Chicago White Sox Training for Kids
Several years ago when the Chicago White Sox were still holding spring training in Sarasota, they held a “training camp for kids.” About 300-400 kids showed up to learn from such greats as Harold Baines and other popular White Sox players. My Babe Ruth League age son Andy was among them, and was quite excited to be learning from major league players.
Living in a spring training town does have its advantages such as; white sand beaches, palm trees, warm weather all winter…well you get the idea. At any rate, being from the Chicago area, Andy was a Cubs fan much more than a Sox fan, but that didn’t stop him from going to the camp, along with his catchers mitt and wearing his Cubs hat. The White Sox were giving away ten prizes after the activities along with a “grand prize.” Some of the prizes were; mini-bats, baseballs, baseball hats, bats, etc. I was hoping that Andy might win a prize, but after they gave away all ten prizes, all that was left was the “grand prize.”
Then they announced, “The grand prize winner is…Andy!!!” Holy cow, we couldn’t believe it. The prize was a trip to Chicago along with a pair of tickets to two Sox games. Also, he got his picture taken with the White Sox Manager Jeff Torborg, with Andy proudly wearing his Chicago Cubs hat…