Today in White Sox History: April 5
The South Siders sign a slugger, end up with a dud
Deron Johnson (No. 15) had some big moments for the Sox in 1975 — only they were Red, not White. | (Photo by Tom Landers/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) 1974 The White Sox opened the season at home under freezing conditions versus the Angels and Nolan Ryan.
Wilbur Wood started, which caused broadcaster Harry Caray to comment that the game was “The tortoise against the hare. ” This time the hare won, as Ryan and the Angels got an easy 8-2 victory. The game did have its moments, however.
The streaking craze had hit college campuses and, on this day, a few young ladies in the upper deck decided to partially streak while a young man jumped the outfield fence and ran naked through left field before being hoisted back into the stands by his friends. White Sox manager Chuck Tanner had one of the best lines anywhere when asked what he thought about the outfield streaker: “I wasn’t impressed by him. ” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink … say no more!
) 1975 Hoping for a bounce-back season from him, the White Sox inked free agent first baseman Deron Johnson . Hopes of improved play did not materialize, however, as Johnson slashed just . 232/.
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