July 21

1977 Jewel Tea #7 - Chris Knapp

On this day in 1976, Chris Knapp won his first MLB game.

Chris made his debut on September 4, 1975. He only appeared in two games, finishing both, walking four and striking out three. He got another shot in 1976 and made a better impression. He darted between fill-in starter and reliever for most of the time he was up with the parent club. Knapp had gotten his first loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers on July 4, 1976, in a tough 3-2 loss, where he went eight innings. His next chance to start came in the first game on a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on July 21, 1976. Chris threw a complete game against the Motor City Kitties and won 4-1, giving up only four hits. It would be the first win in a sweep of the Tigers that day.

Knapp's second win came on September 8, 1976, when Goose Gossage got rocked by the Oakland Athletics and was taken out after retiring only one batter. Chris relieved Goose for eight and two-thirds innings to finish out the nine inning game. From that point, Knapp was a starter for the White Sox. In 1977, he went 12-7 as the offense helped the Sox win ninety games. After the 1977 season, Chris was traded to the California Angels with Brian Downing and Dave Frost for Bobby Bonds, Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson.