Sox, fans dancin' in the streets

By wire services
Published October 29, 2005

CHICAGO - A baseball reduced Jerry Reinsdorf to tears.

Of course, it wasn't an ordinary ball.

Paul Konerko gave the White Sox owner the ball that Houston's Orlando Palmeiro hit for the final out of Chicago's first World Series title since 1917.

Konerko, who had gloved the throw from shortstop Juan Uribe for the final out at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday night, presented the ball to Reinsdorf during Friday's rally that followed a parade through the city.

"Getting this ball from Paul Konerko is the most emotional moment of my life," he said.

The fate of the ball was a mystery after the White Sox won, with players claiming they didn't know where it was and Konerko refusing to comment.

There were chants of "Ozzie! Ozzie!" and "Paulie! Paulie!" ringing through the streets in honor of manager Ozzie Guillen and Konerko. General manager Kenny Williams, World Series MVP Jermaine Dye and just about every other member of the White Sox heard cheers.

Many fans had waited hours, and they streamed into downtown even as the players were appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show earlier in the day.

Wearing White Sox hats, jerseys and jackets, they packed the downtown area. Many waved team flags, black and white balloons, white roses or white socks; several had brooms to signal the sweep.

Some clamberer onto light poles and utility boxes for a better view while dozens stood perched on windowsills of City Hall along the parade route.

Children with faces painted black and white stood shoulder to shoulder with workers in suits and ties, straining for a glimpse of the players.

"We all decided to use a sick day today for Sox fever," Rodolfo Durand said. "Chicago has never celebrated a baseball victory like this," fan Marco Velasquez said. "Baseballwise, the city has been starved for a while."

Across the Chicago River, hundreds of fans lined the top level of a parking garage for a view. Above the crowd, office workers looked on from high-rises, some pressing White Sox signs to their windows. And above them, F-16s flew in tribute.

Konerko talked about how many didn't believe the team could do what it did. And then he wondered what might be ahead.

"Maybe we'll have to do this one more time next year," he said.

FREE AGENCY: Among the more notable of the 54 who filed: Ex-Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers, Boston center fielder Johnny Damon, Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Cleveland pitcher Kevin Millwood, Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman.

OBITUARY: Longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports editor and columnist Bob Broeg, credited for nicknaming Stan Musial "Stan the Man," died at age 87. Mr. Broeg, a member of the writers' wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, died in Creve Coeur, Mo., after being treated for pneumonia.

D'BACKS: Red Sox assistant general manager Josh Byrnes was hired as general manager.

NATIONALS: Local investors in Indianapolis-based businessman Jeff Smulyan's bid to buy the team would be able to veto any plans to move the club to another city. Smulyan announced that element of his bid as part of an effort to quell concern about having someone outside of Washington purchase the team.

[Last modified October 29, 2005, 01:46:07]