Some dates in baseball history are defined by heartbreak, and others by heroics. For the Chicago White Sox, May 9 offers a stark contrast—a devastating injury that altered a career, and a marathon battle that became legend. Let’s step into the time machine.
In 1976, the South Siders faced a gut punch. Pitcher Wilbur Wood, who had been off to a stellar 4-3 start with five complete games and a 2.49 ERA, saw his career take a tragic turn. A sixth-inning line drive off the bat of future White Sox player Ron LeFlore shattered Wood’s left kneecap. He managed to earn the win in a 4-2 victory, but the injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Though he returned the following year, Wood was never the same—a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change on the diamond.
Fast forward to 1984, and the White Sox delivered a performance for the ages. Harold Baines etched his name into the record books by ending the longest game in American League history—a 25-inning slugfest against the Milwaukee Brewers. With one out in the top of the 25th, Baines launched a home run off Chuck Porter to secure a 7-6 victory, coming just one inning shy of the major league record. The game, which started on May 8 and was suspended after 17 innings, lasted a staggering 8 hours and 6 minutes—a new MLB record. An incredible 753 pitches were thrown.
The drama didn’t stop there. The Brewers appeared to have the game in hand after scoring three runs in the 21st inning, but the White Sox rallied back with three of their own to stay alive. In a quirky twist, pitcher Richard Dotson pinch-ran for the less fleet Marc Hill and scored the tying run. It was the second time Chicago fought back from the brink—they had already tied the game in the ninth inning thanks to a Tom Paciorek error, a Julio Cruz double, and a Rudy Law single.
The marathon took its toll. After the 21st inning, the White Sox lost their designated hitter, forcing pitchers Ron Reed and Floyd Bannister to hit for themselves. Both ended the 22nd and 24th innings on groundouts. Chicago also missed a golden opportunity in the 23rd when Dave Stegman—whose move from DH to left field cost them the designated hitter—was ruled out after being touched by third base coach Jim Leyland while advancing on a single. A subsequent single by Vance Law would have been the game-winner if not for that call.
From a shattered kneecap to a 25-inning thriller, May 9 reminds us why baseball is a game of resilience. Whether you’re a player or a fan, every pitch matters—and sometimes, the best stories are written in extra innings.