Bonura, Stratton Et Al.

The ball autographed by the 1937 White Sox arrived around the same time Colson Montgomery cued a ball past Jose Ramirez down the third-base line for a run-scoring double in the seventh inning. Kyle Teel scoring from first with two out? Words fail. But the 3-0 win over the Guardians still counts. So, the ball must’ve been with the mail carrier in her truck when Munetaka Murakami absolutely demolished a non-sinking sinker from Parker Messick in the fourth for a 2-0 Sox lead; the ball went an estimated 440 feet to the stands in deep right field. I’d like to think Zeke Bonura would’ve approved at such a display of raw power. Letting slip a little awe would’ve been understandable. As for Jimmy Dykes, he probably would’ve envied the success of all the moves made by his 21st century counterpart, Vibes Venable. With the bases loaded and two out in the third, Venable called on Bryan Hudson to relieve opener Hagen Smith. Hudson ran the count full before retiring Chase DeLauter on an opposite-field lineout to Randal Grichuk in left. Wait, there’s more. With two out and a runner on first in the fourth, Venable summoned Anthony Kay out of the pen. Let’s just say Kay was more lucky than good. The veteran lefty gave up a double and a walk before inducing Brayan Rocchio to line out to right. Wait, there’s more. After Kay pitched a one-two-three fifth inning (pinch me), Venable called on de facto closer Grant Taylor for the sixth inning, and the seventh, and the eighth, and, yes, the ninth. Taylor needed 42 pitches to get the job done. After the game, I took a closer look at the autographed ball. I’d forgotten Dixie Walker was on the team (think players’ revolt, Jackie Robinson) and Jackie Hayes, whose career was cut short by an eye infection that led to blindness. Let it, and a ball like this will tell all sorts of stories. Along with the autographs was a date: July 31, 1937. My guess is that the autographs were collected on that Saturday. If so, it was in Philadelphia, where the Sox shut out the A’s 2-0 behind a complete game by Monty Stratton. And now a ball carrying his autographs and those of his teammates sits on a cigar cabinet in our dining room. Any connection with this Sox team is purely coincidental. Or not.