Monday, October 26

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- It looked to be a normal home opener on April 3 for Scott Podsednik regarding his responsibilities as a White Sox ambassador.

Take some pictures with fans. Sign a few autographs. Talk a little baseball. Maybe even recount his walk-off home run from Game 2 of the 2005 World Series sweep over Houston.

Then, through a brief pregame conversation with White Sox executive vice president Brooks Boyer, that day changed into one of the most memorable moments of Podsednik’s baseball career.

“The first thing he said to me is, ‘I’ve got something incredibly huge for you today,’” said Podsednik during a recent conversation with MLB.com. “I said, ‘Brooks, you know how I like to be prepared, and you know I don’t like surprises. What are you talking about?’”

Boyer was talking about Podsednik informing Ozzie Guillen, his manager during that historic campaign 21 seasons ago, of the news that his No. 13 jersey will be retired by the White Sox on Aug. 8. The announcement was set after Sean Burke pitched through the top of the third against the Blue Jays, with White Sox television voice John Schriffen sending it back to Chuck Garfien, Podsednik and Guillen at the CHSN studio.

Very few people knew of this incoming honor, a goal of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's when he called Boyer during the offseason to discuss Guillen’s jersey retirement. So, there was Podsednik, getting ready to read the proclamation in tribute to Guillen, more nervous than he was facing a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs during a tie game in the bottom of the ninth.

“He said, ‘I want you to go on set, and then I’m going to have you read this announcement.’ He hands me an envelope,” said Podsednik of his conversation with Boyer. “I’m like, ‘OK.’ He’s like, ‘Open it up and read it.’ He said, ‘Since you want to know, open it up and read it.’

“So, I open it up and I start reading, and when I realized what it was, I immediately got chills. I looked up at Brooks, and I stood up, and I said, ‘Brooks,’ and I was serious about this, I said, ‘I’m not the guy that needs to read this.’ He said, ‘No, you are the guy. You are going to read it.’

“And he explained exactly how he wanted it to go down,” Podsednik added. “I was just kind of buzzing from all of it. Then immediately after, we hear a knock on the door, and they are like, ‘Hey Podsednik. We need you up on set.’”

Podsednik and Garfien flanked Guillen, with Guillen flashing his trademark humor with some good-natured gibes, even joking about getting a Guillen bobblehead commissioned.

When Podsednik read out the historic news, Guillen immediately teared up. He shared the celebration with his wife, Ibis, and was moved by the delivery from his one-time leadoff man.

“I couldn’t see what he was reading,” said Guillen, speaking shortly after the announcement. “I almost cursed, because that’s the way I talk to my players. To me it was an honor [that] one of my guys who really has a lot to do with this was next to me when this happened.”

“Well, he asked me if I had known about it and I’m like, ‘Right before.’ So he threw some expletives at me,” said Podsednik with a laugh. “We didn’t really get a chance to talk in any great detail about it, because after it happened, he was being pulled in every direction. I was kind of buzzing. I was on the phone talking with my family and friends and talking with other people.”

This special ceremony will take place before the White Sox battle the Guardians, a top rival for Guillen as a player and manager on the South Side. It also comes three days before the much-ballyhooed Pope hats are given away on Aug. 11.

Even with Podsednik not being able to talk with Guillen much that day, he knows what this honor meant to Guillen. His involvement had special meaning for Podsednik.

“One hundred percent. Probably one of the most special moments back to my playing career and even 2005,” said Podsednik, who will be in town for Guillen’s jersey retirement. “I’m very appreciative that the White Sox asked me to be involved.

“I’m fortunate and grateful I got to play underneath him, got to see what he was all about. And I’m going to go ahead and say this: Baseball needs a guy like Ozzie back in it, a guy of his character and a guy of his knowledge. His family might say otherwise, but I would love to see Ozzie back in a manager’s seat again.”

I was with my friend at dinner on Friday night and told her I thought the White Sox offense would take off that weekend in West Sacramento. I went as far as to predict Munetaka Murakami would hit three homers over the three games, Colson Montgomery would hit two and Edgar Quero would launch his first of the year.

As Meat Loaf famously sang, two out of three ain’t bad.

The Sox will hope this offensive surge continues in the upcoming three games to Arizona and during the ensuing six at home vs. the Nationals and Angels. The White Sox have a Miguel Vargas bobblehead and a 90’s City Connect jacket giveaway on Friday and Saturday, respectively, so there could be solid crowds at Rate Field.

• Does multi-talented outfielder Braden Montgomery, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 31 overall, per MLB Pipeline, need a stop at Triple-A Charlotte, or could he come directly to the Majors? I’m just thinking out loud, but the White Sox are not afraid to promote their prospects when ready.

• Chicago baseball has a 5-1 combined record since I received my first six Michigan men’s basketball championship shirts. Coincidence? Almost certainly, but I just wanted the world to know I received the shirts.

•  A hearty Mazel Tov to Lauren Magiera, who got married in Alaska over the weekend. She certainly is missed within the Chicago sports media scene.

“It means everything. They have jobs. It’s a three-hour drive for a lot of them.” -- Sam Antonacci, on his family and friends coming from Springfield, Ill., to watch his Major League debut in Chicago

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