VOL. XV, NO. 1
SEPTEMBER 28, 1973
Loyal Sox Fans Create a Mania
By PEG BAER
Cheers, boos, drums, bugles, whistles, tambourines, smiles, frowns, banners, shirts, and noise, noise, noise are some of the factors present in the lower left field grandstand at Comiskey Park. The Sox Maniacs are a group of devoted White Sox fans who like to do their favorite thing at Sox Park - support their favorite team.
About 55 "kids" ranging in age from 4 (the youngest attending member) to? (some people don't like to tell their age) like to cheer their heads off for what they believe to be a good cause - the White Sox.
The Sox Maniacs actually began as the old Left Field Grandstand Fans. There are still a few of the old group left, but they sit quietly up around the eighth row and don't make any banners.
Another group has come about, and they are the Sox Supporters. They consist mainly of college kids, but the two groups still function as one.
The Maniacs and Supporters are clean living, honorable fans who are out to have a good time. There are north‑siders, south‑siders, west‑siders, east‑siders, suburbanites, and yes, even reformed Cub fans who are now very loyal Sox fans working together to publicly make their loyalty known.
Cheers, boos, drums, bugles, whistles, tambourines, smiles, frowns, banners, shirts, and noise, noise, noise are some of the factors present in the lower left field grandstand at Comiskey Park. The Sox Maniacs are a group of devoted White Sox fans who like to do their favorite thing at Sox Park - support their favorite team.
About 55 "kids" ranging in age from 4 (the youngest attending member) to? (some people don't like to tell their age) like to cheer their heads off for what they believe to be a good cause - the White Sox.
The Sox Maniacs actually began as the old Left Field Grandstand Fans. There are still a few of the old group left, but they sit quietly up around the eighth row and don't make any banners.
Another group has come about, and they are the Sox Supporters. They consist mainly of college kids, but the two groups still function as one.
The Maniacs and Supporters are clean living, honorable fans who are out to have a good time. There are north‑siders, south‑siders, west‑siders, east‑siders, suburbanites, and yes, even reformed Cub fans who are now very loyal Sox fans working together to publicly make their loyalty known.
A lot of hard work goes into the making of banners, but we believe it's worth it. Some of our masterpieces are the following signs "Thunderin' Joe Lonnet Send them home," "There'll be no loss with Tanner, as boss," "E – x – a – m – p – l – e – o – f – a – b – a – d – c – a – l - l," "Strike it Rich" (made by 1971 graduate Mike Born), a clover banner for Kelly, "Super Hermann," and of course my favorite, "King Carlos" (made by yours truly).
It takes a certain skill to find the right banner in time to put over the wall before the next batter steps into the box. Drums, bugles, whistles, and tambourines are used to help us along in the cheers and make sure we're heard.
Many times we can be identified by our "Dick" shirts and a lot of times by our faces. There are more and more north‑siders turning to the south‑side, and transportation problems have become a thing of the past. There are many car pools going to the games, and there is always the Jefferson Park El.
There isn't a more fun loving, devoted group of fans associated with any team in all of Chicago.
It takes a certain skill to find the right banner in time to put over the wall before the next batter steps into the box. Drums, bugles, whistles, and tambourines are used to help us along in the cheers and make sure we're heard.
Many times we can be identified by our "Dick" shirts and a lot of times by our faces. There are more and more north‑siders turning to the south‑side, and transportation problems have become a thing of the past. There are many car pools going to the games, and there is always the Jefferson Park El.
There isn't a more fun loving, devoted group of fans associated with any team in all of Chicago.