White Sox History on August 16: From Ruth's Blast to Iowa Ties in Baseball Lore

August 16 stands as a remarkable date in Chicago White Sox history, featuring everything from Babe Ruth's legendary home runs to a pitcher with deep Iowa connections who climbed from Single-A to the majors in a single season. For Iowa baseball fans, the date carries special significance through the story of Ross Baumgarten, a Highland Park native who made his MLB debut on this day in 1978 after dominating at Triple-A Iowa.

What happened on August 16 in White Sox history?

Several historic moments unfolded on this date across different eras, including record-setting home runs, a rare four-consecutive-homer feat, and a pitcher's meteoric rise through the minor leagues that included a stop in Iowa.

Babe Ruth's historic Comiskey Park rooftop shot (1927)

Babe Ruth made history on August 16, 1927, when he became the first player to hit a rooftop home run at Comiskey Park. The blast off Tommy Thomas was estimated at 474 feet and came in the fifth inning of an 8-1 Yankees win. The roof had been added to the ballpark just four months earlier, on April 20.

Former White Sox manager Pants Rowland served as the first base umpire for that game. In a somber coincidence, Ruth passed away from throat cancer exactly 21 years later on this same date.

Roger Maris chases Ruth's record (1961)

During his historic 1961 season, Roger Maris hit home runs Nos. 47 and 48 off White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce in a 5-4 Yankees win at Yankee Stadium. It was the only time that season Maris homered twice in one game off the same pitcher during his record-breaking 61-homer campaign.

White Sox outfielder Jim Landis also connected twice that day, hitting solo shots off Yankees starter Rollie Sheldon in the fourth and sixth innings.

Jorge Orta's five-hit game (1974)

Third-year second baseman Jorge Orta went 5-for-7 with two home runs against the Yankees in New York, notching his third five-hit game of the 1974 season. He needed 10 innings to complete the feat, singling in the top of the first extra frame.

The White Sox lost the game 9-8 in 13 innings despite Dick Allen's go-ahead solo homer in the top of the 13th. Thurman Munson answered with a two-run, two-out homer in the bottom half for the walk-off win.

Ross Baumgarten's Iowa connection and rapid rise (1978)

Left-handed pitcher Ross Baumgarten made his MLB debut on this date in 1978, defeating the Texas Rangers 6-2 for his first major league victory. What makes his story remarkable is that Baumgarten won games at all four minor league levels that same season.

Drafted in the 20th round in 1977, Baumgarten started the year at Single-A Appleton with a 9-2 record and 1.82 ERA. He moved to Double-A Knoxville (2-1, 3.24 ERA) before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he went 6-5 with a 3.27 ERA. His combined minor league numbers that year: 16-6 with a 2.62 ERA.

Two weeks after his debut, Baumgarten threw a complete-game shutout over Cleveland. He finished his rookie season 2-2 with a 5.87 ERA before a strong sophomore campaign in 1979 (3.9 WAR, 3.54 ERA).

Tom Drees' unprecedented no-hitter streak (1989)

Vancouver Canadians pitcher Tom Drees threw his third no-hitter of the Triple-A season on August 16, 1989, a 5-0 win over Las Vegas in a seven-inning doubleheader opener. He had previously no-hit Calgary on May 23 and Edmonton on May 28.

White Sox GM Larry Himes attended the game, a clear signal that Drees had captured the big club's attention. Despite the historic achievement, Drees spent three full seasons in Vancouver without a promotion, a testament to the depth of the White Sox rotation in the early 1990s. He reached the majors briefly in 1991, pitching 7 1/3 innings with a 12.27 ERA.

Modern-era milestones on August 16

More recent August 16 games produced their own historic moments:

• 2011: The White Sox hit five triples in a 14-inning, 8-7 win over Cleveland, their most in a single game since 1920. Juan Pierre delivered the game-winning single in the 14th.
• 2017: Leury García homered on the first pitch of the game at Dodger Stadium off Yu Darvish, marking the second straight game a White Sox leadoff man had done so. Tim Anderson accomplished the feat the night before.
• 2020: The White Sox tied the MLB record with four consecutive home runs in the fifth inning against the Cardinals. Yoán Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, José Abreu, and Eloy Jiménez went back-to-back-to-back-to-back. It was the 10th time in MLB history a team hit four straight homers, and the first time three Cuban-born players homered consecutively.

What does this mean for Iowa baseball fans?

For Iowa residents, the Baumgarten story resonates most directly. His time with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs (then affiliated with the White Sox) showcased the kind of rapid development that minor league baseball in Iowa has long provided. The state's baseball tradition runs deep, and stories like Baumgarten's highlight the pipeline between Iowa's ballparks and the major leagues.

As the White Sox continue to build for the future, Iowa fans can take pride in the state's role in developing talent that reaches the highest level of the sport.

Frequently asked questions about White Sox history on August 16

Who hit the first rooftop home run at Comiskey Park?

Babe Ruth hit the first rooftop home run at Comiskey Park on August 16, 1927, a 474-foot blast off Tommy Thomas.

How many times have the White Sox hit four consecutive home runs?

The White Sox have accomplished this feat twice: on August 14, 2008, against the Royals, and on August 16, 2020, against the Cardinals.

Which pitcher with Iowa ties made his MLB debut on August 16?

Ross Baumgarten, who pitched for Triple-A Iowa in 1978, made his major league debut on August 16, 1978, earning a win over the Texas Rangers.