September 25

1922 Exhibits (W461) #21 - Bibb Falk

On this day in 1922, the White Sox played an exhibition game in Galva, Illinois

The White Sox played against a team made up from the Three I, Western and American Leagues at Swanson's Field on the southwest edge of Galva. The Galva American Legion and the Illinois Valley Baseball League collected the $2000 at the gate. After expenses were paid, they were able to split $500.

The White Sox starters  squared off against an All-Star team led by Bill Jackson, a former Peoria Three I manager. The All-Stars were leading 6-5 in the ninth inning, but the White Sox came roaring back with five runs to win the game 10-6. Various reports claim that Elmer "Chum" Leaf came up with an idea to pin numbers on the players' uniforms, so the crowd could identify players from a distance. Team captain Eddie Collins balked at the idea, allegedly saying, "What do you think we are, a bunch of prisoners with numbers on our backs?"

Though no box score has been found, it's hard not to imagine that the starting left fielder, Bibb Falk, was not in the game. Only 23 at the time, he batted .298 in 1922, and appeared in 131 games. 129 of those were patrolling left field. With the White Sox surging past the All-Stars in the ninth, I can see Bibb in the mix.