Too busy this summer to pay much attention to the comings and goings of the White Sox?
Still feel like hopping on the rolling bandwagon for the playoffs so you too can enjoy one of the most remarkable seasons in the 100 years of White Sox baseball?
It’s simple.
Just take along this handy White Sox glossary to Comiskey Park for all playoff games and casually toss out references to “El Caballo” and “the Big Bang.” Not only will you impress your friends and family with your vast knowledge of all things Sox, but you’ll have spared yourself six months of mental anguish, trying to figure out whether this really is the year you have been waiting for your entire life.
Here’s our updated version of the White Sox Glossary 2000:
bean-brawl war (ben brol) n.
Pair of on-feld brawls between the Sox and the Tigers on April 22 (below) at Comiskey Park, leading to the suspensions of 16 members of the two teams, including managers Jerry Manuel and Phil Garner. Coincidence or not, the Sox began to take off after the suspensions from the brawls ended.
bell-man’s hol-i-day (belm nz hal da) n.
Moment in Detroit’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel on April 28 when Manuel dons a bellman’s uniform to greet the Sox bus as it returns from the game at Comerica Park. It’s the first day of Manuel’s room, constantly adjusting the antenna to get better reception.
Big Bang, the (big bang) n.
Spring training blow-up between Manuel and Frank Thomas after Thomas presented him with a doctor’s note excusing him from running a shuttle drill. After the dust settled, Thomas was in contention for his third MVP and Manuel was on target to become American League Manager of the Year.
Big Herb (big hurb) n.
Nickname given to third baseman Herbert Perry by anonymous sign-carrying Sox fan in May after the early-season acquisition became a cult favorite. Refers to Perry’s penchant for getting clutch hits.
Big Hurt (big hurt) n.
Nickname broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson gave Thomas during Thomas’ rookie season with the Sox in 1990. Refers to the pain Thomas inflicts on baseballs.
big towel, the (big tou l) n.
Protest tool used by hitting coach Von Joshua to demonstrate the size of the strike zone being given to Pedro Martinez on July 23 in Fenway Park. Joshua picks up a big towel and waves it from the dugout, prompting his immediate ejection. Martinez outduels Sirotka in a classic 1-0 game.
Bud Bil-li-ken Day (bud bil leken) n.
Annual South Side holiday begun by the Chicago Defender newspaper to honor its paper carriers. This holiday is the milepost Manuel points to in May when trying to postpone his assessment of the Sox’s early-season success. When Billiken Day arrives, Manuel postpones it until the Bears’ season opener and then postpones it indefinitely.
El Ca-bal-lo (el ka-bi-yo) n.
Nickname Harrelson gave Carlos Lee. Translation: “The horse,” referring to Lee’s strength and endurance.
catch, the (kech) n.
Outfielder Chris Singleton goes over the left-feld wall of Comiskey to rob Damion Easley of a home run and preserve a 1-0 victory over Detroit for Jim Parque on Sept. 13.
Chair-man, The (cher men) n.
Nickname given to Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, referring to his status as chairman of the board. Not to be confused with the Boss, the nickname given to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
En-roned (en-rand) v.
To give up cheap home runs over the right-feld wall at Houston’s Enron Field. Term coined by Mike Sirotka after giving up two cheap homers in a 7-3 victory June 4 at Enron.
ev-il twin (ev l twin) n.
Manuel’s flip side. A passionate follower of the non-violent teachings of Gandhi, Manuel’s “evil twin” sometimes appears when you least expect it. The first appearance comes April 13 at Tropicana Field while arguing a blown call that helped lead to an extra-inning loss to the Devil Rays. Manuel’s evil twin gets ejected and umpire Bill Miller later admits he blew the call.
Get Up Guy (get-up gi) n.
Very large Sox fan with giant lungs, who exhorts fellow fans to stand up and cheer before games. Carries a sign that, appropriately, says: “GET UP.” Syn. Dan Galligana
Hol-ly-wood Paul (hale wood pol) n.
Nickname Manuel gave to first baseman Paul Konerko after Konerko ran the bases at full speed during batting practice before the Sept. 8 Sox-Indians game at Jacobs Field. Konerko hits a two-run home run and makes a game-saving stab of a Jim Thome liner, leading to the South Side catch phrase: “Lights, camera, Konerko.”
Lob-ster-gate (labster gat) n.
Mystery surrounding a dead crustacean. An anonymous prankster slips a dead lobster’s shell inside of the shoes of catcher Mark Johnson. James Baldwin is fingered as the key suspect, with his soiled lobster bib as the smoking gun. After months of speculation, catcher Brook Fordyce rats on his old batterymate after being traded to Baltimore: “Everyone knows JB did it.”
oo-eeee-oo, eee-oooooo (o ee o, e oo) n.
Chant sung by the guards during the flying monkey scene in film “The Wizard of Oz.” Sox marketing department plays it over p.a. system when Magglio Ordonez comes to bat.
pick, the (pik) n.
Sean Lowe’s game-saving pickoff of Mark Grace. With Sammy Sosa up and the tying run on third in the eighth, Lowe picks off Grace to help protect an emotional 4-3 victory over the Cubs before 43,806 at Comiskey. Did Lowe really pick Grace off or did the Sox right-hander commit a balk that should have scored the game-tying run? “I wasn’t trying to balk. I was just trying to pick my leg up, do it quick,” Lowe says. “I wasn’t even really trying to get him. It was just a matter of ‘Maybe you can.’ It happens sometimes. Maybe he should’ve been paying attention more.”
Pop-py pho-to op (pape foto ap) n.
A White Sox home run at Comiskey Park, referring to batboy Poppy Hidalgo (99, right), who greets Sox players at home plate with a high-five.
Rope-a-dope (rop’ a dop) n.
Boxing tactic Muhammed Ali invented for his “Rumble in the Jungle” fight with George Foreman. After a 13-12 comeback victory over Anaheim at Comiskey on Sept. 3, Manuel proclaims the Sox looked like they were playing “rope-a-dope.”
The Kids Can Play (the kidz kan pla) n.
Marketing slogan ushered in during ’99 season.
Val-en-tined (valen tend) v.
The ability to crush an opponent with a broken-bat bloop single in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox “Valentined” the Yankees on June 23 at Comiskey on Jose Valentin’s broken-bat bloop RBI single (below) off Mariano Rivera.
