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Crain's Chicago Business did some good reporting on the various federal programs that Ishbia is trying to tap into to redevelop the current Amtrak site - and possibly the adjoining BNSF site - along the river. His company has applied for a $1.8 billion loan through the Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) program which offers friendly lending terms. There's also pending legislation in Congress that would make any Amtrak property exempt from property taxes and sales taxes on construction materials if it's redeveloped through the RRIF program. So lots of opportunities here to get government help without making a substantial ask in the state legislature or city hall. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-justin-ishbia-amtrak-south-loop-20260814/?utm_id=gfta-ur-260814&share-code=RSXFGSVDONBBLMWZF7I6IV2CEU&user_id=2284762&customer_secondary_source=ccb_articleGifting

The feds have already committed $600 million to the Amtrak relocation, and Ishbia is kicking in another $125 million, so it's extremely unlikely that the city will walk away from that kind of investment (and the potential for billions of dollars more to redevelop the current Amtrak site.) But in the event that happened, the original 78 site south of the soccer stadium could still be a possibility for a ballpark.

Fun fact: Nellie Fox wore number 26 from 1950-1952 before he switched to the now-retired number 2.

His grandmother, Sally, passed away. Here's a nice story from several years ago about her and the rest of the family: https://medium.com/gordon-edes/road-to-boston-paved-with-benintendi-cd59045cf0fd

"Sound Off On Sports" with Pat Sheridan after the game on WMAQ.

That's not accurate. Reinsdorf agreeed in 1986 to move the Sox to a proposed domed stadium on the current 78 site. But the deal was contingent on the Bears also moving there, and Michael McCaskey decided to stay in Soldier Field instead: https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/06/16/bears-sack-mayors-stadium/

I remember that on Sunday Night Baseball. Walker gave the ball to a kid in the stands, then grabbed it back when he realized his mistake.

Memories of Milton Bradley on the Cubs.

MLB rules now restrict teams to 5 uniforms. The 5 this year are the home whites, the road grays, the black alternates, the City Connects, and the old "Southside" City Connect. https://www.colorwaysports.com/stories/white-sox-uniform-schedule-2026

Hoyt was signed out of high school by the Yankees. He came to the Sox in a 1977 spring training deal. Bill Veeck traded Bucky Dent to the Yankees for Gamble, Hoyt, and pitcher Bob Polinsky. (The real key to the deal was the $200,000 that the Yankees sent the White Sox, who were strapped for cash.) Hoyt stayed with the Sox through 1984, though he did retire briefly around 1979 when he was struggling in single-A ball.

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.