May 3, 1949
The Senators (3-11) arrive in Chicago (8-5) for a short two game series with the White Sox. The team is looking to snap a two game slide. In baseball, as in life, timing is everything. Before the 1949 season started the White Sox General Manager Frank Lane had a chicken-wire fence installed in front of the existing outfield walls in Comiskey Park.
The new wire fence shortened the field by 20 feet to 332 down the lines and 425 to center. It didn’t take the Senators long to take advantage of the shorter fence by belting seven home runs and beating the White Sox 14-12 in 10 innings. At the time this was the only time seven home runs were hit by one team in an extra inning game.
The Senators will hit another 3 home runs on May 4th as they beat the White Sox 8-7. The next day after the Senators left the windy city Lane ordered the chicken wire fence torn down.
Here is the list of Senators that left the park that evening. Clyde Vollmer – 2 Mark Christman – 1 Gil Coan – 1 Al Evans – 1 Eddie Robinson – 1 Bud Stewart – 1
Quick Facts: The Senators only hit 81 home runs the entire 1949 season. The 14-12 victory against the White Sox was the first win of a nine game winning streak. The Senators end the year in last place in the American League with a 50-104 record.
