With their opening seven-game West Coast trip in the books, the Chicago White Sox opened the home portion of their season Thursday with a 6-0 win over the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
5:27 p.m.: Cheers for the ‘Sodfather’ and finally a first pitch
After the traditional booing of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, fans gave a rousing reception to head groundskeeper Roger “Sodfather” Bossard, celebrating his 55th season with the Sox.
Ron Kessler, 65, a season-ticket holder since 1982, said he got through the 2020 season by watching games and reairings on TV, but was glad to be back in his seats for the first time since 2019.
“The ballpark looks great,” he said. “I was in Arizona for eight games. Just to hear the sounds again and be back at the ballpark, it’s such a dream.”
Kessler is one of the rare fans in attendance who was a season ticket holder during Tony La Russa’s first tenure as Sox manager at old Comiskey Park and said “that 1983 season is still my favorite season.” He’s hoping La Russa can recreate that magic of ’83 with the current team.
“I was excited, but also devastated with the news of (Eloy Jimenez’s) injury,” he said.
La Russa received a warm welcome from Sox fans during introductions, but not nearly as loud as the reception for players Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu and Lucas Giolito.
Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf later handed Abreu his MVP plaque, shortly before the game began at 5:20 p.m. with the familiar sight of fireworks for the first time since 2019. Temperature at first pitch was 58 degrees.
— Paul Sullivan
Source: www.chicagotribune.com