Swarm of gnats delays the game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park
On June 2, 1959, a swarm of gnats delays the game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. After a half-hour interruption, the White Soxâ grounds crew disposes of the gnats by using a smoke bomb. The Orioles eventually defeat the White Sox, 3-2.
From the AP – Hoyt Wilhelm finally has been chased from the moundâ but it took a swarm of gnats to do it It happened in the first inning at Comiskey Park Tuesday night After the bug battle on the mound delayed the game 16 minutes Wilhelm returned to pitch Baltimore to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox and into second place The seven-hitter marked the eighth triumph without defeat for Wilhelm 35 who had a 3-10 record last year and was picked up from Cleveland for the waiver price Wilhelm never will forget that first inning âIt’s the strangest thing that ever happened to me in a game” he said âThere was a cloud of gnats over the mound so thick that they were flying in my mouth I never should have pitched a ball until they cleared away But I went ahead and walked Nellie Fox After I threw two balls to Earl Torgeson I had to quitâ I was chased by the bugsâ What followed sent the 17654 fans into mystery Oriole Coach Al Vincent charged to the mound with a towel and tried to bash the insects away Sox bat boy Johnny Rosich, rushed out with two bug bombs He and Umpire Hank Soar began spraying the air Baltimore Trainer Eddie Weidner joined the battle rubbing insecticide ointment over Wilhelm’s face and arms while Soar sprayed his uniform with the bug bomb But the gnats kept dive bombing The ground crew lit papers and went after the swarm of bugs like the charge of the Light Brigade It didn’t work Finally Sox President Bill Veeck had a fireworks bomb placed on the mound The explosion was deafening the white smoke suffocating The gnats gave up Wilhelm continued Apparently shaken by the bug battle he walked Torgeson and hit Sherm Lollar with a pitch With the bases filled Larry Doby forced Lollar at second Fox scoring on the play It was the first run off Wilhelm in 22 1-3 innings âI was so gooed up with ointment and stuff 1 had to keep using rosin and dirt on my hands to keep from losing the ball” he said After it was all over Veeck laughed: âSince I probably will be accused of having something to do with those bugs I might as well say now I have had them in a bottle and have been training them for several years for just such an occasionâ
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