GLEN ELLYN, Ill., April 26, 2018 (Newswire.com) - So far, the 2018 season has not gone well for the Chicago White Sox – dismal record, low attendance, and having to put up with the gloating of the folk on the North Side. So why is Daniel Yelovich still a Sox fan? Certainly, the 2005 World Series is a big factor but his love for the team goes farther back than that.
The team captured Daniel Yelovich heart on July 20, 1969 when he was 12-years old. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and his parents had brought him, his three sisters, and two brothers to the White Sox / Royals doubleheader (imagine paying for eight people with today’s prices).
His father was born on the South Side and believed the Sox were the only ‘real’ team in Chicago. “My dad was in the steel industry as well so if you were a ‘working man’ you were a Sox fan,” he says.
So on that July day, his father went above and beyond and got us great seats. We were sitting in the upper deck right behind home plate in the old Comiskey Park. It was the bottom of the sixth inning of the first game and his favorite player, Walter “No Neck” Williams, was at bat with Don O’Riley was on the mound. Walter’s nickname was due to his massive arms and shoulders that gave the impression that his neck had disappeared. He was a powerful hitter and a fan favorite. He had a winning smile and a great enthusiasm for the game.
He vividly recalls Williams demolishing the ball and sending a rocket right back at the pitcher. It struck O’Riley on the shoulder and he collapsed on the ground. (He was forced to leave the game and was replaced by Moe Drabowsky.) The second baseman grabbed the ball but Williams was already safe.
Then, the strangest thing happened. The scoreboard went off sending fireworks into the air. Then there was a great roar of the crowd as if it was a good thing to hit the pitcher.
Daniel Yelovich asked my father what was going on. He had always thought that the fireworks only went off when the Sox hit a home run. He asked him if they set them off when you hit the opposing pitcher as well. His dad smiled and said “no”. Then he pointed at the scoreboard display where there was the message. “The Eagle Has Landed!” The Apollo 11 lunar moon module had touched down on the moon.
Twelve thousand fans jumped to their feet and cheered. After a while, the stadium announcer asked for a moment of silence and invited the people to pray. The next day, the Chicago Tribune ran a picture of the White Sox dugout showing the whole team with their heads bowed. It was an amazing experience to share that moment with so many people. What a wonderful memory.
Daniel Yelovich lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with his wife Janet and two children Rebecca and Adam. They are all Sox fans.
To connect with Daniel A. Yelovich, you can contact him through his Facebook or Twitter.
Source: Daniel Yelovich
Share: