While many Cubs fans are finding it difficult to root for the cross-town White Sox this postseason, at least one former Cubs player will be cheering publicly for the Sox.
Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins will appear from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Harry Caray’s restaurant while the American League champions host the first game of the World Series at U.S. Cellular Field.
Jenkins, who won 284 games for the Phillies, Cubs, Red Sox and Rangers, never played on a first-place team and never experienced postseason play.
He started six home openers for the Cubs and is the only major-league pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts while issuing fewer than 1,000 walks.
Jenkins will sign books, baseballs and other memorabilia, with all proceeds from the event benefiting the American Red Cross.
Word on the street
Umpire Doug Eddings, who made the controversial dropped-third-strike call that favored the White Sox and batter A.J. Pierzynski in Game 2 of the ALCS, has won many friends in Chicago. One restaurant–Uno Chicago Grill–is offering Eddings free dinner in any of their establishments for as long as the Sox are in the World Series. In addition, if the Sox win the World Series, Uno has offered Eddings a steak dinner every week until the end of 2005, though it’s hardly likely MLB will let him accept.
Sights seen
Bill King, the legendary Bay Area sportscaster who died earlier this week at age 78, was a native of Bloomington, Ill. He launched his career in Pekin and came out of the “Peoria school” that also produced Chick Hearn, Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd.
King served as the Oakland A’s play-by-play man since 1981. He also was the play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors from 1962 to ’83, and for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1966-92. “One would be hard-pressed to find an announcer who served as the lead play-by-play voice for three major sports franchises for as long as Bill,” A’s President Michael Crowley said.
Overheard
The Cleveland Indians nearly overtook the White Sox in the final weeks of the regular season before floundering at the end. Nevertheless, Indians starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia says he is rooting for the Sox in the World Series. “I want them to do well because they are in our division and nobody ever gives our division any respect,” Sabathia said earlier this week on Fox Sports Net.
Local attractions
In honor of the White Sox, Nikco Sports is producing 5,000 baseball sets, with three baseballs in each set, complete with an acrylic display case, for $79.95 to help raise $40,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, a group that helps youngsters who face life-threatening medical conditions. Nikco Sports has raised more than $1.4 million for children’s charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation in recent years. Call 1-800-345-2868 or visit www.nikcosports.com.
———-
fmitchell@tribune.com
