http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

 

Chicago natives, legends to participate

Aparicio, Jackson to throw out ceremonial first pitches

By Ben Platt / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- It will definitely have a local feel when some of Chicago's former baseball greats and local kids who went on to music stardom return to the Windy City to take part in the festivities during Games 1 and 2 of the 2005 World Series.

 

Former White Sox greats Luis Aparicio and Bo Jackson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Games 1 & 2, respectively, and two singers who were raised in Chicago, Lou Rawls and Liz Phair, along with singer Josh Groban and trumpeter Chris Botti, will also perform this weekend.

 

Aparicio, 71, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. The Venezuelan shortstop teamed up with fellow Hall of Famer Nellie Fox to create one of the great double-play combinations in baseball history. The tandem was the centerpiece of the 1959 Go-Go White Sox that was the last South Side team to win the American League pennant. Aparicio led the American League in fielding eight times in his 17-year career.

 

Jackson, 42, only played two seasons for the White Sox in 1991 and 1993. The outfielder endeared himself to the South Side faithful when he hit 16 home runs in 1993, including a home run on his first swing on April 9, 1993 after undergoing major hip replacement surgery that had him out for the entire 1992 season.

 

A native of Chicago's South Side, Rawls, 70, has been a popular performer on the music scene since 1960. The soulful baritone, who had his biggest hit in 1975 with the classic "You'll Never Find Another Love," will perform the national anthem before Game 2.

 

Winnetka, Ill. native Phair, 38, hit the record charts with her groundbreaking 1993 album "Exile in Guyville." The singer/songwriter, who will sing "God Bless America" during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the series, also had a hit album in 2003 entitled "Liz Phair," which had the popular song "Why Can't I."

 

Groban, 24, has become one of the most popular singers in the country over the past four years. His two studio albums, "Josh Groban" and "Closer" have both gone multi-platinum. Groban also scored a crossover hit single in 2003 with "You Raise Me Up." The Los Angeles native, who will sing the national anthem before Game 1, had the same honor before Game 1 of the 2002 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels.

 

Acclaimed trumpeter, Botti, 43, has been a mainstay on the jazz scene for the past decade. The Portland native, who will perform "God Bless America" during the seventh inning of Game 2, just released his latest CD, "To Love Again."

I like both of those guys so its all good.

I like it. Big Bo kind of came out of nowhere, I expected Luis considering all the talk but I didn't even think of Bo. Appearantly Fisk turned them down then.

It's only fitting.

Works for me.

I never thoguht of Bo but its not a bad pick. I'm sure if Harold weren't a coach it'd be his spot

Appearantly Fisk turned them down then.

 

 

Why do you say that?

Why do you say that?

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I heard that they tried to get Fisk for Sunday.

I heard that they tried to get Fisk for Sunday.

 

 

Thanks. Hadn't heard that anywhere.

Liz Phair.

Oh, goodie.

I always wanted to hear what God Bless America sounded like in a gruff, mannish monotone.

:puke

 

At least Lou Rawls is SUPPOSED to sound gruff and mannish and HE doesn't sing in a monotone.

Edited October 20, 200520 yr by The Critic

I have nothing against Bo but I can think of many guys who dererve it before him.His Sox history is VERY short.

I have nothing against Bo but I can think of many guys who dererve it before him.His Sox history is VERY short.

 

 

His history continues, kinda. He's still with the club every spring.

I dont understand why you dont get Ditka to throw out the first pitch.

I dont understand why you dont get Ditka to throw out the first pitch.

 

Maybe his 20 plus appearances at wrigley for take me out to the ballgame hinder him. Also what does he have to do with baseball? I like Bo I think he brings the mentality we need.

 

I love Luis as well.

Maybe his 20 plus appearances at wrigley for take me out to the ballgame hinder him.  Also what does he have to do with baseball?  I like Bo I think he brings the mentality we need.

 

I love Luis as well.

its Da Coach, are you serious?

Good choices for the first pitches

For one horrible moment, as I read the thread title I thought it would be JESSE Jackson and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

But I really like these two choices.

its Da Coach, are you serious?

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Yes. Da Coach is just a shill for anything that will earn him a few bucks. What does he have to do with White Sox baseball anyways?

Ditka sucks. Plain and simple. Plus, what the hell does he have to do with Baseball?

 

I like the fact that they went with such a strong Chicago feel. I myself though think DeYoung should sing game 2 over Phair.

Ditka sucks. Plain and simple. Plus, what the hell does he have to do with Baseball?

 

I like the fact that they went with such a strong Chicago feel. I myself though think DeYoung should sing game 2 over Phair.

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Yeah, getting Da Coach would be a Cubs thing to do.

What about te Hawk? Idk but maybe he and Luis should throw them out together.

Hawk is a hmoer who roots for the Sox, and he wants to see them win badly. Give him the ball aswell

I dont understand why you dont get Ditka to throw out the first pitch.

 

All White Sox fans are not Bears fans...

I think that Ditka is kinda busy on Sunday anyway.

For one horrible moment, as I read the thread title I thought it would be JESSE Jackson and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

But I really like these two choices.

 

Glad to see I wasn't the only one to think that lol.

For one horrible moment, as I read the thread title I thought it would be JESSE Jackson and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

But I really like these two choices.

 

I thought it would be Jesse, too. Glad it's Bo. I like the choices -- '59 tie-in and Bo is cool. I was having strange thoughts while trying to go to sleep last night about offbeat choices...guys from so many of the teams that gave it their all since '59 and came up short: Joel Horlen, Tom McCraw, Dick Allen , Richie Zisk, Ron Kittle, Black Jack, Jim Parque