‘68 Chisox and ‘53 Brownies spit a 4 game set

9/21-9/22 - Sportsman's Park
GAME 1 - Browns 4, White Sox 2
Gary Peters (0-5) continued to take it on the chin for a Chisox team that is barely clinging to the hope of making the post season.  After the Pale Hose scratched for a run in the 6th to tie the score at 2 all Peters served up a 2 out gopher ball to Don Lenhardt in the bottom of the inning to put the Brownies ahead for good.  A Clint Courtney RBI single in the bottom of the 8th provided additional insurance as the Brownies, also fighting to stay in the post season running, got a much needed victory.

GAME 2 - Browns 6, White Sox 0
Tommy John (1-5, 6.58) continued his "Generosity to the American League Tour" by blowing up in the bottom of the 6th inning and yielding 5 unanswered runs.  On this day the Chisox offense followed John's lead and took the day off as well.  Virgil Trucks tossed a tidy 5 hit shutout and was never in trouble.  Lenhardt hit his 4th homer of the season and had 3 RBI's on the day as the Brownies moved back over the .500 mark.  In a side note veteran Ken Boyer was given one final AB in front of a St. Louis crowd that adored him for years.  Boyer, now a bench player for the Chisox, went down swinging in the bottom of the 9th but still received a nice 2 minute ovation.

9/23-9/24 - Comiskey Park
GAME 3 - White Sox 3, Browns 0
Joe Horlen (5-2, 2.60) has had to be perfect all year due to lack of run support and the fact that he's been the Pale Hose's only reliable / durable starter.  After being shutout in the previous game the Chisox surprised everyone with a run in the first thanks to an error by Johnny Groth in center.  That error turned Tommy Davis sinking liner into an extra base hit, which allowed Davis to score on Tom McCraw's clutch 2 out single.  Two innings later McCraw would plate another run with a beautifully executed squeeze play.  After Davis walked in the 6th McCraw bunted him over to second where he scored easily on Ken Berry's double.  Horlen was able to effectively scatter 7 hits and fan 2 without walking any as he went the distance for the complete game shutout.

GAME 3 - White Sox 5, Browns 4 (10 inn)
A pressure packed series finale where the winner still has some chance at grabbing a wild card slot, while the loser pretty much will find themselves on the outside looking in.  Comiskey Park, which is normally an empty cavern, was filled to 3/4 capacity.  Half the crowd was there to root on their Pale Hose, while the other half came to see the great Satchel Paige in his final go around in a career that has had the longest twilight in the history of professional sports.  Paige's opposing number Jack Fisher hoped to be up to the task to duel the aged Negro League star.  After  Duane Josephson doubled to lead off the bottom of the 3rd, Fisher bunted him over to second and Little Luis Aparicio singled him home to break the ice.  Paige would use all of his veteran guile to battle Chicago, but gave up another solo run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th.  Blame not Mr. Paige, but blame the poor fielding offered up by shortstop Billy Hunter and righfielder Vic Wertz.  Paige was able to save the day by fanning Tommy Davis to end the inning an limit the damage to one unearned run.  Things were looking real good for Fisher and the Chisox until the top of the 6th when Fisher just could not get anyone out.  After Johnny Groth led off with a walk the Brownies posted 6 consecutive single, which netted 4 big runs and gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead, which ended Fisher's day.  Wilbur Wood, the knuckleballing lefty, was called on to put out the fire, but actually wound up fanning the flame by allowing 2 of his inherited runners to score.  Wood put the brakes on the slide and closed the door on the Brownies the rest of the way.  That wouldn't have been enough if it weren't for a 2 run outburst in the bottom of the 7th off of reliever Les Cain.  With 1 out third baseman Bob Elliott booted a hard grounder by Duane Josephson.  After Wood grounded out for the second out of the inning Aparicio came through with his 3rd hit of the day (a double) to score Josephson.  Sandy Alomar came up next with a single to center to score Luis and tie the game up and keep Chicago's season on life support.  Neither team could score in regulation and tension began to mount.  A haze of negativity overcame Comiskey when the PA announcer informed the crowd that Chicago's own beloved Ron Santo passed away.  While known mostly for his 15 seasons on the north side of town Santo finished up his illustrious career on the South side as a part time player for the Chisox.  While professional ballplayers are supposed to be beyond the emotion of the day the Chisox seemed to turn the negative of Santo's passing and turn it into some sort of positive energy.  Sandy Alomar led off the bottom of the 10th with a single off of reliever Don Larsen.  After Larsen tossed over to first a few times and catcher Clint Courtney called a pitchout, Alomar stole second.  Tommy Davis flew out to center for the first out of the inning, but Tom McCraw doubled off the left center wall to easily score Alomar and end the game.  Fans were certainly excited with the win, but their excitement was tempered with their sadness as they began to mourn the passing of the late great Ron Santo.