White Sox: The six players who have hit for the cycle
It was 55 years between the first and the second cycles in White Sox history. The first one was hit by Ray Schalk on June 27, 1922. Like Fisk, Schalk was a catcher for the Sox. And, like Fisk, Schalk hit for the cycle in an away game – against the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field. The final score was 9-5 in favor of the Sox. Schalk batted eighth and four for four with two RBI.
There weren’t many cycles hit before the 1920s – not even Babe Ruth hit one, but his nemesis Lou Gehrig actually hit two of them in the 1930s.
Schalk spent his entire career, with the exception of his 18th season, with the White Sox. In that final year, he played for the New York Giants. In those 18 years of baseball, Schalk hit a total of 11 home runs – which makes it even more amazing that he hit for a cycle. Schalk is in the Hall of Fame and he was on the Sox 1917 World Series team. Back in August, our own Matt Cizek wrote a feature about Schalk and his ethical decision making.
Schalk wasn’t the only player to hit for a cycle in 1922. Three other batters did it, including Jimmy Johnston with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Ross Youngs with the New York Giants, and Bob Meusel with the New York Yankees.
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Hitting for the cycle is a feat that continues to defy the odds. Getting four hits in one game is a rarity, but four different types of hits is even more unlikely. Yes, there are other feats that are impressive – like no-hitters, but the cycle not only is rare, but it is also incredibly exciting. Hopefully, White Sox batters will hit a few in the upcoming season.