April 28--Going in to Wednesday night's games, the White Sox have the best record (15-6; .714 percent) in the American League.
The Cubs have the best record (15-5; .750 percent) in the National League.
When was the last time that happened? And we don't mean after just a handful of games, but after a meaningful number of games, say 20?
That would be May 29, 1973, according to STATS. The White Sox had a 26-14 record (.617 percent), and a four-game lead over the Angels in the American League's West Division.
The Cubs were also sitting pretty at 29-18 (.617), with a 5 1/2 game lead over the Mets in the East. The Giants were 31-20 (.608) in the East.
Each league was divided into two divisions back then.
So how did the season play out?
Well, the White Sox, managed by Chuck Tanner, ran out of gas and finished with a 77-85 record (.475) in fifth place, 17 games behind the Athletics, who went on to beat the Mets in the World Series. Pitcher Wilbur Wood, you might like to know, won a remarkable 24 games, while losing 20.
The Cubs fared just as badly, with a 77-84 record (.478), also in fifth place, but only 5 games behind those darn Mets. Whitey Lockman was the skipper.
That Cubs season ended on Oct. 1 after the Mets won the first half of a double-header, clinching the division. The powers that be decided it wasn't worth playing the second game and so it was canceled, unceremoniously denying pitcher Milt Pappas, who died last week, from his chance to win his 100th game in the NL.
