1927
Popular White Sox outfielder Johnny Mostil attempted suicide in a hotel room in Shreveport, La. Despite razor cuts to his wrist, neck and chest, Mostil survived and returned to the team in April, although he’d only play in 13 games that season.
Mostil suffered a number of injuries in his career, and had severe dental issues and neuritis in his jaw and shoulder; neuritis is an inflamed nerve condition, resulting in sharp and chronic pain. Given the severity of this suicide attempt — and the fact that Mostil plunged his hand into scalding water during his rehab, delaying his return to the White Sox — the star may have been simply trying to end significant suffering, suffering that the medicine of his time could not soothe.
In 10 years with the White Sox, Mostil would hit better than .300 four times (with a high of .328 in 1926) and in two other years, he’d bat better than .290. His 23.8 bWAR ranks 21st among batters, and 34th among all players, in White Sox history.
After his career, Mostil was a longtime White Sox scout/coach. He helped develop future players like All-Star and Gold Glove-winning outfielder Jim Landis.
1934
Speaking of Jim Landis, the fleet center fielder of the Go-Go White Sox was born on this day, in Fresno, Calif. Signed at 18 years old before the 1952 season, Landis spent just three full years in the minors (interrupted by two years of military service) before becoming a White Sox fixture from 1957 to 1964.
Landis is regarded as one of the greatest defensive outfielders in major league history, punctuated with numerous heroics in the 1959 World Series. He also won Gold Gloves in five straight seasons (1960-64). When Landis retired, only Jimmy Piersall had a better fielding percentage among center fielders.
Interestingly, however, Landis only had a career defensive WAR of 2.0 and one outstanding season (2.4 dWAR, 1959) with the White Sox (yes, this means that in his career Landis actually had negative defensive WAR). That 2.4 ranks in a tie for the 31st-best season in White Sox history. More so, it’s probably a reason to pump the brakes on too many defensive metrics, because this one sure seems a bit off.
Incidentally Landis’ son, Craig, became a player agent and represented Paul Konerko, among others.
1972
With talks at a standstill between the owners and the MLBPA over a new labor contract focusing on the players’ pension plan, the White Sox became the first team to have their players vote to authorize a strike if a new deal wasn’t put in place. The vote was 31-0, in favor. When all was said and done, the final vote of all players was 663-10 to strike if a new agreement wasn’t reached. As it turned out a new agreement wasn’t reached before the first few weeks of the season were impacted, and regular season games were lost for the very first time; each team played a different number of games in 1972, with the White Sox playing 154 instead of 162.
1981
Although the deal would take an agonizing nine more days to officially wrap up, Carlton Fisk flew to Chicago to commit to signing with the White Sox. During the press conference, the ex-Red Sox catcher expressed no doubt the deal would get done.
Boston, who lost the rights to Fisk after missing a deadline to mail him his 1981 contract, made a $2 million offer to the catcher over five years, which the White Sox blew out of the water with a $2.9 deal. The Toronto Blue Jays were the third team most prominent in the running for Fisk’s services.
One of the key concerns addressed at the press conference was the risk in giving a 33-year-old catcher a five year deal. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf expressed little concern.
“Fisk will be well-paid, but I don’t think it will be a foolish deal,” Reinsdorf told the assembled reporters. “How many years he has left is a matter of conjecture. But if in three years he does what we anticipate he’ll do, then it will be worth paying him for five years.”
Fisk ended up playing 13 years in Chicago, remaining at least a better-than average catcher through 1990, at 40 years old.
2011
Former White Sox player and first-year minor league manager in the Atlanta system Luis Salazar was hit in the face by a foul ball from Braves catcher Brian McCann. Salazar, who was standing in front of the Atlanta dugout, collapsed and passed out, bleeding profusely. Transported by helicopter to Orlando from Kissimmee, Fla., there was some concern that Salazar will not survive the injury; he recovered, but not without losing his left eye and suffering multiple facial fractures.
Amazingly, Salazar returned to the field to manage his Lynchburg Hellcats in time for the team’s home opener on April 15. Salazar would manage in the Atlanta system from 2011-18.
2023
Taking some time away from Naperville, Nicky Lopez drove in two runs in Italy’s 6-2, 10-inning win over Cuba in Taiwan during the World Baseball Classic. Lopez was outstanding in the WBC, starting at shortstop and hitting .474/.524/.632 with seven RBIs in five games. He led the team in most offensive categories and was only beat out as the All-Star shortstop for the WBC because the U.S.’s Trea Turner was somehow even better.
A year later, Lopez signed with the White Sox and commenced his pretty terrible year on the South Side.
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