Sights and Sounds in the Life of a Soxsider

Da Bears, da Bulls, Giordano’s pizza, and Navy Pier. All essential staples to the identity of the great American city that is Chicago. But to gain a real sense and experience of the people and culture of Chicago, you have to witness a Major League baseball game. If you’re one of those fans that says, “You’re from this city. You should root for each team to succeed for it’s your hometown,” try stating that to a true Chicago baseball fanatic. Wrigleyville and the Southside are two very different worlds. Get a passport before you cross the border.

I chose to start this endeavor by being a part of the South Sider Nation. My first trip to U.S. Cellular Field came in the summer of 2008, a long-awaited trip to see Josh Hamilton and the Rangers. This was not only my first American League ballpark, but also my first outside of Cincinnati. The stadium appeals to the eye from the outside, and the structure reminds me quite a bit of Great American, although it seats a few thousand more. As for the name, I still heard whispers of “New Comiskey Park” rather than anything U.S. Cellular.

I arrived far too early for the gates to be open, so I wandered around the Southside to catch some of its ambiance. A few blocks south of the park is a Chicago sports store called “The Grandstand.” Walking in there with opposing team apparel on isn’t a great conversation starter, but it was interesting to see what the employees of this family-owned business had to say. The biggest piece of conversation that can be discussed in Chicago White Sox history always comes back to Shoeless Joe Jackson. This specific man, and for whatever reason I can’t recall his name, praises Shoeless Joe. He is Chicago’s Pete Rose. When we notified him that we were Cincinnati natives, the comparison of Rose and Joe was inevitable. The people of Chicago believe that Pete Rose should never be in the Hall of Fame as long as Shoeless Joe is not admitted either. He reigns as baseball royalty in the Southside.

I have since this visit been to U.S. Cellular again, this time in miserably cold weather, to once again see the Rangers. The stadium itself holds much charm both as a welcoming venue for any fan, and as a sanctuary for “Soxsiders.” Across the street is a parking lot where Comiskey once stood, and a plaque remains where home plate was placed. Just outside the main entrance is the White Sox Champions Brick Plaza with a tribute memorial to the 2005 World Series. Inside the park there are various murals, and on the outfield plaza stand sculptures of ChiSox greats such as Carlton Fisk, Nellie Fox, and Luis Aparicio. Part of the old-world baseball charm can be experienced as they play, “Let’s go, Go-Go White Sox,” a fight song that originated in the late 1950s. You can’t help but either sing along, or be amazed at the masses of people that love this song.

White Sox fans are diehard, and in my opinion some of the most underrated fans in Major League baseball. As compared to the number of people that show up in the Queen City in forty degree weather, I was amazed. The pride in their team as they cheer on every single one of their players is astounding. Memories of the 2005 World Series hold strong, everyone still wearing jackets and hats that bear the word “champs” just as the banner in center field does. As far as hospitality measures, the self-proclaimed Soxsiders are far more welcoming than their northern counterparts. We’ll leave that be until I write about my trip to Wrigleyville.

U.S. Cellular Field may be a newer venue, but it is still home to a legion of fans loyal to, and the legacy of the Chicago White Stockings. It is definitely worth a stop on anyone’s ballpark tour.