on July 13, allowing just one run in a 6–1 victory over the Yankees. However, from July 18 through August 10, he lost five straight decisions, posting a 9.51 ERA. After his August 10 start, Wood was removed from the starting rotation in favor of prospect Ross Baumgarten, making his major league debut. Wood made just one further appearance all season, pitching two scoreless innings to finish a 6–3 loss to the Royals on August 22. Placed on waivers in late August, Wood was claimed by Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, the latter of which worked out a trade for him. However, Wood vetoed the deal, wanting to test free agency instead. In 28 games (27 starts), he had a 10–10 record, a 5.20 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 74 walks, and 187 hits allowed in 168 innings pitched. After the 1978 season, he became a free agent but attracted "curiously little commotion in the marketplace," which the New York Times News Service speculated might have been due to collusion between the owners. Wood's 5.20 ERA had been the worst among pitchers who threw enough innings to qualify for the AL ERA title in 1978. When he went unselected in a February 1979 draft for unsigned free agents, he decided to retire. "I just couldn’t do what I could do before I got hurt. That took the fun out of it," he explained. Of his time with the White Sox, Wood said, "Those are the years that I had the most fun and that I’ll remember." Career statistics In a 17-year major league career, Wood compiled a 164–156 record with a 3.24 ERA in 661 games. He had 1,411 strikeouts in 2,684 innings pitched, completing 114 games (24 of which were shutouts) of his 297 games started. Wood started 70 games on two days' rest, the highest total since 1914 with the exception of Grover Cleveland Alexander, who did so 72 times in that period. At the plate, Wood posted a .084 batting average (27 hits in 322 at bats) with only two extra-base hits (both doubles) and just 13 RBI. As a fielder, he recorded a .977 fielding percentage. First eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1984, Wood received votes for six years. His best year was 1988, when he garnered seven percent of the vote. After receiving just 3.1% of the vote in 1989, he became ineligible to appear on further