MLB
OTD 1979: ‘Disco Demolition Night’ Chaos in Chicago
July 12, 1979: Disc jockey Steve Dahl helped organize a Disco Demolition promotion for the Chicago White Sox that ended in a riot
The Museum of Classic Chicago Television/YouTube
July 12, 1979: On “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park, fans got too rowdy while destroying records, which forced the Chicago White Sox to forfeit the 2nd game of a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 12, 2021
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South Side’s Comiskey Park is the home to many iconic moments. One particularly unusual event is remembered by generations of fans, a promotional event called, “Disco Demolition Night.” On this day in 1979, White Sox tickets were priced at only 98 cents a pop as fans were encouraged to bring in disco-related records to be collected and blown up on the field.
The idea stemmed from the “Disco Sucks” movement jumpstarted by rock station disc jockey Steve Dahl in reaction to the genre’s culture and excessive prevalence in media throughout the ’70s. Spectators were rowdy and disruptive during the event. Many who could not get tickets broke in through windows and by climbing over fences.
Eventually a mob stormed and trashed the field, forcing the Sox to forfeit the second game of the day’s doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers. For better or worse, neither team was in playoff contention so the incident had little impact on the season but it still stands as one of the most bizarre occurrences to take place on a baseball field.
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