Jerry's father, Sam Hairston, was the first American-born black player signed by
the White Sox; he caught two games in 1951. Working for Chicago as a scout in 1970,
Sam signed his son. Jerry proved adequate at the plate, but his outfielding was suspect.
After four unproductive seasons, he was sold to Pittsburgh in 1977, then drifted
to Mexico. Re-acquired by Chicago late in 1981, Hairston led the AL in pinch at-bats
each year from 1982 to 1985, and in pinch hits in 1983-85. On April 15, 1983, his
two-out, ninth-inning pinch hit ended a perfect-game bid by Detroit's Milt Wilcox.
Hairston switch-hit, but was stronger from the left side. When released in 1988,
his 93 career pinch hits put him in a tie for 12th all-time; he came back in 1989
to get his 94th pinch hit. His brother John played briefly for the 1969 Cubs.
(RL)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 30, 1976: The Chicago White Sox try a different approach against California, using a lineup in numerical order by field position. As noted by historian Greg Beeson, the batting order is: Brian Downing -- 2: Lamar Johnson -- 3: Bill Stein -- 4: Kevin Bell -- 5: Bucky Dent -- 6: Alan Bannister -- 7: Chet Lemon -- 8: Jerry Hairston -- 9. Finishing off the lineup is 53-year-old DH Minnie Minoso. The Angels are unimpressed, winning, 7–3.
»April 15, 1983: Detroit P Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 4–0 one-hitter over White Sox ace LaMarr Hoyt. This is only the 3rd time in ML history a perfect bid has been stopped with one out to go.
»September 1, 2000: The Baltimore Orioles turn the season's fifth triple play and the first triple-killing in Jacobs Field history in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians. On a pop up to short the infield fly rule is not called. With runners at first and second and no outs, O's SS Melvin Mora lets Sandy Alomar's pop fly drop, apparently intentionally, and throws to 2B Jerry Hairston who tags the runner at second as well as the runner coming from first. Alomar, believing the infield fly rule had been called, retreated to the dugout and was called out for leaving the basepath resulting in a 6-4-3 triple play. Charlie Manuel doesn't agree and gets tossed. Cleveland overcomes the TP to win, 5–2, behind Steve Finley.
»September 21, 2001:
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera blows a save, giving up a 2-run single to Jerry Hairston and the Orioles prevail, 7–6.
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