43 years ago, an anti-disco baseball promo unleashed a mass riot steeped in homophobia and racism

[Behind the Aegis]

Baseball fans are used to receiving swag when stadiums host regular ‘promotion nights’, from bobble heads to drink coupons. But on this day in 1979, the Chicago White Sox lured crowds with a much different proposal — come to a double-header at Comiskey Park and witness crates of disco records get blown to pieces in between games. Chaos and rioting ensued, and many historians and disco artists feel the incident was steeped in homophobia and racism.

Disco was wildly popular in the late ’70s and deeply rooted in minority communities, including gay nightlife culture. Artists like Donna Summer, ABBA and Sylvester regularly pumped through the speakers at gay bars and clubs. At the same time, there was a backlash against the genre from rock fans who felt it was somehow ruining music.

When Chicago’s WDAI-FM switched from rock to disco and DJ Steve Dahl got fired in 1978, Dahl became something of a folk hero for disco haters. White Sox owner Bill Veeck and his son saw an opportunity to harness the musical tension, partnering with Dahl for what would be the strangest night of baseball anyone had ever witnessed.

Dubbed “Disco Demolition Night”, the event not only sold out the 50,000 seat stadium, it drew an additional 20,000 disco haters who mobbed outside the ballpark and eventually stampeded their way inside. Attendees were told anyone who brought a disco record to the ballpark to blow up would be admitted for 98 cents.

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[IngridsLittleAngel]

1. An ugly night - for baseball and America

No question, a good chunk of the anti-disco sentiment that Steve Dahl fanned the flames of was steeped in both homophobia and racism - though with more of the former than the latter. Disco was definitely seen as "black" and "gay" music, due to how many of the artists were black, and a few being quite openly gay (like Sylvester and the Village People). Not to mention how heavily it was played in "black" and gay clubs all around the country.

No doubt that white cishets - particularly males - saw disco as something to stomp all over. It was for blacks. It was for gays. It wasn't for tough alpha-males like them. And that bigotry and ignorance fueled the insanity known as Disco Demolition Night.

The decision to go through with it, though, fell mostly (if not entirely) onto Mike Veeck. As much as Bill was known for his insane promotions and the belief that "you can draw more people with a losing team plus bread and circuses than with a losing team and a long, still silence," he had very deep concerns that this promotion could go too far, get out of control, and lead to violence. Obviously, Mike Veeck didn't share those concerns and went through with it. Sure enough, Bill's concerns were shown to be well-founded when all hell broke loose.

Of course, this is also the most recent case of a forfeited game in the American League. Sparky Anderson felt both the field and the environment were unsafe, and refused to let the Tigers return to the field for the second game. The umpires initially delayed the game. Sparky demanded the game be declared a forfeit, to which Lee MacPhail agreed.

Certainly not one of baseball or this country's finer moments, that's for sure. And no question, it was fueled by a stupid promotion, too much beer at the ballpark, and bigotry.