Chicago woke up with a postseason charge in the air Wednesday, and the noise around Rate Field had little to do with the White Sox having a chance to close out their American League Division Series against Cleveland in Game 3. The afternoon’s favorite question was simpler: who would have the ceremonial first pitch in hand before the 3 p.m. CT start?
Key takeaways
- The White Sox were set to host the Guardians in ALDS Game 3 at 4 p.m. ET, with a potential series-clinching win on the line.
- Former President Barack Obama and Pope Leo XIV, both prominent White Sox fans, were not the pregame first-pitch guest.
- It marked Chicago’s first home postseason games since 2021.
- The club had not had a chance to clinch a postseason series at home since 1906; it was only the second such opportunity in franchise history.
- Assistant general manager Josh Barfield said the city’s growing attachment to the club has been one of the most rewarding parts of the run.
A ballpark waiting for its moment
Speculation over the first-pitch honor had been rolling since Tuesday night, from social media chatter to television discussion. Obama and Pope Leo XIV were among the names ruled out, leaving the identity of the guest as a pregame mystery for fans gathering outside the ballpark.
That question was part of a broader October buzz. The White Sox had become the talk of the city to the point that Sunday’s Bears-Packers game in Green Bay had been pushed down the local conversation. A club with an easygoing, entertaining personality had given Chicago a baseball focal point well beyond the South Side.
“One of the most enjoyable parts of this run has been watching the city, and now the country, get behind this team,” Barfield said. “People stop me on the street to say how much fun they have watching them. Then there are the calls and texts after playoff wins. Seeing what this group has meant to people has been really, really cool.”
Fans arrived early for the return of postseason baseball at Rate Field. Tailgates were underway, and a playoff photo booth near the team store drew lines of supporters looking for a souvenir before first pitch.
Every era had a jersey in the crowd
The crowd told the story of a franchise moment reaching across generations. Munetaka Murakami jerseys mixed with shirts bearing the names of Mark Buehrle and Paul Konerko. Ken Griffey Jr. and Jake Burger White Sox jerseys also made appearances. On a day like this, any player who helped build a fan’s connection to the club had a place in the celebration.
There were Pope hats throughout the gathering, along with nearly as many wizard hats in tribute to the season-long “magic” associated with pitcher Mike Vasil.
One 7-year-old fan stood with his father near the street, calling “Go White Sox” to passing cars and pedestrians. They did not have tickets for Game 3. They had come early for autographs and to be around the atmosphere, a small scene that captured how the playoff run had become a city occasion as much as a ballpark event.
Manager Will Venable said his players understand what the home setting means.
“They are excited to come to the ballpark every day,” Venable said. “This place has been the center of their summer. Playing in front of these fans is special every day, and they are focused on having another chance to do it at home.”
