August 15 - Frank Thomas becomes White Sox Homerun King

This Day in Baseball - The Daily Rewind

On August 15th, 1971 - Vida Blue raised his record to 22-4 as the A's beat the Yankees, 6 - 4. Blue masterfully scattered 10 hits and scored the tie breaking run on a wild pitch. He would finish the season at 24-8, with a 1.82 ERA earning him not only the American League Cy Young Award, but also the American League MVP.

On August 15th, 1977 In a 2 - 1 win over Kansas City, Boston's Jim Rice hits a 3rd-inning double and became the first Boston player since Ted Williams in 1939 to hit 20 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a season. Between Williams and Rice, only Charlie “King Kong” Keller in 1946, DiMaggio twice in ’48 and 50, and Mickey Mantle accomplished the feat.

On August 15th, 1996 Frank Thomas hits three homers for the White Sox, becoming the ChiSox career home run leader, but Boston wins 9-8. Thomas hits his first two off Tim Wakefield, giving him 214 bombs to pass Carlton Fisk who caught for both the White and Red Sox during his career.

August 15th, 1916 - At Fenway Park in a battle of titans, Boston's Babe Ruth outduels Nationals' ace Walter Johnson, winning 1-0 in 13 innings. Ruth is now 3-0 in his meetings with Johnson.

August 15th, 1955, Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate in the same game for the second time in his career, tying the major-league mark. The Yanks beat the Orioles 12 - 6 in game two and sweep the doubleheader to move back into first.

August 15th, 1962 - Pinch-hit home runs by the Mets' Choo Choo Coleman in the 6th and Jim Hickman in the 8th tie the major-league record for pinch home runs by one club in one game. The Mets still lose to the Phils, 8 - 7. Three years later to the day, Max Alvis and Leon Wagner also hit pinch hit homers for Cleveland in a 6-4 win over Minnesota.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

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