US Cellular Field
Chicago, IL
Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox
July 19, 2003
By
Ken Schlapp
I have to start out this story by
talking about the name of the stadium. As everyone knows by now the
stadium's name changed this year from Comiskey Park (or New Comiskey
Park) to US Cellular Field to join a long line of stadiums that are
named after a corporation to make additional money. Comiskey Park,
both old (built in 1910) and new (built in 1991), was named after
the famous White Sox owner Charles Comiskey. He is probably most
famous for being the owner of the White Sox at the time of the Black
Sox scandal of 1919, and even for being part of the cause of the
scandal by being cheap with his players. Note that from a few books
that I've read (Including "Commy", which is worth reading), this
doesn't appear to be true, the White Sox salaries were generally in
line with other teams and players of that time. Comiskey should be
known for being the star first baseman and manager of the St. Louis
Browns of the 1880s where he revolutionized how to play first base
by, of all things, actually coming off the base to play defense!
Enough nostalgia, the point I am getting to here, is that from all
the people I know that grew up in the Chicago area, the stadium,
whether it was Old Comiskey, New Comiskey, or US Cellular field, was
known to the fans simply as "Sox Park". So all this bickering over
the name and the fans still think of it as "Sox Park"!
Another thing about this stadium is that I think it gets a bad rap.
All you here about this stadium is that they goofed when they made
it by not adding all the non-baseball extras or not making it a
"retro" field, because this was the last stadium built before Camden
Yards in Baltimore. I say "baloney". Maybe this is just because
this stadium has become unique by not trying to be unique. It is a
good place to see a baseball game. The fans here are totally into
the game and
their White Sox. The White Sox fans appear to be more of the
blue-collar die-hard type than the Cub fans, who appear to be just
going to the stadium for a party at Wrigley Field rather than to go
see the Cubs play a baseball game. I've actually been to games here
several times and sat in different spots from the upper level to
right behind home plate on the field and found that all seats were
good to see the game. The scoreboard in center field is big and
easy to see from all spots (except for the outfield bleachers of
coarse). Bottom line is stop picking on Comiskey and enjoy the
game.
When you are at the stadium, you should make sure you take a walk
all the way around the concourse to decide what food you want, such
as the "Pepsi Rookie's Club, which is a kid-sized concession stand
that serves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other similar
items. I was lucky enough to show up for "Dollar Dog" day, so I was
able to eat Best's Kosher Hot Dogs at a discounted fee! You can
also eat any of the other typical baseball food such as pretzels,
beer, cotton candy and Cracker Jack, as well as other food chains
and specialties.
What you shouldn't miss as you take that walk around is the Hall of
Fame & Gift Shop. This is more than just your average souvenir
stand, there are many pictures, uniforms, and other memorabilia
displaying the heroics of previous White Sox stars, and of course,
you can buy your own White Sox gear. The White Sox also embrace
their history by displaying the retired uniform #'s of past White
Sox stars such as Nellie Fox and Minnie Minoso on the Club level
façade. Also, over the batter's eye in center field, you can go up
to the fan deck to either watch the game from high up, or just enjoy
the view of the stadium from high up. Make sure to also look in the
parking lot for the plaque and marker that represent the exact
location where home plate was in Old Comiskey Park. I of coarse
took a goofy picture with myself in the batter's box. Taking a step
back from the stadium, when you walk in to the upper levels of the
stadium on the ramps, make sure you t urn around to enjoy a great
view of the Chicago skyline.
Getting to the stadium is also pretty easy. You can drive to 35th
street on the Dan Ryan Expressway (I90) or you can simply take the
CTAs red line to 35th street and avoid the hassle of driving.
Either way is convenient, and regardless of what others may tell
you, going to the South Side for a game is pretty safe and the fans
may be a little rowdy, but that's just part of their enthusiasm for
their team. I guess that you should be a little careful wearing a
Royals uniform though, that has seemed to draw out the few bad
apples that run on the field to cause problems, but that is the
exception and not the rule.
To the game!
The day didn't start off too good for the White Sox as the Red Sox
scored 3 times in the first on 3 walks, a Joe Crede error, and a 2
RBI single by Trot Nixon. Dan Wright looked to be off to a pretty
shaky start, but he settled down and didn't give up another hit
through the 6th inning. The White Sox came back to tie the game
with a run on a double play in the 2nd, and RBI single by Jiminez in
the 3rd (but he was caught in a run-down on the play to end the
inning), and scored on an error by Garciapara in the 6th. Jerry
Manual then got tossed from the game for arguing balls and strikes
in the 8th inning. That makes it two managers being tossed from the
game in two nights for us. Maybe a new trend is starting? After
Wright left, Marte and Gordon continued to pitch well, leaving the
game tied
 at
3-3 after nine innings with the Red Sox having mustered only the 1
hit by Nixon in the 1st. However, things came apart when the White
Sox brought in Billy Koch in the 10th. A single by Mueller, a walk
by Jackson, and a sac bunt by Varitek, set up Damon for his game
winning single. The White Sox only managed a single by Ordonez in
the tenth, followed up one out later by a game ending double play
hit by Carlos Lee. Once again, the home team did not hit a home run
to let me see the home team homer antics, but based on past
experience, I know that they shoot fireworks from the stacks in the
center field scoreboard.
The good thing about this game for me was that my friend Mike (who
works in my company's Chicago Office) was able to join Paul and me
for the game. In addition, we got to stay at Shelli and Linda's
house (with Linda being my sister). Therefore, this was one of
those times during my trip where I get to see friends and family
that I do not get to see too often, so make you do the same if you
plan to take a crazy trip like I am. Note it is completely worth
taking this crazy trip!
Bottom line - Keep an open mind and enjoy a baseball game at this
under-rated baseball stadium!
Basic trip facts:
* Stadium # 5
* Old Stadium Sites visited - Old Comisky Park (Total - 2)
* Miles traveled - 598 via Car (Totals: Driving - 2,249, Subway -
20, Air - 3,196, Total - 5,465)
* States, provinces and/or commonwealths passed through - Missouri,
Kansas, and Illinois (Totals: States - 12, Provinces - 0,
Commonwealths - 1)
* Seats - Section - Box 129 , Row 29, Seat 8 - Field level between
home plate and 1st base
* Prices: Parking - $15, Beer - $4.75, Kosher Dog - $2.50 (special
game-day price), Regular Hot Dog - $1.00 (today only), Program
(including pencil) - $5.00, Souvenir Soda Cup - $2.75
* Credit Card giveaway - Black White Sox T-shirt
* First Pitch - 1:06 PM
* Attendance - 17,225
* Results - Red Sox 4, White Sox 3, W - Brandon Lyon:, L - Billy
Koch:, S - None:
* Home team record to date - 5 wins, 2 losses
* Record of "team I was routing for" to date - 1 wins, 6 losses
* Lodging -Chicago, Illinois (My sister Linda's House) |
