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U.S. Cellular Field itinerary by Wise Guides

Jimbo's Lounge just north of U.S. Cellular Field is home base to many Sox fans and the place to start. This old-school joint touts itself as the anti-Cubby Bear, a dig at that team on the North Side and the bar across the street from its entrance. So don't go in wearing Cubs' gear and ordering a sea breeze. The owners have been fighting eviction, so get there while you can. ... Unlike Wrigleyville and its yuppies and high-prices condos, Sox Park, as many locals call it, is adjacent to Chicago's historic Bridgeport neighborhood, for generations the heart of Chicago's old-style machine politics and home to more than a few wise guys. A few years ago the Feds dug up a parking spot near The Cell looking for the remains of one of them, but found nothing. ... Before entering the park visit the monument to the 2005 World Champs right outside the gates. The Sox often feel overlooked in Chicago and nationally (their championship drought was actually a year longer than the one of that other Sox team, but who would know besides White Sox fans?), and this giant sculpture seems to be compensating for something. ... After the 2003 season the White Sox lopped eight rows off the much-criticized upper deck, but it's still too high and should be avoided if possible. A better bet are the outfield seats; cheaper, a good view of the field and access to a concourse where you can grab food and beer and stand and watch the game. ... The influence of the legendary baseball owner and promoter extraordinaire Bill Veeck can still be seen and heard at The Cell with the famous exploding scoreboard, which lights up and shoots fireworks when a Sox player hits a home run. ... Come hungry, because the food at The Cell is better and more diverse than the offerings at most parks. This is Chicago, so the grilled dogs, brats and sausages, Polish and Italian, are the stars. Try a Chicago-style dog, a meal in itself. ... After a day game, get back on the Red Line and take it north one stop to Chicago's Chinatown and do some exploring there. Go to Won Kow for dinner, a historic spot that's been open more than 80 years, or any of the other restaurants in the neighborhood. ... For nightlife, take the Red Line a few stops further and into downtown with its nearly endless array of bars, restaurants, clubs and other attractions.

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Chicago White Sox - User Comments Add your own

Not to Miss! -- 2007-06-25

I've been to one game a year since 2001. When I first attended it was called Comiskey Park. I thought it was very impressive, and now with the renovations, I think it's even better. This is probably one of the cleanest stadiums in Major League Baseball. Plus, the neighborhood around the ballpark seems to be steadily improving. The White Sox may have the best concession food in baseball, and the 1/2 priced tickets in ALL areas with an AAA card is a hard deal to beat. The fans are, well, fanatical in their support and, like fans, are quick to boo their guys when things don't go well. I'd recommend taking the Redline elevated train to the games. A $5.00 ride all rails/busses pass is a good deal to get around Chicago. Jimbo's, north of Armory Park north of the north parking lot (this is actually an acurate way to give the directions) is a good spot to eat or hangout before a game. In 2005 I parked in Chinatown and walked through the neighborhood to the ballpark for a day game. Then I took the train back to the car. It was nice. I rate US Cellular Field an A. It's a place not to miss.

Ronald Theriot

Much improved... -- 2005-08-02

Okay, granted my opinion is definitely a bit biased since I am a lifelong Sox fan, but if you haven't been to U.S. Cellular Field in the last few years, you owe it to yourself to check the place out again. The partnership between the White Sox and U.S. Cellular has transformed the park into a very, very nice place to catch a baseball game. It looks one hundred times better than it did even a few years ago; the new roof on the upper deck is beautiful, the brickwork around the lower deck concourse is excellent, etc. The real charm of the place is now that the building just breathes White Sox baseball; there's no ivy-covered walls, no goofy "retro" dimensions, or any other silly stuff like that; the park is just the epicenter for the fanbase.

Plus, the best team in baseball plays there. How can you not love it?

Matt M.

Comiskey Revisited -- 2003-04-25

This weekend I took my second trip to Comiskey(US Cellular) and I had a much more enjoyable time. However my opinion is probably seriously skewed because I caught a foul ball during batting practice and I had seats 10 rows back behind the plate. Surprisingly I got the seats on the day of the game, they were $36 dollars and well worth it. It was one of my more enjoyable times at a park, and all because of the seats. The previous time I was there I had upper deck seats and DO NO BUY UPPER DECK SEATS. It is amazing how steep the upper deck is, the seats are awful. Before the game I walked around a little and I was amazed by how short the walls are along the lines. When I stood up it was below my knee, I was amazed. The food prices are pretty average for games, I think I paid $3 for a Pepsi and $3.50 for peanuts. The park itself looks like it is just off the production line with no real standout features, as many of the pre-Camden parks are. There is no place to hide from the sun so be prepared for that. The security was extremely tight, but this is just after the guy attacked the umpire, so I wouldn't hold your breath on moving down to better seats, they checked tickets twice and ushers were much more visable. I've been to 14 major league parks and this would probably be in the lower third. If you're going day of game, try for the $36 tickets, it's worth it.

Scott Bolohan

First things first. -- 2002-12-11

It ain't Wrigley. Instead of drunken yuppies, you get to put up with drunken blue-collar folks. The advantage here is that the people who go to the ballpark on the South Side generally have a better handle on the game than those who do the "see and be seen" thing at Cubs Park.

The food is terrific, but the park is just, well......adequate. All you need to know about the upper deck (other than the fact that it's VERY steep) is that the closest seat to the field is further away than the most distant seat at the old park. Unless you're sitting in the lower deck, it's really not worth it.

The baseball's been downright mediocre, too. Don't let all of those 2nd place finishes fool you; they're barely over .500 in the time Jerry Manuel has been their skipper.

Dan Doherty

You go to Comiskey to watch baseball, you go to Wrigley to see and be seen. -- 2001-10-01

I like Comiskey.

Maybe it's because I'm not a huge fan of this old-school "nostalgia" going on around baseball, with the new stadiums going up. MLB is no longer catering to the every day fan, they're catering to the executives and corporations who bring clients to games to finish business deals, not to the people who get out of work at 5 pm, round up the family, and head to the park, nor are they helping kids/students such as myself who can only catch a game once in a while because the cost of a game is getting too expensive. But Comiskey is the exception to this rule, and it's a damn good exception for these reasions.

1) At all the new stadiums, the main event isn't baseball, it's the TOTAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE. I'm talking about Ferris wheels, Merry-go-rounds, 80 bars and restaraunts, and merchandise stands every five feet. Stadiums such asComerica Park, PNC Park, Pac Bell Park and all the new stadiums going up have fallen into this trap. What ever happened to going to a stadium to ACTUALLY WATCH A GAME? That is one reason why I love Comiskey. You go to the Park to watch BASEBALL, and that's the point, isn't it? There are no frills at Comiskey, no carnival rides, no circus clowns, nothing. There is a baseball field, some concessions, a few restaraunts, and that's it. The main focus is baseball which is the way it should be.

2) I may be in the minority here, but I like common form among field dimensions. I'm not a fan of baseball teams taking "creativity" and other BS so they can but 100k nooks and crannies in the outfield and the surrounding stands, that's how you get the debacles that are Enron and Comerica. You don't see the NFL saying "well, just for the hell of it, we're going to move the goal posts back up to the goal line to be creative." Comiskey is simple, it use to be 320, 400, and 320 like normal stadiums, but they changed it after last season.

3) It's a pitcher's park. Baseball has become a joke over the last half-decade with juiced baseballs, juiced players, and pathetic pitching. It gives the pitcher back some of the advantage he use to have, Lord knows how it must feel to know that you've got a fence at 310 feet down the left field line breathing down your neck. It's a start to a sobering return of one and two run games, now if only the Palehose rotation could actually consistantly throw those games...

4) Half-priced Mondays. A god-send to poor college students such as myself. Lower box seats for $12? Round up the guys for Sox-Tribe at Comiskey on a Monday and have a great time.

5) Again, it's simple. No bad seats, no train in the outfield, no giant coke bottle, no tacky cove to have some cancer (you know who he is) hit homers into. There is a scoreboard in center, a video board in left, an out-of-town scoreboard in right field, and some fireworks that go off in the outfield after a home run and a win.

That's Comiskey for you. No cheezy gimmicks, no complete family experience, no catering to execs, because hell, what sane man is going to drive his client to a game and park his Lincoln Navigator in a lot on 35th street or the surrounding area? You are there for baseball, and baseball only, which is the way it should be.

Pat

Wheelchair Friendly -- 2001-08-15

As a disabled man I have to say New Comiskey Park is great for people in wheelchairs. The designers made just about every last row in the park a wheelchair section. In the upper deck there are wheelchair sections in the front row. The upper deck seats are the absolute best place to watch a game. The field unfolds in front of you and you can see everything as there are no fans to stand up in front of you.

The food is so so. I have tried almost everything and recommend the Brats or Hot Dogs. DON'T eat the hamburgers unless you enjoy your food overcooked and cold (I don't, but that's just me).

If you come to the park you will see a baseball game not an ivy covered Iowa fan magnet.

Mark Ploch

-- 2001-08-04

The New Commiskey park is a nice place (assuming your seats are not in the upper deck)...If they could do something with the upper deck, it would be a great baseball park...very nice to watch a game great angles, seats, etc...

RC

crappy -- 2001-07-30

the new comiskey park is not good. The old comiskey was much better. It does not have the character, charm, and togetherness of the old park. When I go to the park I like to smell the peanut shells, piss, beer, and cracker jacks. You might think i would only smell that at the ancient ballparks(fenway, wrigley).That smell is there at camden yards. The food is below average. A nice thing about the park is walking behind the bleachers and having a seat behind the fence in right. My uncle told me that the white sox almost built a park closer to the city where the skyline overlooks the ballpark..but reinsdork backed out of it. It looks just as big from the inside as it does the outside. Better for night games and don't forget to the old comiskey's homeplate.,

Andrew

Bring Back Old Comiskey -- 2001-07-25

New Comiskey came before the current thread of stadiums that began with Oriole Park, and so it is somewhat of an anomaly. I think that only Kaufmann Stadium in KC is similar. Unfortunately, though, New Comiskey replaced Old Comiskey, which despite its faults was a beautiful old stadium. And, of course, since most Americans are quite gullible and very willing to redistribute their income as long as it goes to the wealthy and not the poor, this one came, like most modern stadia, at the taxpayers' expense. From that perspective, it is a gross waste of resources.

Another reviewer on this site mentioned that attendees are bombarded with advertising. I can certainly agree. The last time I went to New Comiskey was in 1995, and most of what I remember is the ridiculously loud music that they played between every single pitch and annoying visual entertainment displayed on the scoreboard, clearly meant for children. These are standard at many ballparks these days, but at New Comiskey the experience was much more unpleasant, especially compared to Wrigley Field.

JK

Not so bad -- 2001-07-23

For what it costs to build a stadium these days, "Not So Bad" is pretty bad I suppose. But it seems like I hear 9 out 10 people complain about how awful the New Comiskey Park is. Ironically, 3 or 4 of those 9 have never been there! As I recall, although some were disappointed that the new park was too sterile, most considered it "state of the art"... until Camden was built. Camden stands among the best parks ever built, nestled right in downtown Baltimore. I think Jacobs Field and Miller pale by comparison as well. Forget the new ballpark in Arlington. It's a joke - a tribute to former parks instead of something original. It would have been perfect if built in Cooperstown for exhibition games. But back to Comiskey. I am one who actually likes the new park. Every seat is a great view (unlike the several hundred partial-view seats at Old Comiskey or Wrigley) including the upper deck. The upper deck is really steep, but that's the same at all of the new parks. As for the park being sterile: It is very clean! Actually, it does have character. The old Comiskey may have been the first symmetrical park and the new park the last. It is no longer symmectrical, however, after the completion of the first phase of remodelling. I have no idea what's next for improvements, but it is already much better. You can see both bullpens from much of the park and look right in from some locations. There are several carry-overs from the old yard - the Bullpen Sports Bar, which now has a 2-tier picnic area in front of the right field bleachers, beside the visiting dugout, a private picnic area under right-centerfield with a field-level view of the park, and, of course, the historic "exploding scoreboard" that was built many years ago by Bill Veck. The seats are spacious and comfortable, the food is excellent and the park is very easy to get in and out of. I-90-94 exits nearly right into one of 7 parking areas from one of 3 exits south of I-55 and the Elevated Train stops across the street from the park (on the same Red Line that stops a block and a half from Wrigley on the North Side.) There are escalators and elevators and virtually no wait for the restrooms. OK, but I do have a beef - the leftfield foul pole is east of home plate, departing from the traditional practice of always putting to the north. Weather was the factor, so that wind would be as little a factor as possible. With the open-air outfield the winds apparently would have swirled if the LF foul pole was to the north. Consequently the Chicago skyline is not in view as it may have been the other way and what you see is the chimney from an IIT building (OK) and several LOW-HOUSING PROJECT buildings! It would have been nicer to either have seen the downtown skyline in leftfield and IIT in rightfield, or have an upper deck like the old park. With an upper deck the new park would have been a modern equivilent to the old park. Why not? Then you have the excitement of "roof shots". There have been rumors that part of the plans for renovation include extending the upper deck partially into the outfield ala Yankee Stadium. But that isn't likely while the team seldom sells many of the existing upper deck seats. Perhaps they would put in more skyboxes and a row of "club boxes" if those sell enough. Who knows? Bottom line: Yes, there is reason for disappointment since the designers could have done better. But that disappointment has been overstated and overlooked is the fact that it is a very nice park!

Shawn Viland

"New Park A Mixed Blessing" -- 2001-07-19

I grew up at Old Commiskey so I'm a bit nostalgic for the older styled parks. The truth is, though, Old Commiskey wasn't as revered as Wrigley, Fenway etc. because it was "old" rather than "vintage"...In other words, kind of like Tiger Stadium, people revered the history behind the stadium, yet many complained that it was an outdated, crumbling wreck ( I happened to like the seediness of the place). NEW COmmiskey, however, was to be built as the modern antithesis to the Old Commiskey.

THE RESULTS- While the designers supposedly had Ebbets field in mind, the resulting stadium is a little to sterile for my tastes. While many complain that this is a giant concrete toilet bowl, a la Veterans Stadium, this is far from the truth. The field is beautiful and the demensions spacious (Makes Enron look like a Pee Wee league field). The seats in the bottom deck are nice and all the views on the first deck are great. Although people may discourage you from sitting in the upper deck (it is very steep) the view from the Upper deck boxes are quite good as long as you stay about somewhere between home plate and halfway to either 1st or 3rd. The view from many of the outfield upper deck seats East of 3rd base are either obscured are just too far from the action.

Seats are relatively affordable, Mondays are half price and for most weekday homegames it's not too hard to sneak down to better seats (though they have been enforcing ticket rules a bit more in recent years. My big beef (more with fans than the stadium) is how few decent game seats are available on the day of when the sadium is mostly empty. On occasion I have picked up some very cheap excellent box seats for face value or below from people with extras...Bargain with scalpers...It's not easy to give away Sox tickets let alone sell them for a profit...especially during weekday series.

They used to have something called the "Silver and Black Pack" where for about 10 bucks kids would get a seat, a voucher for hot dogs and soda and a

A.R. Madorffski

"New Park A Mixed Blessing" -- 2001-07-19

(CONTINUED FROM ABOVE)

They used to have something called the "Silver and Black Pack" where for about 10 bucks kids would get a seat, a voucher for hot dogs and soda and a free gift (a poster or cap or something). Call the ticket office ahead of time and check if this is still available. Also, bleacher seats are quite good (They'lve reinstalled the showers in the Bleachers as an ode to the Old Commiskey's famous shower's from the Bill Veek Days. Saturday Firework shows are a great deal...You get a huge show (20 minutes or so) with lights and everything...In fact it's as large as many 4th of July clebration in the Suburbs and is worth the price of admission alone.

THE AREA- The view of the projects is pretty depressing, and there is little going on around the park aside from some working class bars. South Loop, however has seen massive developement lately and I'm sure some clubs will start to creep farther South. IT IS NOT DANGEROUS TO GO TO SOX GAMES. Security is tight and public transportation is near the stadium. Additionally, the park is not far from the loop. Just because it doesn't have Wrigleyville around it it shouldn't discourage people from coming to a great game, paying 1.50 to take a 15 minute train ride North to the loop and having a great evening.

THE FANS: Unlike the Cubs, who have a large contingent of college-yuppie fans who come to the game to drink tons of beer, sing take me out to the ball game and belt out admirations of how "totally awesome of a ballplayer Sammy Sosa is" (anyone that knows a thing or two abot baseball knows that Magglio is a comparable hitter with better plate discipline and a better fielder), the sox have a small contingent of everyday joes who come to the park to enjoy the game. I'lve met numerous fans who truly appreciate the ins and out of the game, and come out of love for the sport, not for beer. Oh yeah, there always seems to be a couple of loudmouths who like to scream at the umps for bad calls...They are not drunk hooligans, rather very amusing baseball fans who get admiration (and laughs) from their fellow sox fans.

IN CONCLUSION: Nobody will ever come to Commiskey for the experience of making a pilgramage to Commiskey (like Fenway, Wrigley, or some newer ones like Camden) but if you want to take in a good nine innings in a decent no-frills stadium and don't mind driving 5-10 minutes North to the loop or 20 minutes North to the restaurants on the North Side make a night out of Commiskey....If you go in the next 8-10 years Say Hi to Harold Baines for me, I have a feeling his playing days for the Sox are far from over!!!

IN CONCLUSION: 1-10, I'ld give it a 6. No one

A.R. Madorffski

Very Good Stadium -- 2001-07-13

Even though Comiskey Park is the only stadium I've been to (I was 2 when the knocked down the old one), I'll have to say that it has NEVER disappointed me. Their Brats/Hot Dogs are very good, although, a bit overpriced (can you blame them? No one goes to the games). I almost always sit along the third base foul line, above the dugout. I've never been to Wrigley Field, so I really can't make any comparisons. The only person that lives with us who has been there is my uncle, who, like most people, likes Wrigley a lot. When we went to see the Cubs/Sox on June 10, '01, he said that Comiskey was pretty darn good. He still thinks that Wrigley field is better, but he hasn't been there in about 20 years. I have a hard time understanding why the White Sox fan base here in Chicago is so small. One in five people over here roots for the Sox over the Cubs. The conclusion I jump to is that Wrigley Field is the Cubs' bandwagon. That makes me put that as a high priority to go see the Sox vs. Cubs @ Wrigley. There's been talk here about either ending Wrigley Field's existence, or renovating it, and I should see a game there before it's too late.

Gopal

A nice park... -- 2001-06-30

As has already been said, 'new' Cominskey Park is not a world wonder like some of the parks being built today. (San Fran, Houston, Seatle) It is however a nice place to catch a ball game.

I went to two of the Sox vs. Cubs games this year and the place was totally rocking. Sold out and filled to overflowing with screaming Sox and Cubs fans I have never had such a great time at a ball game. The first game we had 2nd row, upperdeck, right behind home. Not real bad seats, but you are up there. The second game we had Club Level seats.... I highly reccomend these to everyone for any game that is even half sold out. No lines to use the bathrooms, super clean, no waiting at any of the food vendors and lastly each Club section has it's own waiter that takes your food and drink order and brings the food right to your seat. A nice menu including shrimp balls, pizza, burgers, etc. All for the same price as a box seat. Club Level is the way to go in my book.

If you go and leave the kids at home be sure to get to the park right when it opens and head to the Bullpen Bar. A very nice and large bar right in the park. Have a little dinner and a drink or two before the game starts. A great place to take a date.

Cominskey won't win any prizes, but it is a good place to see a ball game with great food.

Tony Novello

Underrated -- 2001-06-27

As a White Sox season-ticket holder, I once again am going to defend Comiskey Park. Yes, the park has its flaws -- it's a bit plastic, the upper deck is somewhat steep, and you could argue that the view from behind the outfield, instead of housing projects, should be the magnificent Chicago skyline (although this leads to potential problems with the sun). However, Comiskey is a great place to see a game. If you're on the lower deck, there are NO bad seats. There are no seats with obstructed views, no seats where corners of the field are hidden, no seats where an overhang prohibits you from seeing any ball hit more than 40 feet in the air. That's something you can't say about Wrigley or Fenway, or even Miller Park for that matter. While the upper deck is a bit steep, there are thousands of seats up there that offer great -- and I mean great -- views of the park. I have sat in the upper deck dozens of times, and have never had it detract from my enjoyment of the game. Anybody who thinks it's too high has obviously never been to Shea or Dodger Stadium, to name a few. And, the belief that Comiskey is in a "bad" neighborhood is simply untrue, perpetuated by the North-side bias prevelant among the Chicago media. I am 32, and I know dozens of people my age or younger who have chosen to make Bridgeport (the area around the park) their home. Yes, there are housing projects near the park, but those projects are right near a college and De La Salle High School, one of the most prestigious high schools in the city (Mayor Daley went there). And, in many cases, your transportation to and from the park will leave you nowhere near the projects. To say that you are in danger when visiting Comiskey Park is absolutely absurd. All in all, Comiskey isn't Camden Yards or Coors Field. But it's a very underrated park, and one where watching a baseball game (isn't that what it's all about) is an enjoyable experience.

Jeff Ponczak

Hardly worth the trouble -- 2001-06-25

I've been to this park twice. Of the nearly 20 major league ballparks I've been to (several torn down), this is one of the least likable.

First, the upper deck looks pretty darned scary. The good news is that the lower deck rarely is full. (One reason the upper deck is scary is that there are three rows of luxury boxes. From the lower deck, it sort of looks like the upper deck is hovering above the stadium because of all the glass in those suites. The result is aesthetically strange.)

Second, I have never been to a park where I felt more overwhelmed by advertising. I don't really mind billboards; they're sort of part of the atmosphere. I do mind the sign down the left field line that keeps telling me all the places I can spend money in the stadium. I also do mind having ads on the Jumbotron (or whatever-tron) during the time the game is being played.

Which leads to third: There's no real interest in keeping you into the game when they can sell ads. The Jumbotron only occasionally mentions what the batters have done previously or provides any other useful information. When I was there earlier this year, the scorecard they sold me had no information about the other team at all, which was more than a little annoying.

Fourth: The stadium feels shabby, even though it's only about 15 years old. It felt that way the first time I went, which was three years ago, too.

There are some good things: I like the food (funnel cakes, bratwurst and other good stuff) and the half-price ticket days are hard to beat. (The first time I went, I got a seat right behind home for less than $15.) The exploding scoreboard (a tradition that remains from Old Comiskey) also is a lot of fun. Still, this one is not a mecca.

great park -- 2001-06-12

everyone complains about it because it isnt a retro park and everyone complains about the upper deck. the upper deck is no worse than half of the parks in baseball. there are no obstructed views, theres plenty of parking, theres plenty of food stands and bathrooms easy to get in and out of not a bad seat in the lower deck. the food is good and all prices are reasonable if you came to see a tourist attraction, you might be disappointed if youre there to watch baseball, you will enjoy yourself.

mike

Worthwhile -- 2001-06-12

New Comiskey isn't a mecca of a ballpark, but it's worthwhile due to the availability of seating.

The upper deck is as bad as everyone says - it's steep and high and far from the action. I've read that the closest seat in the upper deck is farther from the plate than Old Comiskey's highest seat (though I can't prove this). I sat there on opening night last year and hated it.

Luckily for you (but not for the Sox) you'll almost never have to sit up there. They only come close to selling out on Opening Day, the Cubs series, and the occasional half-price Monday. Most games you can walk up to the box office and get a great seat.

Last year, in their first game at home after clinching the division and with Pedro on the mound, I bought a ticket at the last minute which seated me in the front row on the first base line just past the dugout. You can use their sorry fan support to your advantage to get great seats for some really good baseball.

If you can, take the Red Line to the game. Driving on the expressway in the evening rush can be brutal, especially with road construction. If you have a car downtown, leave it in a garage and take the El.

David Lair

-- 2001-06-05

Not to be negative, but if they remove the billboards in back, all we'll get to see are the Dan Ryan expressway and some rundown housing. Now if home plate was where the right field corner is now....

Rick

Rick Gregg

-- 2001-06-03

The worst new park. The old park was ancient, but it had character in a blue collar style. Paint the fences green and get rid of the giant billboards in the back of the park...let us see some of Chicago instead.

David Bryant

Tips for an enjoyable evening at Comiskey -- 2001-05-29

I went to Comiskey last night for the White Sox and Blue Jays. Mondays are half-price nights at the park, something I encourage everyone in the area to take advantage of. There were four of us, and we walked up to the window about two hours before game time and bought seats 30 rows up, just down the third base line from the screen, for 15.50 a piece. Note that you have to ask for those -- normally, you can't buy them. Those seats are reserved for season ticket holders and those who purchase several games before the season, so it's kind of first come, first serve.

I've been there before, and everyone gives Comiskey a bad rap, but I really like it there. If you get there when the park opens, you can go to the outfield and catch BP home runs, or go along the foul lines (third baseline appeared to be best) and get balls coaches or players have shagged. We watched the Blue Jays hit BP -- Raul Mondesi hit the farthest ball I've ever seen, which bounced on the left field concourse and hit the TD Waterhouse sign in deep left.

Traffic to Comiskey, going into the city on the Dan Ryan, wasn't bad at all, even though we were afraid the Memorial Day weekend would hamper the traveling. Coming from Chicago, however, there looked to be a long line of cars. Also -- and I don't know if this is only on mondays, or works for all evening games -- we parked in a Comiskey lot, normally $13, but because we were there before 4:30, it was half-off. They don't advertise that.

Food is a little expensive -- have the fries at the 35th street grille or eat in the bullpen sports bar. My fries, Italian Sausage, and medium drink cost 8.50. From past experience, I know the Nachos are good, as are the funnel cakes for dessert. Stay away from Pizza. If you have kids, ask an usher where you can get peanut butter and jelly -- there's a kids' stand, and it's a real treat from what I hear.

Autographs -- If you want autographs of the White Sox players, you have to go to the far end of the dugout. They'll kick you out of the near end (as I unfortunately found out. I was waiting there because Rich Eisen and Brian McRae, calling the game for ESPN, were talking to Buck Martinez behind the backstop, and I wanted to meet Mr. Eisen) on the White Sox side, but not, for some reason, on the visiting side.

Although I didn't stay and wait for autographs this time, I know the entire bullpen is usually good about coming and signing, and some of the regulars (Paul Konerko, I saw) will too. Last year at my only game, I got most of the bullpen (that prized Jesus Pena autograph), Herbert Perry, Tony Graffanino, and I think a few other players. I might have gotten the big names (Thomas, Durham, Ordonez) too, except the team had had a promotion where fans could, if they brought a certain type of camera, meet the entire team on the warning track and take pictures and get autographs. The starters then still had to warm up.

Also, don't worry about being behind the tarp. The Sox have lowered those side fences to bring the fans closer to the game, but what it does for autograph seekers is make the tarp a table for the players to sign your program, hat, ticket, what have you on!

If you accept the fact before you go that Comiskey is NOT Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Camden Yards, Safeco, Enron, Miller, Comerica, Arlington, Yankee, PNC, PacBell, etc., you can really have an enjoyable time. If you go expecting majesty, you'll be disappointed.

Oh, and memo to the White Sox: PUT A NEW COAT OF WHITE PAINT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROOF! The park's only 10 years old but it's noticably peeling up there.

Rick

Rick Gregg

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