Today in White Sox History: May 9

Two endings, one sad and one euphoric

1976

White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood’s career essentially was ended when his left kneecap was shattered by a line drive off the bat of future Sox player Ron LeFlore in Detroit. Wood had gotten off to a fine 4-3 start, with five complete games and an ERA of 2.24, when the injury took place.

Wood missed the rest of the season, and though he came back the following year was never quite the same.

1984

Harold Baines ended the longest game, innings-wise, in American League history when he blasted a home run in the 25^th inning to give the Sox a 7-6 win over Milwaukee.

The 8:06 length of the game set a major league record. Tom Seaver got the win in relief in the marathon contest, which started on May 8 and was suspended after 17 innings.

Amazingly, Seaver then came back and won the regularly-scheduled game later that same evening when the Sox won, 5-4.

For the night, Seaver threw a little more than nine innings, allowing only four hits.

Baines greeted after marathon game homer 5-9-84