Add news
News Every Day |

Revamped SoxFest focuses on the future of the team ... while surrounded by the past

SoxFest live at the Ramova! | Kristina Airdo/South Side Sox

And Mark Buehrle finally gets a statue!

For the first time since 2020, the Chicago White Sox finally brought back SoxFest, and what used to be a massive event held at hotel convention centers with thousands of fans has been pared down into a much smaller space and a live-event format. It was held at the historic Ramova Theater in Bridgeport just blocks away from the ballpark, which was a nice touch to add some local flair to the weekend — although that still didn’t help the event sell out. Given the state of the team, many fans were averse to giving any more money to Jerry Reinsdorf, but the good news is that I was lucky to have the opportunity to attend so you didn’t have to!

The night kicked off with our beloved radio broadcaster Len Kasper and his band, the DIFF, performing on stage as fans trickled in. Now I knew that Len was a talented guy, but fun fact: He can also rock OUT on the bass.

Our ears continued to be blessed as the night shifted into the main event as the man, the myth, the legend himself — Gene Honda — announced the players and coaches in attendance for the evening. There were 2005 Champs including Mark Buehrle, Freddy García, and José Contreras, and plenty of new (or mostly-new) faces like Colson Montgomery and Brooks Baldwin, down to new draftee Hagen Smith and recent acquisition Braden Montgomery. And let’s not forget THE legend, Hall of Fame outfielder Harold Baines.

The first panel event was focused on the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series, with Chuck Garfien interviewing Baines and the World Champs.

There were plenty of old stories and lore from the playoff run, and Buehrle even bought the entire audience a beer — is there any further proof needed that he should be in the Hall of Fame?

“Beer on Buehrle” ticket received by fans.

During the panel, the Sox teased a trailer for an upcoming documentary about the 2005 team that is set to release this summer. Listen, I am all for it and will absolutely watch it because that team was glorious — but we’re approaching (or beyond?) 1985 Bears levels of needing to move on.

The 2005 celebration comes alongside the announcement that a statue of Mark Buehrle will be unveiled at Rate Field on July 11, which created plenty of buzz among fans and added some excitement and energy into the venue. Buehrle expressed shock and much appreciation, but it shouldn’t really be all that surprising for someone who gave so much to the organization — and baseball as a whole — and is universally loved by fans. This was an easy win for the Sox this weekend, since Buehrle and the rest of the 2005 guys were able to inject some positive vibes around a team that has had none.

Kasper made his way back to the stage for the final interview-style event, where he presented fan questions to GM Chris Getz and new manager Will Veneble. There were rumblings that Jerry Reinsdorf was in attendance, but he did not make an appearance, naturally. Getz tended to skirt around hard and direct questions, instead touting the future of the team and the young talent pool in the minor leagues. Fans were somewhat checked out during this time, as the promise of a rebuild and the amazing talent on the farm is one they have heard before — and not even that long ago. You could almost feel Rick Hahn in the building, standing next to you.

The rest of the event featured comedian Kevin Bozeman and a lot of fan engagement, bringing up various members of the crowd onto the stage to compete in small games with some of the players — including our very own Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and her son, Sage! Jonathan Cannon, Drew Thorpe, Korey Lee, and Gus Varland were the main men of the hour, and to be fair, it was fairly entertaining and was great to peek into their personalities and senses of humor.

Kristina Airdo/South Side Sox
Melissa and her son, Sage, stage right. Gus Varland, Jonathan Cannon, Drew Thorpe, and Korey Lee are seated from left to right.

Having some of the newer and talented guys accessible to fans is a great way to get them more ingrained in the “future” of the team and building excitement out of essentially nothing. The event is definitely a step in the right direction, but there is way more work for the White Sox to do to repair the broader relationship with their fans.

Москва

Магнитотеллурическое зондирование удешевит разведку петротермальных ресурсов

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

White House proposes drastic cuts to State Department and funding for UN, NATO and other groups

‘Making a difference together’: Dift helps partners including Accor and BNP Paribas combine social impact with emotional marketing

You can hot swap the battery on Samsung’s new rugged tablet

JD Vance nearly fumbles Ohio State's national championship trophy during White House visit

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Чикаго запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Чикаго запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "15 апреля 2024 в г.Чикаго запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

PENGUINS WEEKLY – 4/15/25

Tragedy as body pulled from lake at popular diving centre hours after man seen ‘entering the water’

Today in White Sox History: April 15

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

White House proposes drastic cuts to State Department and funding for UN, NATO and other groups

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

JD Vance nearly fumbles Ohio State's national championship trophy during White House visit



Sports today


Новости тенниса
ATP

Впервые в матче ATP-тура принял участие теннисист, родившийся в 2008 году



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Компания «КЕНГУРУ.ПРО» осуществила первую поставку спортивного оборудования в Беларусь



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

"Спартак" обыграл "Салават Юлаев" и повел в серии второго раунда плей-офф КХЛ


Новости России

Game News

The latest Stalker 2 roadmap includes modding improvements, more A-life updates, and letting mutants eat corpses


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Russian.city

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Архангельск

Мастера тяжелой атлетики определили сильнейших в Архангельске


Губернаторы России
Дмитрий Песков

Песков рассказал, что Путин регулярно играет в хоккей


Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»

"Орбита" для FPV: программно-аппаратный комплекс управляет дронами из Москвы

Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»

Июнь уже распланирован: большинство россиян уже решили, где они будут отдыхать в первый месяц лета


Художник Яковлев о граффити на Арбате: Цой - жив, а Паша Техник - мертв

Одиннадцатый этап культурно-образовательного кластера «Город мастеров» успешно завершился в Псковской области

Создание сайта. Разработка сайта. Создание сайта с нуля. Создание и продвижение сайта.

Фестиваль Башмета завершился концертной программой «Чайковский-гала» (ФОТО; ВИДЕО)


Елена Рыбакина объявила о начале сотрудничества с тренером, который консультировал Синнера

Рублев победил де Йонга и вышел во второй круг турнира в Барселоне

Даниил Медведев возвращается в топ-10 рейтинга ATP, поднявшись на 9-е место

Анастасия Захарова выиграла турнир категории WTA-100 в Сарагосе


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»

Ефимов: свыше 150 миллионов кв. м недвижимости ввели в эксплуатацию в Москве с 2011 года

89-летнюю годовщину со дня образования президентского полка отпраздновали в Воронеже

Таланты в сердце Чечни: впервые в Грозном пройдет отборочный тур благотворительного детского фестиваля «Добрая волна»


Владимир Путин регулярно выходит на лед: любимое хобби президента России

«Авторадио» отметило 32-летие в Кремле грандиозным шоу

"Черноморец" стремится в РПЛ: Шишкарев раскрывает планы клуба на сезон

КАМАЗ готовит к производству ещё одну новую модель


Кировчанка будет курировать медицину 14 регионов Приволжья

«Патриотизм должен быть деликатным»: продюсер Иосиф Пригожин — о дефиците талантов

Проблемы с доступом к RuTracker: пользователи сообщают о сбоях в работе сайта

Посол Китая сообщил о планах страны нарастить покупку СПГ в России


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Персональные новости Russian.city
Пианист

Пианист Сафронов осудил авторов граффити о Паше Технике на Арбате



News Every Day

Phillips 66 and activist investor Elliott face off on a classic conglomerate quandary: Are the pieces of a huge company worth more together or broken up?




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости