April 10, 200422 yr A touch of Comiskey coming to U.S. Cellular By Amalie Benjamin Tribune staff reporter After acknowledging misgivings over the White Sox's decision to sell Comiskey Park naming rights to U.S. Cellular, the Comiskey family seems to have changed its mind on the subject. At the time of the sale, Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said the team planned to honor founder and former owner Charles A. Comiskey in some manner. The team announced Wednesday that it would unveil a life-sized bronze statue of Comiskey in a closed ceremony April 22. Patricia Bellock, Comiskey's granddaughter, said the family was pleased with the decision. "We're thrilled about it," she said. "We've been working with [the White Sox] and our entire family is just thrilled. We really appreciate them doing that." In January 2003, when the sale was announced, former team owner Charles A. Comiskey II expressed displeasure with the situation. "I'm not happy with it," said Comiskey, grandson of the team's founder. "The Comiskey name has lasted a lot longer than a lot of these cellular companies. But things change in life. I was hoping they would keep the name. This seems like the route they go today." The statue will be placed on the main U.S. Cellular Field concourse in right-center field. Bellock said the Comiskey family welcomed the opportunity to maintain its legacy with the White Sox. Family members met with sculptor Jerry McKenna, who had been hired to design the statue. McKenna also sculpted the bust of the late White Sox and Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, which sits on Michigan Avenue, just south of Tribune Tower. "We thought it really portrayed the 'Old Roman' as he was in those days," Bellock said of the Comiskey statue. "[McKenna] did a lot of research about him before we even met him. He really captured the spirit of Charles Comiskey."
April 10, 200422 yr I would lke the Sox to add a couple of bigger monuments to some of their greats. I think it looks great when other teams do it. Maybe 1 or 2 from the 59 team, something with Pudge and then add something for Frank when he retires
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