Rate Field slowed down for Ozzie Guillen on Saturday. The White Sox retired his No. 13 in a pregame ceremony, making the 62-year-old the 13th person and first former manager in franchise history to get his number hung on the second-deck facade. Fittingly, it was A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko — two stars off Guillen's 2005 World Series team — who brought him out in front of the dugout.
The ceremony moment as Guillen's No. 13 goes up for good, with the crowd on its feet.
Guillen's Chicago résumé speaks for itself: AL Rookie of the Year in 1985, a three-time All-Star at shortstop, a Gold Glove in 1990, and then the manager who ended an 88-year championship drought when he steered the 2005 team to a title. Getting emotional during a number retirement isn't unusual — getting emotional and then watching your team snap a four-game losing streak on the same night is a nice bonus.
The Barstool White Sox crowd was locked in for it. Dante made sure to note who actually showed up to represent, needling anyone who skipped the ceremony for a trip overseas instead of being at the ballpark for what he called one of the biggest nights for the organization in 20 years.
Then the game itself delivered. Cleveland starter Gavin Williams was cruising until the sixth, when Munetaka Murakami turned on one and hit it off the left-field foul pole to cut into an early Guardians lead built on a Rhys Hoskins homer. That was the crack the White Sox needed — Colin Holderman came in relief and immediately hit two batters to load the bases, then Tristan Peters ripped a two-run double and Chase Meidroth followed with an RBI single. Five runs in the inning, and the White Sox had the lead for good in a 6-3 win.
Tristan Peters comes through with the two-out, two-run double that flips the game in Chicago's favor.
For a lineup that's been scuffling, barstoolWSD's reaction summed up the vibe in the building — an offense that badly needed a breakout finally got one on the one night everybody was already emotional. The win pushed the White Sox to 60-56 and snapped a skid that had bled into the ceremony's buildup.
Beyond the standings, the night was a reminder of what Guillen still means on the South Side. The giveaway jerseys handed out to fans even got their own moment online, with Dante calling out the stitching and the 2005 World Series patch on the sleeve as one of the better fan giveaways he's seen a team pull off. Ozzie Night delivered on every front — the tribute, the crowd, and eventually the ballgame.