Luis Aparicio had just one hit but it proved to be the decisive blow as the Chicago White Sox went on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 in the opener of the Strat-O-Matic 1959 Tournament presented by Press Room Pass.
With the Chicago trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Ted Kluszewski and Larry Doby gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead with RBI Singles off Philadelphia starter Robin Roberts before Aparicio drilled a bases loaded triple to cap a five-run rally.
Early Wynn went the distance for the White Sox limiting the Phillies to five hits, with two coming from Joe Koppe.
Dave Philley knocked in Philadelphia’s run in the second inning with a single to score Harry Anderson, who had tripled.
Al Smith added a run-scoring single in the seventh for the White Sox, who added another run that was unearned for the final tally of the contest.
Smith, Doby and Jim McAnany all had two hits for the White Sox.
Philadelphia’s Richie Asburn had eight putouts in centerfield with an assist as he threw out Smith trying to advance to third on a single by Kluszewski in the fourth frame.
1959 TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
(Top Bracket Opening Round)
(A1) Chicago White Sox 7, (N8) Philadelphia Phillies 1
(N5) Cincinnati Reds at (A4) Detroit Tigers
(A6) Baltimore Orioles at (N3) San Francisco Giants
(A7) Kansas City A’s at (N2) Milwaukee Braves
(Top Bracket Second Round)
(N5) Cincinnati Reds at (A4) Detroit Tigers winner
at (A1) Chicago White Sox
(Bottom Bracket Opening Round)
(A8) Washington Senators at (N1) Los Angeles Dodgers
(A5) Boston Red Sox at (N4) Pittsburgh Pirates
(N6) Chicago Cubs at (A3) New York Yankees
(N7) St. Louis Cardinals at (A2) Cleveland Indians
IN REAL LIFE:
Luis Aparicio was in his fourth big league season in 1959 as he was becoming a star with the White Sox.
The shortstop may have only batted .257, but he topped the American League with 56 stolen bases, started both all-star games and finished second to teammate Nellie Fox in the Most Valuable Player balloting as the White Sox won the pennant.
Aparicio began his 18-year career in 1956 as he earned the AL Rookie of the Year award. That year he started a string of nine straight stolen base titles that ended with a career-high 57 in 1964 with the Baltimore Orioles.
An all-star from 1958 to 1964, Aparicio also earned trips to the mid-summer classic from 1970 to 1972.
After appearing in the World Series in 1959 with the White Sox, Aparicio was part of an Orioles team that swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the title in 1966.
Traded to Baltimore prior to the 1964 season, he played for the Orioles until he was returned to the White Sox after 1967.
The native of Venezuela was later sent to the Boston Red Sox in December of 1970 where played his final three years as he retired after the 1973 season.
Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, he finished his career with 506 stolen bases. He also earned nine Gold Gloves.