A Promotion Gone Wild
On July 12, 1979, Comiskey Park in Chicago became the site of one of the most infamous promotions in Major League Baseball history. What began as a stunt to boost attendance at a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers spiraled into a riot that forced the forfeiture of the night’s second game.
The plan seemed simple enough: shock jock Steve Dahl, a vocal critic of disco, would blow up a crate of records between games. But the crowd that arrived—far larger and rowdier than anyone expected—turned the spectacle into chaos.
Disco vs. Rock
By the late 1970s, disco dominated American music and culture, from nightclubs to films like Saturday Night Fever. Yet backlash was brewing. Many rock fans resented its mainstream success, and Dahl tapped into that anger after being fired from a radio station that switched to disco.
At his new station, WLUP, he rallied listeners around the chant “Disco Sucks.” When the White Sox sought a promotional gimmick to attract fans, Dahl’s anti-disco theatrics were an obvious choice. Attendees could buy admission for 98 cents if they brought a disco record for destruction.
An Overwhelmed Ballpark
The White Sox expected around 20,000 fans. Instead, nearly 50,000 poured into Comiskey Park, with thousands more forcing their way in after capacity was reached. Records sailed like frisbees from the stands, firecrackers landed on the field, and security struggled to maintain order.
Players wore helmets as vinyl shards stuck upright in the grass. Despite the distractions, Detroit won the first game 4–1. Then Dahl, dressed in army fatigues, drove onto the field with his co-host Garry Meier and model Lorelei, leading chants of “Disco sucks” before detonating the crate of records.
Riot and Forfeit
The explosion tore a hole in the outfield turf, and with security diverted to the gates, thousands of fans stormed the field. Bases were stolen, the batting cage destroyed, and bonfires set ablaze. Even future actor Michael Clarke Duncan, then 21, joined the rush, sliding into third base.
Riot police eventually cleared the field, but the turf was unplayable. American League president Lee MacPhail ruled the next day that the White Sox had failed to provide safe conditions, and the second game was forfeited to the Tigers.
Fallout
Thirty-nine arrests were made, and injuries were reported in varying numbers. White Sox owner Bill Veeck and his son Mike, the team’s promotions director, faced harsh criticism. Mike Veeck resigned the following year and struggled to find work in baseball. Dahl, meanwhile, continued his radio career.
Disco itself soon declined in popularity, though debates remain about how much the night contributed. What is certain is that July 12, 1979, is remembered as the night baseball, music, and a cultural backlash collided—leaving Comiskey Park in ruins.
It was billed as a baseball promotion, but July 12, 1979, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park became unforgettable for reasons beyond sport.
Fans came not just for the White Sox and Tigers, but to watch disco records blown up in center field.
The result was pandemonium…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/7nmVzjdb2V
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 28, 2025