PSP: Disco Demolition Night (Forfeit #3)

Did you know that since 1955, there have only been 5 forfeits in Major League Baseball? For the most part, since they stopped calling games due to darkness and having enough players is never a problem, forfeits only happen in the most outrageous of circumstances. They don’t happen very often and there haven’t been any in a while, so the plan is to write about all of them throughout the baseball season during my Series Previews. We only get one shot at the Chicago White Sox, so let’s go back to July 12, 1979…

Friday, June 5 at 6:40p – Jesus Luzardo v Anthony Kay (L)
Saturday, June 6 at 4:05p – Andrew Painter v Sean Burke (R)
Sunday, June 7 at 1:35p – Aaron Nola v David Sandlin (R)
Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

Radio DJ Steve Dahl lost his job to Disco and vowed revenge!¹ In 1978, Dahl had been working for a rock-themed radio station in Chicago. Unfortunately for Dahl, Rock music wasn’t getting enough listeners and the station switched formats to all Disco, all the time that Christmas and Dahl was temporarily out of a job. He was quickly hired to a different rock radio station in Chicago and very loudly and publicly blamed Disco for all the problems of the world. The theme resonated and he grew a cult following with an organization called “The Insane Coho Lips” or just the Cohos. Throughout 1979, the Cohos would meet up and essentially protest Disco whenever they got the chance with several riot-ish altercations breaking out.

The White Sox of the 1970s were not good. The decade produced two winning seasons, no playoff appearances, and attendance woes. This almost caused an unprecedented change to the American League with Athletics owner Charlie O. Finley vying to move the A’s from Oakland to Chicago and the White Sox going from Chicago to Seattle. This is when White Sox ownership approached former owner and baseball promotional legend Bill Veeck about re-purchasing the team. He did so and the White Sox were in Chicago to stay.

Forfeit #1 – Washington Gives Up on Baseball
Forfeit #2 – 10¢ Beer Night in Cleveland
Forfeit #3 – Disco Demolition in Chicago
Forfeit #4 – Orioles Tarpgate
Forfeit #5 – Dodgers Doing Their Philly Thing

His first order of business was to do what he did best, give fans a reason to come to the ballpark even if the team stunk. The man who had previously invented the exploding scoreboard, now had parades, got Hartey Carey to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and even unsuccessfully introduced shorts to baseball. He also hired his son Mike to work in promotions. He had an idea to incorporate the local counter culture movement, Steve Dahl, and the official end of Disco.

On May 2nd, 1979 the White Sox were scheduled to face the Tigers but mother nature had other ideas. The game was rescheduled for July 12 as part of a twi-night double header. Already pre-scheduled that day was a promotion for half price admission for teenagers. Since the two games were single admission, that meant half price for two games. This was the perfect time for Disco Demolition Night.

PSP: Washington Forfeits Baseball (Forfeit #1)

Steve Dahl wanted to blow up disco records. Upon hearing the idea, Mike Veeck asked Dahl if he would be interested in blowing up a LOT of disco records and if he’d be up for doing it at Comiskey Park between games of a doubleheader? Of course he would! The promotion was set. Anyone who donated a disco record to be exploded could come to the game for just .98 cents. The White Sox were expecting around 20,000 people, up from their usual 15,000.

Well, Comiskey sold out. The park holds 45,000, but an estimated 48,000 were allowed in with another 20,000 waiting outside. Many of them got in anyway. The fans had actually donated too many records and many were told to just hold on to what they brought. That was a mistake. During the first game, records routinely rained from the stands. The Tigers won 4-1 but no one seemed to care. They had been enjoying the alcoholic hospitality of a ballgame for a few hours that point and were ready for the end of Disco.

At 8:40p, with the box of records rigged with explosives, Steve Dahl rode out in a Jeep with Army fatigues and a helmet on. The stage was set for a disaster. The inadequate security had been almost entirely focused on keeping the 20,000 people outside from getting in rather than keeping the 50,000 inside from getting on to the field. Dahl set off the explosion, blew a hole in centerfield, and thousands of fans rushed the field. Fans ripped up bases, destroyed the field, and added to the disco bonfire that had been left to burn. Owner Bill Veeck pleaded with the fans to return to their seats, but it was a full-scale riot at that point.

Friday Fun: 10¢ Beer Night (Forfeit #2)

Within a half hour, police arrived arresting 39 people and helping many with minor injuries. At this point, even with the crowd under control, there was no playing baseball on the wrecked (as in Veecked) field. Initially, the game was simply rescheduled to the next day. The Tigers weren’t having it though. Under official rules, a baseball game can only be postponed by an Act of God, not an act of promotion gone wrong. The White Sox were forced to forfeit.

In the end, the light went out for owner Bill Veeck and he sold the team to Jerry Reinsdorf. Veeck was done with baseball. Mike was out too and essentially blackballed from baseball. While casual fans blamed Bill, those in the industry knew Mike was responsible for the melee. His life was basically ruined until he got into the business of minor league baseball in an account told in the Netflix documentary, The Saint of Second Chances. It is worth a viewing.

Info and Inspiration: The Saint of Second Chances and Big Hair and Plastic Grass

Photo: Getty Images