Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 19, 1991 TAG: 9104190214
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Medium
The White Sox lost 16-0 to Detroit, but the score wasn't the important thing for some fans.
"Nobody is disappointed coming home from a large loss today," said Steve Willis, 40, whose consulting firm played host to clients in a skybox. "For a fleeting moment this morning, I thought the only thing that could wreck this was a real blowout of fifteen-to-nothing or twenty-to-nothing and [clients] would leave in the sixth or seventh inning."
There were 42,191 fans in the 44,702-capacity stadium. Many of the crowd did leave early.
"We'll remember the opening of Comiskey, I'll guarantee that," Chicago manager Jeff Torborg said. "The ballpark was pretty - that was the only thing pretty for us."
The Oak Ridge Boys sang the national anthem and jets flew overhead before the game. Vice President Dan Quayle stopped in for a few innings, and discussed relief to the Kurdish refugees with broadcaster Ken Harrelson.
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney was a guest of Gov. Jim Edgar. State legislators postponed business in Springfield to attend the game, courtesy of the club.
"Last night it was like being a little kid on Christmas eve in anticipation," said White Sox pitcher Donn Pall, a native of suburban Evergreen Park. "I couldn't sleep. I wanted to so I could wake up and get up and go to the ballpark."
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by former Gov. James R. Thompson, who personally twisted arms to win last-minute legislative approval for the stadium financing bill in 1988 to keep the club from moving to Florida.
It was high and outside, but he didn't care.
"This ranks right up there with marrying my wife, seeing my daughter born, winning the governorship four times and retiring from office," Thompson said.
Fans and players were just as excited at seeing the new park, only the third home the White Sox have ever known. They played for 81 years at the old Comiskey Park, being torn down across the street.
"The park is great," said Dan O'Neill, 35, who was seeing his 20th consecutive White Sox home opener from box seats behind home plate. "I see each seat is turned a certain way for a perfect view."
"The old place was a great ballpark and this is a great ballpark, I think," said press box guard Joe Pinotti, 80, who was born in 1910, the same year the old park was opened. "It's like an old car - you miss it but you eventually get used to the new car."
Arriving fans - some getting to the park over four hours before game time - saw a gaping hole where the right-field stands used to be at the original Comiskey. Demolition began April 3.
"I saw it and I had to get away from it quickly," O'Neill said. "It was sad. A wave of emotion just hit me."
Torborg and Detroit manager Sparky Anderson weren't so sentimental.
"I am one-thousand degrees against tradition," Anderson said. "Why would you want a dump for a home when you can have something really nice and new. I love it."
"I can sit down in the dugout and see the outfielders," Torborg said. "At the other park I'd jump up, hit my head and even when I got to the top step, I couldn't see the plays in the outfield."
Unlike old Comiskey Park and most ballparks, home plate is in the northwest corner. That means left field is the sun field and the left-field line heads east with the right-field line heading south. Prevailing winds off Lake Michigan will blow in from left field.
Chicago shortstop Ozzie Guillen called it "awesome."
"The background is good for the hitters and the infield is the same we had across the street," Guillen said. "The ball stays down on the ground. I'm going to like it. No, I'm going to love it."
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB