Eleven Runs on One Hit – Revisiting a Most Peculiar Inning

On this Date (April 22) in 1959, the Chicago White Sox completed what may be the weirdest MLB offensive inning ever – an event Baseball Roundtable feels is worth revisiting.

In the seventh inning of a 20-6 road win over the Kansas City A’s, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on just one base hit. In fact, they got only one ball out of the infield.

Nellie Fox drew two bases-loaded walks in the seventh inning of a White Sox 20-6 win.

This unique offensive “outburst” would prove to be a portent of things to come. The 1959 AL pennant-winning White Sox were became known as the “Go-Go Sox” for their ability to manufacture runs despite a punchless offense. (The Sox finished last in the league in home runs and sixth – out of the eight AL teams – in batting average and runs scored, but first in stolen bases and second in walks).

Still, it would have been hard to predict an inning in which the boys from Chicago would plate eleven runs on just one hit (a single) – or to anticipate a frame which included ten walks, a hit batsman, and three opposition errors. Here are few “numbers” from that 11-run inning:

• The Sox sent 17 batters to the plate, but collected just one hit – and, in fact, got only one ball out of the infield.
• Sox’ hitters stepped into the box with runners in scoring position 14 times.
• Sox hitters batted with the bases loaded 12 times and never got the ball past the pitcher.
• Eight different White Sox’ players drew walks.
• The Sox drew eight bases-loaded walks (and had one bases-loaded hit batsman). and

White Sox 2B Nellie Fox walked twice with the bases loaded in the inning.

Here’s how it went that inning (per baseball-reference.com):

• 1B Ray Boone is safe on a throwing error by A’s shortstop Joe DeMaestri.
• RF Al Smith attempts to sacrifice Boone to second (score was 8-6 at the time) and reaches safely on an error by A’s third baseman Hal Smith.
• LF Johnny Callison singles to right. Scoring Boone and Smith (with the help of an error by A’s right fielder Roger Maris). Callison ends up on third.
• SS Louis Aparicio walks – steals second (runners now on second and third).
• P Bob Shaw walks (loading bases).
• PH Earl Torgeson (batting for 3B Sammy Esposito) walks (scoring Callison).
• 2B Nellie Fox walks (scoring Aparicio).
• CF Jim Landis reaches on fielder’s choice – grounding back to pitcher Mark Freeman, who takes the force at home (bases still loaded).
• C Sherman Lollar walks (scoring Torgeson, bases still loaded).
• Ray Boone makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Nellie Fox).
• Al Smith makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Landis).
• Johnny Callison, who had the only hit of the inning in his first plate appearance, is hit by a pitch (scoring Lollar, bases still loaded). Lou Skizas comes in to run for Callison.
• Louis Aparicio draws his second walk of the inning (scoring Boone, bases still loaded).
• Bob Shaw strikes out.
• PH Bubba Phillips (batting for Torgeson, who batted for Esposito earlier in the inning) walks (scoring Smith, bases still full).
• Nellie Fox draws his second bases loaded walk of the inning (scoring Skizas).
• Jim Landis grounds out pitcher to first to end the inning.

The 20-runs the White Sox scored that day were the most they plated in any game that season.  Another side note: It did not start out like it was going to be a good day for the White Sox.  The A’s knocked Chicago’s starting pitcher Early Wynn – who would go on to lead the AL in wins with 22 – out of the game with six runs on six hits and two walks in the first 1 2/3 innings. The Sox actually trailed 6-1 after two frames. A few other stats:

• The Sox collected a total of 16 hits and 13 walks in the contest; which also saw four Kansas City errors.
• In addition, to scoring 20 times, Chicago left eleven runners on base.
• Nellie Fox was the offensive star of the game – with four hits (five at bats), two walks and five RBI.
• The A’s used six pitchers in the contest, three in the seventh inning.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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