Big Changes on the South Side

Mired in an ugly season where they sit among the worst teams in all of baseball, the White Sox are looking toward the future, 2024 and beyond. Which is why Jerry Reinsdorf recently chose to make a huge decision.

He fired longtime executive vice president Kenny Williams, and senior vice president and general manager Rick Hahn. Williams had been a part of the White Sox organization since 1992, starting as a scout and working his way up to executive vice president. Hahn joined the Sox in 2002 as an assistant general manager and eventually was promoted to senior vice president and general manager. Both were instrumental in assembling the 2005 World Series-winning team, but since that season they’ve only made the playoffs three times (2008, 2020, 2021).

For the last few seasons, there were very high expectations placed on the team at 35th and Shields. A young core with veteran leadership. SS Tim Anderson and CF Luis Robert Jr. as the main offensive pieces, along with 1B/DH Jose Abreu and C Yasmani Grandal. SPs Dylan Cease and Lucas Giolito. Reliever/closer Liam Hendriks. This was a team that was thinking more than division titles. They wanted it all. And unfortunately for Sox fans, the closest they got was an ALDS loss to the Houston Astros in 2021.

But that isn’t the only thing Sox fans aren’t worried about. There has been some rumors spreading around the future of the White Sox in their current stadium, Guaranteed Rate Field. Opening in 1991 as “New Comiskey Park,” the stadium is only just a few decades old and has gone through numerous renovations throughout the years to keep it updated to the current times. But unfortunately, there’s only so much renovating you can do. Reportedly, the team is not only looking at sites in Chicago and the surrounding area, but there are talks about potentially moving the team to Nashville if needs aren’t met.

Lindblom High School sophomore Tristian Davis, a Sox fan, would not be happy if the team decided to leave. “All I’ve known are the Sox, man. Them leaving the South Side would be devastating.” TJ Johnson, also a tenth grader at Lindblom, feels much like Davis. “That would kinda suck. I mean, they’ve been there forever. It would be hard to imagine them leaving there.”

Between old Comiskey Park and now Guaranteed Rate Field, the White Sox have played at the corner of 35th and Shields for over 110 years. In my opinion, it would be a huge loss for the team itself, the city, and most importantly, the fans, if the team left Chicago.

What do you think? How do you feel about Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn getting fired? How about the White Sox potential move out of Chicago? Let us know.