August 5, 2021—Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first live broadcast of a major league baseball game over commercial radio.
At 6:00 pm, on the evening of November 2, 1920, Pittsburgh-based station KDKA had aired the first commercial radio broadcast—coverage of the returns of the Warren G. Harding-James M. Cox presidential election (the first in which white women were allowed to vote), announced by Leo Henry Rosenberg (1896-1988), to a small audience of shortwave radio listeners. The eighteen-hour broadcast—originating from the top floor of one of the buildings at the two-million-square-foot Main Works of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company in East Pittsburgh—lasted until noon the following day. Real-time information about the election was supplied to KDKA via telephone by reporters at the Pittsburgh Post and the Pittsburgh Sun.
Early KDKA Studio, East Pittsburgh, c 1921
Then, on April 11, 1921, KDKA broadcast the first live sporting event—a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee—originating from Motor Square Garden (Pittsburgh).
Harold Arlin
These events led up to the first baseball broadcast, on August 5, 1921 from Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The play-by-play coverage of the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies was voiced by Harold W. Arlin (1895-1986), who had been the primary announcer on KDKA’s evening broadcasts during the previous months. The twenty-five-year-old Arlin announced the game using a repurposed telephone receiver as a microphone, and other makeshift equipment, situated behind home plate. The Pirates—who went on to finish second in the National League standings with a record of 90-63—won the August 5th game by a score of 8-5.
The 1921 Pirates roster included the colorfully named infielders, Rabbit Maranville (5’5″, 155#), Cotton Tierney (5’8″, 175#), and Pie Traynor (6′, 170#), and outfielder, Possum Whitted (5’8½”, 168#).
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease throws a dominant, scoreless 6 innings (2 BB, 11 SO). Beautiful. Michael Kopeck gives up the Royals only run in the 7th. Garrett Crochet works a scoreless 8th. Ryan Tepera goes 1-2-3 in the 9th (1 SO). OFFENSE: Royals starter Kris Bubic pitches a quality start, giving up 3 runs and striking out 8 on 6.0 IP. But Royals reliever Kyle Zimmer issues three consecutive BBs to start the 7th, setting up a 4-run inning for the White Sox. Andrew Vaughn solo HR (12) in the 2nd. Tim Anderson 2-run HR (10) in the 3rd. Seby Zavala run-scoring BB, Tim Anderson RBI 1B, and José Abreu 2-RBI 1B in the 7th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Giolito
Hernández
8-7, 3.67, 143 | 2-1, 4.98, 42
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Royals / Carlos Hernández, RHP
L, 9-1, 63-45 (.583). L1 | LP: Lucas Giolito (8-8, 3.98) | Game 108
DEFENSE: Lucas Giolito doesn’t have it tonight. He gives up 6 ER on 4.0 IP (8 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 2 SO). Reliever Matt Foster (called up 8/3) pitches 2.0 clean innings. José Ruiz throws the next 2.0 IP, giving up 3 ER on 4 H (1 BB, 0 SO). Aaron Bummer goes 1-2-3 in the 9th (1 SO). OFFENSE: José Abreu solo HR (19) in the 4th produces the only run for the White Sox.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Keuchel
Lynch
7-4, 4.51, 71 | 1-3, 6.95, 13
Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Royals / Daniel Lynch, LHP
DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel – 3 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 5 SO on 6.0+ IP. OFFENSE: José Abreu solo HR (20) with two outs in the 1st. Eloy Jiménez RBI 2B in the 8th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Three-Game Series at Chicago Cubs
White Sox sweep series 3-0 | 2021 Crosstown Classic 3-0 (continues August 27)
• Third-ever 3-game sweep vs. Cubs • Tied Cubs for most HRs in a 6-game span ever at Wrigley Field (20) • Cubs only team to allow 3+ first-inning HRs in multiple games this season (2)
…just sayin.
Lynn
Hendricks
10-3, 2.07, 122 | 13-4, 3.71, 94
Friday, August 6, 2021 at 1:20 pm CDT Wrigley Field Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Cubs / Kyle Hendricks, RHP
DEFENSE: Following a 17-minute rain delay, with the Cubs wearing their “Wrigleyville” City Connect unis, Lance Lynn delivers another high-quality start, giving up just 1 run and striking out 8 on 6.0+ IP (4 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB), to bring his ERA down to 2.04. Lynn does face one batter (Andrew Romine) in the 7th, who bunts a 1B, before Tony La Russa calls it a day. Lynn gets little help from the bullpen. Still in the 7th, Michael Kopeck throws a BB, a flyout, and a sac fly run. Aaron Bummer then retires Patrick Wisdom on a flyout (with the help of Brian Goodwin) to end the inning. When Greg Kimbrel takes the mound in the 8th, his former teammates have his number. He blows the save, allowing 3 singles and giving up a 3-run homer (to Andrew Romine, who has not hit a big league HR since 2017) to tie the game at 4. Liam Hendriks steps in to stop the bleeding, with three swinging strikeouts (1H), in the 9th. Garrett Crochet gives up a 2-run HR (0 BB, 0 SO), in the 10th. OFFENSE: In the 9th, former White Sox Codi Heuer (1 BB) pitches well against his former teammates, striking out Tim Anderson, and pitching José Abreu into a groundout double play. Earlier, Andrew Vaughn RBI 1B, in the 4th. César Hernández 2-run HR (his 1st as a White Sox, 19th on the season), in the 8th. It’s still 4-4 at the end of 9. In the 10th, Brian Goodwin 2-run HR (7), Gavin Sheets–PH and Tim Anderson knock an RBI 1B each. Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel answers with a 2-run HR of his own, but it’s not enough to clinch the first game of the crosstown series. Notably, La Russa subs out Eloy Jiménez (1-for-4) for a pinch runner (Brian Goodwin), after he doubles, in the 6th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
W, 4-0, 65-46 (.586), W2 | WP: Carlos Rodón (9-5) | Game 111
DEFENSE: Carlos Rodón throws another gem, striking out 11 in 5.0+ shutout innings (2 H, 2 BB). After Rodón issues his second consecutive lead-off walk in the 6th, La Russa sends in Michael Kopech, who immediately gets the first out (K), then gives up a base hit, then gets the second out (PO), leaving Cubs runners on the corners. José Abreu gets him out of the jam with an arm-extended-lunge-position catch at 1st, for the final out (GO to Yoán Moncada at 3rd). With Kopech subbed out for pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets, Aaron Bummer takes the mound in the 7th (1 H, 2 SO). In the wake of yesterday’s disaster, CraigKimbrel gets back on the horse to pitch a clean 1-2-3 inning, in the 8th. Ryan Tepera takes on 4 of his former teammates in the 9th, to clinch the shutout (1 H, 1 SO). OFFENSE: Yoán Moncada 2-RBI 2B in the 1st. Back-to-back solo HRs by César Hernández (20 – 18 CLE, 2 CWS) and José Abreu (21), in the 8th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
ESPN
Cease
Davies
8-6, 3.92, 149 | 6-8, 4.79, 79
Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 6:08 pm CDT Wrigley Field – ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Exclusively on ABC Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Cubs / Zach Davies, RHP
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease throws a solid 5.0 inning start, giving up 3 earned and striking out 10 (5 H, 3 R, 3 BB). His command waivers a bit in the 2nd and 3rd, but he recovers, retiring the next 6 Cubs (5 of them strikeouts), in the 4th and 5th. (Cease currently has the largest home-road ERA differential in the AL.) Reynaldo López delivers a scoreless 2 innings (1 H, 3 SO) in the 6th and 7th. Ryan Tepera goes 1-2-3 (0 SO) in the 8th. José Ruiz strikes out 3 in the 9th. The 2021 White Sox now have the most 10+ strikeout games in a season in franchise history (17)—and it’s only August 8. OFFENSE: On national TV, the Sox proudly smash 3 HRs in the 1st—Tim Anderson solo HR (11) off the first pitch of the game, Eloy Jiménez 2-run HR (2) brings in Adam Engel (singled), and Andrew Vaughn 2-run HR (13) brings in Yoán Moncada (walked). Most first-inning HRs in a road game in franchise history, and the first time White Sox hit 3 first-inning HRs since 07/03/2012.Eloy Jiménez 2-RBI double, in the 2nd. Eloy Jiménez solo HR (3) in the 5th. Andrew Vaughn RBI 1B, in the 7th. La Russa had given Tim Anderson the night off, but TA comes in early for some extra BP and talks his way back into the lineup, telling La Russa, “I found something.” And so he did. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
July 30—The Chicago Cubs trade veteran right-handed closer and 8x All-Star Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox for injured second baseman Nick Madrigal (sad face) and RHP Codi Heuer. Kimbrel has the most career saves (368) of any active pitcher, and is 9th on the all-time saves list. He was drafted by Atlanta in the third round of the 2008 draft, and debuted with the Braves in 2010. He was subsequently traded to the Padres, Red Sox, and Cubs. Kimbral joins the Sox with a season-to-date ERA of 0.49 and 64 SO on 36 ⅔ IP. Publicly at least, Liam Hendriks is handling the trade like a champ.
July 29—The Chicago Cubs trade right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera to the White Sox for A+ LHP Bailey Horn, who came to the Sox from Auburn University in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. Tepera received a three-game suspension early this season for intentionally hitting Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff. He was one of four Cubs pitchers to throw a combined no-hitter against the Dodgers on 06/24/2021. His season-to-date ERA is 2.91 with 50 SO on 43 ⅓ IP.
July 29—The Cleveland Indians trade 9-year veteran second baseman César Hernández to the White Sox for AA RHP Konnor Pilkington, who came to the Sox from Mississippi State in the third round of the 2018 draft. Hernandez won the AL Golden Glove at 2B in 2020. His season-to-date batting average of .231 is down from his career average of .272.
DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel allows 4 R on 6.0 IP (6 H, 4 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 SO), including 2 solo HRs by Jorge Soler, and a third by Andrew Benintendi. Cori Heuer (1-2-3, 0 SO) and Garrett Crochet (2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) finish out the game, pitching a scoreless inning each. OFFENSE: Andrew Vaughn 2-RBI 1B in the 6th. Adam Engel RBI 1B in the 9th. Fresh off the IL, Eloy Jiménez goes 0-for-4, but is visibly excited to be back in the lineup. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Cease
Keller
7-6, 4.21, 132 | 7-9, 5.84, 89
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Kauffman Stadium Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Royals / Brad Keller, RHP
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease allows 3 R on 6.0 IP (6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO). Reynaldo López (1 SO), Michael Kopech (3 SO), and Liam Hendriks (1 SO) pitch a 1-2-3, no-hit inning each. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez 3-run HR (1) off Kyle Zimmer in the 8th. Jiménez also shines defensively, making two difficult running catches in the 4th, and throwing Michael A. Taylor out at home in the 2nd. Gavin Sheets solo HR (6) in the 4thYoán Moncada RBI groundout in the 8th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Giolito
Bubic
8-7, 3.78, 136 | 3-4, 4.72, 57
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Kauffman Stadium Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Royals / Kris Bubic, LHP
L, 3-2, 60-42 (.588), L1 | LP: Ryan Burr (2-1, 3.26) | Game 102
DEFENSE: Lucas Giolito gives up just 1 R, striking out 7, on 6.0 IP (4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB). Aaron Bummer (2 SO) and Michael Kopech (0 SO) pitch a no-hit inning each, before Liam Hendriks gives up the tying run—a Salvador Perez solo HR—in the 9th. A Michael A. Taylor 1B brings in the automatic runner to win the game for the Royals in the 10th. OFFENSE: The White Sox 5 H are all off starter Kris Bubic (3 SO). The Royals bullpen strikes out 6. Danny Mendick 2-RBI 1B in the 5th brings in Andrew Vaughn (1B) and Leury García (1B).Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
L, 5-0, 60-43 (.583), L2 | LP: Carlos Rodón (8-5, 2.49) | Game 103
DEFENSE: Carlos Rodón allows 8 H and 4 R on 4.0 IP (4 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO), starting with a 2-run HR by Salvador Perez in the 1st. He gives up a solo HR to Michael A. Taylor in the 2nd, and Hunter Dozier brings in Carlos Santana on a sac fly in the 3rd, making it 4-0 Royals. Rodón’s velocity is a few MPH lower than normal through the first couple of innings. With Reynaldo López pitching in the 5th, Jorge Soler reaches on an E6 (Leury García), then advances to third on a Hunter Dozier 2B, and scores on a Michael A. Taylor sac fly. López goes 1-2-3 in the 6th (1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO on 2.0 IP). Ryan Burr delivers 2.0 no-hit innings, giving up 2 BB (0 SO). The White Sox turn a 4-5-3 double play to finish out the 8th. OFFENSE: Royals starter, Carlos Hernández, gives up just 4 H and 1 BB to the White Sox on 6.0 IP (4 SO). Their bullpen allows just one more hit and strikes out 5, for the shutout.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
July 29—Evan Marshall, RHP moved from 10-day to 60-day IL (to make room on 40-man roster)
2021 Trade Deadline
University of Delhi
The 2021 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is Friday, July 30 at 4:00 pm EDT.
Three-Game Series vs. Cleveland Indians
White Sox win series 2-1
Lynn
Mejia
10-3, 1.91, 115 | 1-6, 7.52, 41
Friday, July 30, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Indians / J.C. Mejia, RHP
W, 6-4, 61-43 (.587), W1 | WP: José Ruiz (1-1, 2.90) | S: Liam Hendriks (26) | Game 104
DEFENSE: Lance Lynn gives up 3 R on 7 H for a 5-inning no decision (3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO). Garrett Crochet and Aaron Bummer pitch a clean inning each. But Ryan Tepera’sWhite Sox debut in the 8th is less-than-illustrious. He gives up a HR and a 1B, then issues a BB, before being replaced by José Ruiz, who retires the next three to end the inning (the first out comes on a sac bunt that loads the bases with Indians). Lethal Liam Hendriks goes 1-2-3 (2 SO) for the save (26). OFFENSE: In the 2nd, a one-in-a-million situation occurs when Cleveland outfielders Bradley Zimmer and Daniel Johnson collide at the center-field wall, both running to catch Yoán Moncada’s line drive, which rebounds out of Zimmer’s glove, sending it over the wall for a solo HR that should have been a lineout. Brian Goodwin RBI 1B brings Moncada in from second base, in the 4th. Then, with one out and two on, Leury García grounds into a force out at second, beats the throw to first for a base hit, and brings in a run. Andrew Vaughn run-scoring BB in the 5th. Tim Anderson RBI 1B in the 8th, before José Abreu HBP with bases loaded and no outs forces the final run of the game. “Controlled pandemonium” ensues…
La Russa Rushes Infield
When James Karinchak hits José Abreu in the noggin with a 96 MPH fastball, Tony La Russa rushes out of the dugout to confront Indians catcher Roberto Pérez—a run that launches a thousand memes (see below). Both benches clear, but no blows are exchanged. In the end, Abreu hugs Karinchak and takes his base.
La Russa runs with the Beatles
La Russa runs with Forrest Gump
La Russa runs to the vault
Tony La Russa on tempers flaring after José Abreu HBP
Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
July 30—SS Danny Mendick and RHP Ryan Burr optioned to Charlotte Knights (AAA)
L, 12-11, 61-44 (.581), L1 | LP: Michael Kopech (3-1, 2.55) | Game 105
Rookie catcher Seby Zavaya goes 4-for-4, becoming the first Big League player ever to slam his first three career HRs in a single game—and the second of his three consecutive homers just happens to be a Grand Slam! He tops off the night with a 1B on his 4th and final at bat of the game.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Lambert
Quantrill
0-1, 12.6, 6 | 2-2, 3.66, 55
Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Jimmy Lambert, RHP vs. Indians /Cal Quantrill, RHP
August 1—Outfielder Billy Hamilton is back on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, the same injury that landed him there on June 6. This is Hamilton’s third time on the IL this season.
