Thursday, June 21, 2012

June 21

1973 Topps #20 - Stan Bahnsen

On this day in 1973, Stan Bahnsen beat the Oakland Athletics 2-0, but allowed twelve hits, including three to catcher Ray Fosse, and one walk, proving that style is no match for substance.

The combination of poor hitting by the A's with runners in scoring position, poor base running and dumb luck caused this amazing performance by White Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen. It's described as amazing because only one Oakland player, Joe Rudi, grounded into a double play. The eventual 1973 World Champions would leave ten men on base. In the fifth inning, the Athletics had three straight singles, but failed to load the bases or score.

Bahnsen was a twenty-one game winner in 1972, his first year with the South Siders, and had an 18-21 record in 1973. Stan got progressively worse each year for the Sox, until he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1975 with Skip Pitlock for Dave Hamilton and Chet Lemon.

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