Going to the White Sox Game!

Before we get to the awesome, fun time we had at the White Sox game on Thursday, September 16—even though a loss!—I want to acknowledge the inspiration for the trip, as well as the means to make it happen.

Browsing through a past StreetWise edition, I read a small piece by one of our longtime vendors, VIP Merv Sims (#1839), which noted that he had not been to a live Chicago White Sox game since he was a height in which he doesn’t remember anything about the outing except that he went to a game.

That hit me like a brick. When I was younger, I went to MANY White Sox games. Partially because I lived very close to the ballpark, but a lot, also, because my father and one of my friend's father took us to the games on a regular basis (Harold Baines, Greg Luzinski, Rudy and Vance Law, wow…). I remember the games (all victories is how I remember the outings)! I recall being one of the first 10,000 fans and receiving a Harold Baines bat, or a set of baseball cards— awesome, awesome memories. Well, when I found out Merv hadn’t been in that long, a mission was evoked: I reached out online to the White Sox and discovered a program called DonateX (request@donationx.org), expressed my case, and within 1 hour, StreetWise was granted a bunch of tickets—including handicapped-accessible seats!

Thank you, White Sox!

Now, that said, on to the game. We weren’t able to completely fill up our section, but we did a pretty good job and had sun and, most importantly, fun! We had a very nice range: from the vendors to StreetWise staff to a YWCA Chicago leader. We ate, we laughed, we took photos before, during, and after the game—in the stands and outside.

Unfortunately, the White Sox lost 9-3; however, it was okay as the Sox were, pretty much, a lock for the playoffs (while this issue was in production, the White Sox did make the playoffs)!

The game started out not so good with the Los Angeles Angels beginning the scoring with a home run in the second inning; before we knew it, by the end of the fifth inning, the White Sox were down 9-0! The Sox did put up three runs over the next two innings and even threatened to score more, but the big lead was not to be overcome on this day. However, we did get other excitement: two fans ran out onto the field! No less than five security guards tackled each of them in the middle of the diamond. We, of course, booed and cheered along with the crowd, and though one sort of wished it wouldn’t happen (it's dangerous and, sometimes, I’m guessing, scary for the players), it is fun to witness live.

I must give an aside to the eats we enjoyed at the game. Nachos, brats, polish sausages, pizza, french fries— once, I looked from my lap to the others and my knees went weak at the sight of all that unhealthy stuff! Luckily, we’re pretty well-treated by our new donating restaurant at StreetWise (via a third party)—C’est Si Bon! Ltd. (cestsiboncatering.com) —who provides us with balanced meals four days a week. So, yes, we cheated…but we recovered the following day with veggies! Thank you, Renee Bradford!

Thank you, White Sox, and Thank you, Mr. Sims, for reminding us what’s important: memories. We now have September 16, 2021, filed away.

StreetWise Vendor Merv Sims, Editor Suzanne Hanney, Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards, and Vendor Dean Smith (background) attend Guaranteed Rate Field on September 16. Sims won the Los White Sox T-shirt he is wearing by being one of the first 10,000 fans at the park

Photo courtesy of Julie Youngquist

Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards recalls a StreetWise field trip to Guaranteed Rate Field.