Another White Sox Pitching Gem: Mark Buehrle's Perfect Game

JULY 23, 2009

It  had only happened 17 times before (and I was there back in 1983 when Milt Wilcox of the Detroit Tigers almost threw one against the White Sox.  You can read about that game in my Down Da Road I Go blog.).

On this date, Mark Buehrle became the 18th pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game when he shut out the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0.

Buehrle was helped by  Dewayne Wise in the top of the 9th inning when he made the catch of his career, leaping above the wall in left-center to snare a ball hit by Gabe Kapler.  On the way down, he started to lose the ball, then snatched it out of the air with his other hand as he tumbled to the ground.  That ball would have been a home run.

Wise had been inserted in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement, so this play-- among the  best in White Sox and baseball history -- was his first action of the game.

Buehrle completed his perfect game in just two hours and three minutes -- the exact same amount of time it took for his no-hitter in 2007.  He became only the fourth pitcher in MLB to ever throw a perfect game and a no-hitter (April 18, 2007), joining Cy Young, Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson in that category.

Afterwards, Buehrle got a call from President Barack Obama, a big White Sox  fan.

And, I had a personal experience with Buehrle's perfect game that I will write about in the next post.

--CootFect

Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery-- Part 3: The Cubs Treestone Marker

 One couple have shown their own design to show their never-ending support for the Cubs in a style  found throughout the cemetery's grounds.  The tree-stump gravestone, or treestone, is made from limestone, which is easy to carve and can feature a variety of symbols.

In this example, which is the first one installed at the cemetery in  more than 70 years, there are branches from two trees barely touching, forming the shape of a heart.  According to its sculptor, Walter S. Arnold, this treestone features a transistor radio -- which is tuned to WGN AM 720 -- because the husband, who was blind, loved to listen to the play-by-play while attending Cubs games.

There's a crack through the name of his wife, who survives him, symbolizing her broken heart.  At the bottom are symbols of then things they enjoyed together.

Big & Loud, Big Ten B-Ball Fans-- Part 3

6.  MARYLAND--  (Xfinity Center)  West end seats 2,600 students known as "The Wall."  First ten rows reserved for the most animated students.

5.  PURDUE--  (Mackey Arena)  Paint Crew student section.

4.  ILLINOIS--  (State Farm Center)  Invented in the 1970s, the Orange Krush is one of the more intense student sections.

3.  INDIANA--  (Assembly Hall)  With 6,800 seats reserved for students, the Crimson Guard dubs itself the largest student section in the nation.

2.  WISCONSIN--  (Kohl Center)  The Grateful red section on the south end of the arena can push the limits of decency sometimes.

1.  MICHIGAN STATE--  (Breslin Center)  The Izzone, named for coach Tom izzo surrounds almost the entire lower and upper bowl.  Three thousand student seats with the "up-close, rowdy crowd in the 1,500 seats in the lower bowl provides the Spartans one of the country's greatest home-court advantages.

Rah-Rah ras, Kick Him in the ....  (Other Knee).  --Cooter

Big & Loud: Rating the Big Ten College B-Ball Fans-- Part 2

12.  RUTGERS--  (Louis Brown Athletic Center)  Riot Squad still getting acquainted with its new conference.

11.  OHIO STATE--  (Value City Arena)  Nuthouse student section, but passion compared to football still lacking.

10.  IOWA--  (Carver-Hawkeye Arena)    Student section seems more removed and has less impact.

9.  MINNESOTA--  (Williams Arena)  Aptly-named Barnyard always has some students dressed as cows and chickens.

8.  NEBRASKA-- (Pinnacle Bank Arena)  Opposing players rank it as among league's loudest.

7.  MICHIGAN--  (Crisler Arena)  The Maize Craze section of 2,600 fans is known for its intimidating taunts of opposition.

Rah-Rah Ree, Kick Him in the Knee.  --DaCoot

Big & Loud: Big 10, 11,12,13, 14 B-Ball Cheering-- Part 1

From the March 1, 2015, Chicago Tribune by Shannon Ryan and Fred Mitchell.

'T'S COMPLETE FAN-DEMONIUM: RANKING THE CONFERENCE'S RAUCOUS STUDENT SECTIONS.

"Face-painted, costume-wearing, vocal-chord-shredding 18-to 22-year-olds make Big Ten games an event.  They create atmosphere."

And to think of all that money Mommy and Daddy are sending to their schools so their offspring can act like idiots.

"Can student sections win games?  No.
But they make a difference.
Here are the best and worst in the Big Ten."

Well, actually the Big 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and whatever that new logo is B1O, or whatever that is. and especially since it no longer is a Midwest conference.

14.  Penn State  Too busy counting down the days until Spring Football. (Bryce Jordan Center)

13.  NORTHWESTERN--  Wildside started in 2010 and has potential, but still playing in smallest Big 10,11,12,13,14 arena.  (Welsh-Ryan Arena)

Who?  Me?  Foolish?  --Cooter