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 29, 1987

The "Hawk" is flying high as Andre Dawson hits for the cycle, as the Cubs beat the Giants, 8-4, before 11,120 Wrigley Field fans.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 28, 1972

The Cubs defeat the fabled Big Red Machine, 10-8, at the Friendly Confines, as Cub outfielder Jim Hickman has six RBIs in the game.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 27, 1925

Who's on first? Bud Clancy we presume. But it is hardly necessary as White Sox first baseman Clancy plays the entire nine innings against the St. Louis Browns without a fielding opportunity.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 26, 1905

Cub outfielder Jack McCarthy establishes a major league record by throwing out three baserunners at home plate in one game. The Cubs defeat the Pirates, 2-1, in Pittsburgh.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 25, 1876

The Chicago White Stockings (later the Cubs)make their National League debut. Albert G. Spaulding hits and pitches Chicago to a 4-0 victory over the home Louisville team.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 24, 1901

The first official American League game is played at South Side Park at 39th and Wentworth. The White Stockings of Chicago defeat the Blues of Cleveland by a score of 8-2.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 23, 1914

Weeghman Park (later to be renamed Wrigley Field) opens its gates at Clark and Addison as the home field for the Chicago Whales of the new baseball Federal League. The Whales swallow up the Kansas City Packers, 9-1.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 22, 1950

Cook County Superior Judge John A. Sbarbaro fines the American Bowling Congress $2,500 for its exclusion of non-whites from its bowling leagues and championship tournaments.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 21, 1956

After two are out in the second inning, the Kansas City Athletics bats explode for thirteen runs in the inning, as they defeat the White Sox, 15-1.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 20, 1986

Michael Jordan scores 63 points in a two-overtime playoff game against the Celtics at the Boston Garden. Despite Jordan setting the NBA scoring record, the Bulls lose the game, 135-131.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 19, 1979

The Bulls and Lakers flip a coin for the NBA's number one draft pick. Chicago calls heads, and the coin comes up tails. LA goes on to select Earvin "Magic" Johnson in the June 25th draft.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 18, 1991

The portals are opened for the first game at the new Comiskey Park. However the inhospitable Detroit Tigers maul the Chisox, 16-0.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 17, 1974

Catcher George Mitterwald, affectionately known as "The Baron", connects for three homers in the Cubs 18-9 shellacking of the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 16, 1961

The Black Hawks win their third and last Stanley Cup, beating the Detroit Red Wings, 5-1, at the Chicago Stadium.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 15, 1983

Detroit hurler Milt Wilcox retires 26 consecutive White Sox batters before pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston spoils his perfect game bid with a single to center. The Sox lose the game, 6-0.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 14, 1981

The largest opening day crowd at Comiskey Park, 51,560, watch the White Sox wallop the Brewers, 9-3. Carlton Fisk's grand slam homer is the key blow for the South Siders.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 13, 1976

A Wrigley Field opening day crowd of 44,818 is on hand to watch the Cubs edge the Mets, 5-4, on a Rick Monday single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 12, 1938

The Blackhawks win their second Stanley Cup by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1, before a crowd of 17,205 at the Stadium.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 11, 1982

The White Sox open the season in New York and sweep the Yankees in a doubleheader, 7-6 and 2-0. Salome Barojas registers a save in his first major league game and Kevin Hickey records his first career win.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 10, 1934

Chicago receives its first Stanley Cup, as Mush Marsh scores at 10:05 in the second overtime to break a scoreless tie and give the Blackhawks a 1-0 victory over Detroit to capture the NHL championship.

Cubs left-fielder Billy Williams is "double-trouble" for the Phillies, as he belts four consecutive two-baggers, in an 11-3 romp for the Cubs at beautiful Wrigley Field.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 8, 1947

The Chicago American Gears, the Windy City's National Basketball League franchise, wins the league title by defeating the Rochester Royals, 79-68, in a game played at the International Amphitheater.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 7, 1984

Detroit hurler Jack Morris throws a no-hitter against the White Sox, as the Tigers win, 4-0, in a game played at Comiskey Park.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 6, 1927

Seventeen year-old swimmer, George Kojac, sets a world record in swimming the 150 yard backstroke at the Chicago Athletic Association pool.

Trading Away the Future

Fifty years ago Bill Veeck thought that the White Sox had to make three keys moves to build on their pennant winning success in 1959. Veeck believed that the Sox were weak in three positions in 1959-----right-field, third-base and first-base. Right-field that year was shared by Jungle Jim Rivera and Jim McAnany who combined for four homers and forty-five RBIs. When a trade opportunity presented itself to reacquire Go Go Sox favorite Minnie Minoso, who was coming off another outstanding season with Cleveland with a .302 average, 21 homers and 92 RBIs, Veeck pulled the trigger on the deal sending great prospects and future stars Norm Cash and John Romano to the Indians.

A strange trio played first-base for the Sox in 1959. There were good field, no hit Earl Torgeson, catcher Sherman Lollar and late season acquisition Ted Kluszewski. Veeck learned that All-Star power-hitting first-baseman Roy Sievers was available from the Senators, so he traded catcher Earl Battey, first-baseman Don Mincher and cash to obtain Sievers.

Third-base in 1959 for the Sox was handled by Bubba Phillips and Sammy Esposito, who produced a combined six homers and forty-five homers. Gene Freese who hit twenty-three homers and drove in seventy RBIs for the Phillies that year was viewed as a definite upgrade, and the Sox traded rookie outfielder Johnny Callison to get him.

The Sox could not repeat their pennant-winning year in 1960 with the addition of Minoso, Sievers and Freese. The young players traded away---- Cash, Callison, Battey, Romano and Mincher all had outstanding careers. One can only speculate how good the White Sox would have been in the 60s' if they kept that young talent. Thus Bill Veeck had a two-fold legacy in Sox history----winning the pennant in 1959 and trading away the future the next year.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 5, 1960

The White Sox trade catcher Earl Battey, first-baseman Don Mincher and pay $150,000 to the Washington Senators for slugging first-baseman Roy Sievers.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 4, 1964

Crane Tech defeats Loyola Academy, 73-65, in the annual All-Chicago championship high- school game at the Stadium, marking the seventh consecutive winning of the title by the Public League.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 3, 1988

The Blackhawks lose to New Jersey, 4-3, in overtime, allowing the Devils to make the playoffs for the first time in their history.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 2, 1960

Wilt Chamberlain and the Harlem Globetrotters defeat a team of College All-Stars, 88-82, before 20,613 fans at the Chicago Stadium.

This Date in Chicago Sports--- April 1, 1984

Glenbrook North wins the Illinois high school hockey championship, defeating St. Rita, 7-4, in a match played at the Franklin Park Ice Arena.