Celebrating a new era, but never forgetting the past

The White Sox may have had new owners.

But as I squeezed into the left field bleachers at Comiskey Park for the 1981 home opener against Milwaukee, I still caught a whiff of the spirit of Bill Veeck in the air. At the time, it remained the world's largest outdoor saloon.

The Sox were even wearing the uniforms of the South Side Hit Men.

It was a transition year for me and my Pale Hose.

I was still deciding what to do with my life, having dropped out of Columbia College's film school, opting for a 9-to-5 market research job and tasting the dubious delights of "the real world."

I just completed a major purchase, shelling out $500 for a videotape recorder. I made the mistake of asking which of the two finalists had the better quality, VHS or Beta.

The Sox were figuring out their future as well. It was the first home opener under the new owners, Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn.

Young manager Tony La Russa led a promising squad, including a gifted young right fielder, Harold Baines, pitching prospects Britt Burns and Steve Trout, and all-star reliever Ed Farmer.

While I had my new Beta machine, the Sox made some purchases of their own - Ron LeFlore, Greg Luzinski and the offseason's major haul, Boston superstar Carlton Fisk.

Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall were still in the broadcast booth, dispensing their special brand of crazy, second-guessing the manager and ripping on lazy players.

I can still hear Jimmy telling his partner, "That's stinkin' baseball, Harry."

And - sigh - there was organist Nancy Faust, who had stolen my heart years before. I was looking forward to her rendition of "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" and, of course, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."

Also lighting up the proceedings - with his nose - was Andy the Clown.

A fellow market researcher joined me at the game. At least that's what I remember.

I reached him on Facebook recently, asking if I remembered correctly we spirited a thermos into the game.

He didn't recall going to the game, asking what would have been in the thermos. Soup?

Time marches on, I guess.

Ironically, people I wouldn't meet for another 20 years posted on Facebook they remember being at the game.

It turned out I was lucky to see it in person. To paraphrase Gil Scott-Heron, the home opener would not be televised. WGN had committed to showing a Cubs game that wound up getting rained out.

Unless you were in the seats to view Fisk's grand slam, you could only see it on the news later that night.

Sportscaster Tim Weigel's recap of the Sox' 9-3 triumph is on YouTube.

Weigel began the segment with a "before" picture, footage from the dismal 1980 home opener, La Russa's first as Sox manager.

A drizzly day was made more dreary by a 5-3 loss to the Orioles and Jim Palmer.

The Tribune quoted Ed Farmer saying, "If you don't get to Palmer early, you don't get to him at all."

According to the story, it was also raining boos, as Sox fans showered outfielder Claudell Washington (he who "slept here") with derision as he went 0-for-4 and failed to advance four baserunners.

La Russa told reporters, "It's not easy to play this game when your own fans disapprove of you."

Weigel's report then cut to the "after" picture, the 1981 opener, beginning with an aerial view of the venerable ballfield, bathed in sunshine.

A crowd of more than 51,000 fans packed the park "to herald the dawn of a new era on the South Side," in Weigel's rosy account.

Weigel said the new owners were committed to bringing "a new classy image" for the team.

Footage showed parachutists landing in the ballpark ... and one in the parking lot.

Gov. Jim Thompson, years away from rescuing the Sox franchise, was on the screen.

The highlights included an outstanding performance by starter Ross Baumgarten, brilliant defense by first baseman Mike Squires and the dagger, Fisk's shot into the left field bleachers, near where I sat.

As I look ahead to Opening Day 2021, which the pandemic will prevent me from attending, I still have my Beta machine and a treasure trove of tapes of 1980s Sox games.

La Russa will again be managing for a new boss, same as the old boss, Jerry Reinsdorf.

Farmer, sadly, will not be in the broadcast booth and see his former skipper.

Forty years later, I am still figuring out what to do with my life.