History unkind to hard-knocks Sox

Herald News ^ | 10-14-05 | AP

[toddlintown]

South Side stigma: Scandal, mediocrity, obscurity are lumps fans have taken

CHICAGO — Its most famous team is the one that cheated, the one forever branded the Black Sox. Its most enduring image might be the outfielder doused with beer while standing against the outfield wall, or maybe the two drunken fans running onto the field to attack a coach.

Then again, it might be the decades of losing. Not the romantic kind tied to some mysterious curse, but the kind that comes with simply playing badly.

As the Chicago White Sox take on the Los Angeles Angels for the right to play in the World Series — something they haven't done since 1959 and haven't won since 1917 — they might be the most maligned or just plain overlooked team in baseball history.

[toddlintown]

Much better coverage from a South Side paper. Daley, however, blows off any criticism of the stadium being an island, surrounded by nothing. Go to Campden Yards in Baltimore. Beautiful, inviting, old-park feel, and a boardwalk of retailers outside the park. You can even peek in on the game during the lunch hour while eating a hotdog NOT bought in the park.

[Charles Henrickson]

Its most enduring image might be the outfielder doused with beer while standing against the outfield wall. . . .

Al Smith, 1959 World Series:

[Charles Henrickson]

. . . or maybe the two drunken fans running onto the field to attack a coach.

U.S. Cell Block Field, 2002:

[toddlintown]

Best part about those good-looking idiots? It was a father/son team (from the suburbs).

Nothing like keeping it in the family.

[1rudeboy]

That photo on the right is classic. Sout SIDE!!!!!

[MikefromOhio]

What?

You can do to the inner harbor at Camden Yards.

And having been in both, it's a helluva lot better than New Comisky or whatever they are calling it today.

Calling it Cell Block is stupid, but Camden Yards has more appeal as a ballpark than Comiskey

[Mike Bates]

And since that creep did his dirty work in Crook County, his punishment was probation, community service and a 90-day curfew.

'Rat judges are tough.

[1rudeboy]

[Charles Henrickson]

Disco Demolition Night, 1979.

[1rudeboy]

And a fine year it was. Every night that summer the Marquette/Evergreen Park area sounded like Bagdhad.

[Charles Henrickson]

Actually, the Sox have had some pretty good players over the years. Not enough of them, usually, but still some interesting teams:

Carlos May, Bill Melton, Dick Allen

[Mike Bates]

I think Baseball Digest called those three "the new murderers' row."