I went to Chicago for the Memorial Day holiday weekend and attended Sunday’s White Sox/Yankees game at the Cell with my brother Tim and nephew Sam.
There were two major milestones in play. It was Sammy’s first major league baseball game as a fan and Derek Jeter’s last ever contest in Chicago as a player (unless the Yanks somehow meet either the Cubs or White Sox in the postseason). The weather was perfect. All but a few scattered seats were occupied for Jeter’s Shytown swan song.
The Yankee captain had hits in each of his first four at-bats. He drove in a pair, scored a run and helped turn two double-plays that snuffed out White Sox rallies. When Jeter came to bat in the eighth inning with a chance for a fifth hit in his final at-bat, the entire crowd stood and cheered. He eventually struck out swinging but was again the recipient of a loud standing ovation to send him on his way. Much of the crowd left immediately thereafter. It was kinda impressive to see so many Chicago fans stick around for that final cheer for a retiring rival. After the game, Jeter was the featured guest on both the Yankee TV and radio post-game shows. In the photo above, he’s speaking with the veteran analyst Suzyn Waldman on WFAN-AM in New York.
Jeter has long said Chicago is among his favorite road cities to play in. His old manager Joe Torre felt the same way. From the restaurants to the downtown hotels to the fans and really the whole gamut of player-friendly in-city logistics, Chicago is considered by many major leaguers as a preferred road city.
Before the game, the White Sox gave Jeter some parting gifts and played a scoreboard video recapping his great 20-year career in pinstripes. The going-away mementos were presented to Jeter by another guy retiring at season’s end: Paul Konerko of the White Sox. Jeter was clearly uncomfortable with the pre-game attention. He’s long adhered to a strict routine that’s now regularly disrupted. As captain, he’s also not crazy about the focus being on a shortstop batting .275 who will probably end up starting only 100 to 110 games as a position player. Jeter tries to juggle the farewell hoopla appropriately without being a complete sourpuss. I’ve heard some cynics say he could have waited until the end of the season to announce his retirement. But I totally believe Jeter when he says his preseason announcement was intended to reduce potential distractions that would have come in-season should his decline either physically or statistically been pronounced. As it turns out, Jeter has looked OK out there and perhaps he’ll get through this season in the dignified way Mariano went out last season. Jeter certainly looked great on Sunday.
7-1 was the final. Attendance was 39,142. We didn’t know if 7-year-old Sam would remain interested in a baseball game that stretched three hours, seventeen minutes but he seemed to stay engaged throughout with the help of some ballpark ice cream and pizza. There was also a chance to run the bases after the game which acted as an incentive to stick it out.
Sixteen-ounce Old Style cans poured into a plastic cup where $7.50 and tasted great. The White Sox reduce both the admission and parking costs on Sundays as part of their “Family Fun Day” promotion so we enjoyed a substantial day of entertainment without breaking the bank. I really enjoy the vibe at Sox Park and yeah, don’t laugh, I prefer it over Wrigley.
Before the game, we ate at 35th Street Red Hots near the ballpark. Me and Tim had the polish sausage and Sammy had the dog. The fresh cut fries piled into the wrapped sandwich are excellent.
We attended the Park Ridge Memorial Day parade on Monday. The parade passes just a block from where my brother’s family lives. US Army/World War 2 veteran Charles Larson served as the parade’s grand marshal. He sat high atop the back seat of a red sports car (convertible) and waved at families who lined Cumberland Avenue. Kids scrambled for candy tossed to the curb by parade participants. Illinois governor Patrick Quinn marched in the parade. Quinn faces a stiff re-election challenge this November from Bruce Rauner, a moderate GOP opponent swimming in personal wealth but devoid of elected political experience.
That afternoon, we attended a barbeque at the home of my sister-in-law’s parents. Among the highlights were smoked pork ribs grilled up by my sister-in-law’s brother and a uniquely prepared strawberry pie made by my brother’s mother-in-law. What was incredible about the pie was the use of whole berries that remained intact in the final product, kept solid and together via a special sweet filling that had a gel-like quality.
I flew back to New York on Tuesday morning but not before me and Tim had an early breakfast at Mac’s near O‘Hare.
It was a lotta fun packed into just a few days. Back to work in the morning.
