They scared us for a second there, but the White Sox clinched a playoff spot. (They face off against the Boston Red Sox at 3 p.m. Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.) Want to avoid the bandwagon and tip back a toast with true fans? We’ve got the lowdown on the best Bridgeport hangs to celebrate a Sox (fingers crossed) win.
Schaller’s Pump
3714 N. Halsted St. 773-376-6332
Finding a postgame seat at Schaller’s depends largely on the score. “If the Sox lose, fans go home,” owner Jack Schaller says.
Pregame is more predictable, when fans calm playoff jitters with a meal from a meaty menu befitting a bar once favored by Union Stockyards workers. Steaks, chops, and corned beef and cabbage are all favorites, and the famous $1.50 hash browns are a must. Portions are generous. As one waitress says, “You get more than you pay for. If you go outta here hungry, shame on you.”
Leave room for a $2.50 Miller Genuine Draft at the spot that claims to be the second oldest bar in Chicago; a Prohibition-era peephole confirms a colorful past. Schaller says Mayor Daley occasionally pops in, “but not like his father used to come around.” And the incomparable Bill Veeck, former Sox owner (twice) and promoter extraordinaire, was also once a frequent patron. Parking is plentiful, with live music on weekends.
Shinnick’s
3758 S. Union St. 773-523-8591
Fit for the younger Sox fan, this clean, neighborhood beer bar gets good and rowdy after a Sox win. Owner Celine is the third generation of her family to run the spot, a local landmark since 1938. “A lot of people that come in here now, their fathers and grandfathers came here too,” she says. Richard J. Daley drank here before running for office (well, not right before), and a sign from his 1959 campaign hangs on the wall. Too bright for barflies, the tavern attracts a Gap-wearing crowd. DJs spin some Saturdays, and domestic bottles are $2.50.
First Base
3201 S. Normal Ave. 312-791-1239
Not just a Sox bar but a corny Sox bar, this South Side hang operates under the motto, “You can’t go home until you stop at First Base.” The dimly lit corner bar, painted in Sox colors, belongs to professional drinkers who can down the 16-ounce drafts faster than Pod can steal second. With more than 40 beers to choose from, it’s tempting to join the old-timers and claim a permanent stool. Prices range from $2.50 for an Old Style draft to $5 for a pint of Guinness. Though thin on decorations (mostly beer banners), we give the jukebox a classic-rock seal of approval.
Jimbo’s Lounge
3258 S. Princeton Ave. 312-326-3253
The anti-Cubby Bear, this spot is just north of The Cell and a hell of a lot rougher around the edges. No froufrou croissant sandwiches or grilled vegetable wraps here; Jimbo’s sells Sox-style lunches. From hot dogs to po’ boys, most sandwiches cost $5-$6. Drinkers pay ballpark prices: a 12-ounce can of Old Style runs $3.75. On the Sox’s pennant chances, bartender Tom Salise says: “I’ve waited all my life for this. The last time this happened was when I was a kid in ’59.”
Catcher’s Inn
901 W. 35th St. 773-869-9411
A T-shirt that reads “Cubs Useless By September”? The Inn is certainly a Sox bar. Well, not exactly. Bartender Bo says his blue-collar crowd is 90 percent Sox stalwarts, 10 percent Cubs, plus two Yankees fans. For playoff purposes, we’ll round up.
On game day, stop in to watch the Sox on Catcher’s giant screen. Snacks include a meatball sandwich ($5) and the hearty Catcher’s burger ($5.50). Or tip back Miller on tap for $2. If it’s a Tuesday, stay late for live jazz after the game or stop by Saturday for karaoke.
