kba

Nice reference to Sydney J. Harris.

Two tracks run underneath the 3rd base seats at Target Field.

The language in the legislation extending the tax breaks to "blighted or underused railyards." Seems like this would include the Amtrak site but not the land at the 78. Also interesting that air rights over railroad tracks are included, perhaps in case the Ishbia project ends up capping the adjoining tracks to the west.

You're right, but how does that match the renderings? If that's the St. Charles Air Line bridge in the background of the top drawing, we have to looking south from the west side of the river, and the ballpark is on the other side.

From the renderings, it looks like the ballpark is still on the 78 site, and the Amtrak site has the ballpark village. Also looks like there's a pedestrian bridge that says "Welcome to the home of the Sox."

Interesting details in the Crain's article about how far along this project is. Ishbia's team has already met with the mayor's office, filed "an intent to submit an application" for a federal loan of $383 million through a program designed to finance railroad infrastructure, and has hired three lobbyists to lobby Congress to pass the "All Aboard America Act" to provide more railroad funding. Either Ishbia really likes trains, or he's putting his political muscle into helping move the rail yards off of this property.

The Amtrak land could be an aesthetically better site for a ballpark. The view of downtown is more aligned with left-center field, rather than down the third base line. They might even be able to design it so that home runs to right field land in the river.

The Tribune says the soccer stadium will be 101 feet tall. At modern ballparks, the top row of the upper deck is usually about 100 feet above the field. So assuming that the baseball park is built on the same grade as the soccer stadium, they shouldn't block each other. In the architectural drawings, it looks like they've already decided to sacrifice the left field view in favor of the double deck seating and the scoreboard -- which almost certainly will be bigger in real life because it will be surrounded by ad panels (and hopefully topped by pinwheels if they have the good sense to put them atop the scoreboard where they belong.) The main view will be behind center field toward the lakefront South Loop high rises.

There will still be space for a ballpark, but I'm not sure how extensive the "ballpark village" could be.

First Black batting champion in team history. First two-time MVP.

This is way over my head, but it's the former Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which is now partnering with FanDuel to sell legally-murkey "sports event contracts." Apparently a way to get around state sports betting laws?? https://casinobeats.com/2025/10/21/fanduel-cme-group-sports-prediction-markets/

Second-to-last. The Rays are now the only team without a uniform ad patch.

When Carl Everertt dies, it can double as his memorial patch.

1n 1972, he started 49 games in a strike-shortened 154 game season.