Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Win or Lose, Boston Celtics' New Big 3 Era A Success

Shel Silverstein: Sox fan

Call me a simpleton; The Giving Tree is one of my favorite books. A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends are pretty good, too, not to mention the fact that they provide about 80% of grade school memorization test material. So when I came across this story about digging through Shel Silverstein's archives, I read. Turns out he was from the Southwest Side of Chicago, was a lifelong White Sox fan, a hot dog vendor at Comiskey Park in the 40's, and a writer for Playboy.

In a June, 1962 four-page spread for the mentioned magazine, Shel is featured practicing and hanging out with the Sox during spring training in Sarasota, Florida. Here's the first two pages and the second two pages.

In the first link, number 6 would be light-hitting utility infielder Al Weis, who would get his major league debut that September. 10 would be Sherm Lollar, turning 38 that year, in his second-to-last season in baseball. Also, in one of the photographs, that's Nellie Fox batting while Shel catches. The second link features young Fred Talbot as number 35. He made his major-league debut at the tail end of the 1963 season. Lastly, Tony Cuccinello, a former all-star who played on the Sox from 1943 to 1945, wears number 33.

Apologies to BuehrleMan and others if this has been shared before; it's all new to me. Thanks to Rhubarb for the images.

SouthSideSox is a community driven site. As such, users are able to express their thoughts and opinions in a FanPost, such as this one, which represents the views of this particular fan, but not necessarily the entire community or SouthSideSox editors.

Comment 46 comments  |  6 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

who?

So fast he could hit a ball up the middle and it would hit him in the ass sliding into second.

by colintj on Jan 8, 2012 7:43 PM CST reply actions  

Number 62.

I want that jersey.

The lords of dawn are men such as Mr. Lucy.

by Uribe Down on Jan 8, 2012 7:55 PM CST up reply actions  

Very cool

It came from afar and traveled sedately on, a shrug of eternity

by Rhubarb on Jan 8, 2012 8:54 PM CST up reply actions  

Me too from my bar tending days on Division and living in that neighborhood near the mansion.

Never knew the Sox connection though.

"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage."

John Kenneth Galbraith

by Chiburb on Jan 9, 2012 5:06 PM CST up reply actions  

Shel Silverstein and Jean Shepherd

…were the two fans I wished would have lived to see 2005.

by asinwreck on Jan 8, 2012 8:33 PM CST reply actions  

Nelson Algren would be on my list, but he was just born too early.

We play on the "bad" side of town, we were supposedly cursed, and we wear black. Let's play.

by ChiSoxRox on Jan 8, 2012 8:43 PM CST up reply actions  

yeah read "Where the Sidewalk Ends" as a kid

Had no idea of his connection to Chicago or the Sox though. Very cool

"i'd like to see us draft an owner." Jim McMahon, 1986
"We had the 80's, and Michael had the 90's." Otis Wilson

"What did I do wrong? They won two championships in this town in 50 years. I played on one and coached the other one. I'll go somewhere and apologize, but you'll have to tell me where and who to." Mike Ditka, 2005

by walterfan34 on Jan 8, 2012 10:20 PM CST reply actions  

I still own two copies of that book

I remember reading it in 3rd or 4th grade.

NAOPOS

by blackoutsox on Jan 9, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions  

me too

along with a light in the attic.

"Rhubarb, if you wouldn’t mind, ram your taint into your monitor as hard as you can." - joewho112

by BoeJouma on Jan 9, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions  

If I hadn't been out of it today

…I would’ve gone to the Shel Silverstein tribute at the Hideout tonight

"Hawk Harrelson: Annoying even the hearing impaired": Teahenny Penny paraphrasing Chisoxfan1473

by NorthSidePaulie on Jan 8, 2012 10:56 PM CST reply actions  

That's, ahem, next Sunday.

The lords of dawn are men such as Mr. Lucy.

by Uribe Down on Jan 8, 2012 11:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Goody!

"Hawk Harrelson: Annoying even the hearing impaired": Teahenny Penny paraphrasing Chisoxfan1473

by NorthSidePaulie on Jan 8, 2012 11:44 PM CST up reply actions  

Good piece.

The link had been shared before but seems like a lot of folks hadn’t seen it. Thanks for the link.

We're all here because we're not all there.

by winningugly on Jan 9, 2012 6:10 AM CST reply actions  

I used to read Playboy

for the Shel Silverstein articles.

by Hatchetm on Jan 9, 2012 8:44 AM CST reply actions  

Thanks for posting.

I used to read “Where the Sidewalk Ends” & “Falling Up” to my kids. Fond memories. Also loved Dr Seuss.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Jan 9, 2012 10:40 AM CST reply actions  

This got me thinking of other kids book's I loved to read to my kids.

“The Giving Tree” Silverstein, of course. “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch. “I am Not Going to Get Up Today” “Sneetches” & “Green Eggs & Ham” by Dr Seuss. “Monster at the End of This Book.” by John Stone. “Go Away Big Green Monster” Ed Emberley. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Any of the Berenstain Bears Books. I’m sure there are many more I’m forgetting…

For you YPOS with kids.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Jan 9, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions  

Monster at the end of this book

One of my kids’ all-time favorites. We wore out three copies!

by LockportSox on Jan 9, 2012 4:22 PM CST up reply actions  

'The Little House' by Virginia Lee Burton made a big impact on me. The harcover VL Burton collection is my favorite book to read to my kids.

The changes in mood and expression on the face of the little house, as the big-city sprawl surrounds her, is perfection in story-telling art. If yer askin’ me.

Why buy the cow when the milk is kinda bitchy?

by SkanchoDanza on Jan 10, 2012 12:23 PM CST up reply actions  

That's a great one. I had when I was little.

It reminds me of “Are You My Mother?” by Eastman.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Jan 10, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions  

Rosalies Good Eats Cafe

“In God we trust all other must pay cash”
While attending the College of DuPage I worked as a tow truck driver. One day I towed Shel’s publicist (manager maybe?) car to a local dealership and he road along. When we arrived at service lot and unloaded the car he opened up his trunk a pulled out a record album(yes I’m that old) by Shel and gave it to me. What a great gift. Knowing that Shel was a White Sox fan make it even that more special.

"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain

by phastphil on Jan 9, 2012 11:01 AM CST reply actions  

Soxfest 2012

I’m just wondering. Is anybody going to Soxfest this year? This will be the first year I’m not going. In order to go on Saturday, you have to buy a 2 day pass. Talk about being gouged. This is another public relations disaster for the White Sox. Why buy a 2 day pass if you only want to go one of the days?

by WBWSF on Jan 9, 2012 12:15 PM CST reply actions  

Too bad this disaster keeps you away: Zambrano is being introduced as DH this year.

"People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage."

John Kenneth Galbraith

by Chiburb on Jan 9, 2012 12:31 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

This is also new to me.

Every birthday for 9 years I recieved a Shel book. The last one was in 2005 when Runny Babbit was published posthumously. I honestly cried when I received it, probably just as much as I did in ‘99 when he passed away. He was a fantastic author, and in my household he’s extremely missed.

I am seriously considering going to the Hideout for the Freakers Ball tribute. If others are going it could be the start of an impromptu methup.

3 things in life I care about
Sox, Colts, and Hawks.
Lifetime banners: '05, '07, '10

by Kyle321N on Jan 9, 2012 12:35 PM CST reply actions  

Bob Greene

HUGE asshole.One of the slimyest jerks to ever crawl the earth.

by Lil Jimmy on Jan 9, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions  

This is excellent.

We're all here because we're not all there.

by winningugly on Jan 9, 2012 2:24 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

barry larkin, and only barry larkin

inducted in to the hall of fame today

"Rhubarb, if you wouldn’t mind, ram your taint into your monitor as hard as you can." - joewho112

by BoeJouma on Jan 9, 2012 2:02 PM CST reply actions  

In the mid 50's, Sherman Lollar

rented an apartment in a two flat on the west side (oh, how times have changed Curt Flood). I lived down the block and played w/ his son, Timmy.

My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.

LET’S GO HAWKS!!!!!

by ballyb on Jan 9, 2012 4:26 PM CST reply actions  

Well this just made my day

Was Dr. Seuss a Sox fan? Otherwise I’d have to say Silverstein was my favorite writer as a kid

Funny how the knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seats.

by abock15 on Jan 9, 2012 9:38 PM CST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to South Side Sox! Please check our new standards and guide to FanPosts/FanShots before posting.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Archerme_small
The Padded Cell: Wait of the World (part 2 of 2)
61y5zkwuutl__sl500__small
The Ballad of bobpuller
Archerme_small
The Padded Cell: Wait of the World (part 1 of 2)
Tedlangue_small
RRRR: Facebook and socialization
Deadhorse_small
White Sox Minor League Update

Recent FanPosts

Ronkarkovice_small
Don't Stop Now Boys: Sox Double up the Tribe 14-7
Small
Reliever-to-Starter Conversions Update
Small
Is Nate Jones for Real?*
Pair-rose-colored__szo0279_small
A Quarter for your thoughts?
Homersimpson_small
BMO 2027: The Sox Machine Cometh

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Shamelessly Linking My Review of Rick Morrissey's Ozzie Guillen Book
White Sox offer free tickets to CPD officers
A true hitting guru can fix anything
Tweet from Jake Peavy
The White Sox's Black Hole Problem, And Other Observations From A Day Game
Get to the choppa!
Dan Rubenstein heads to Columbus, Ohio to meet Hall of Fame legends Ricky Henderson, Frank Thomas,...
Sox Are Shiftless MFers!
Jake Peavy, AL Pitcher of the Month for the April, is back to 2007 form. While outperforming his preseason projections, is he really up there with the best in baseball? Short answer: yes.

See full post on Beyond the Box Score
A 2 part podcast with Oney Guillen (Ozzie's Son)

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Yahoo_full_count

Managing Editor

Tedlangue_small Jim Margalus

Editors

Deadhorse_small larry

Sealab_murphy_small colintj

Img_2130_small homesickalien

Omar_small U-God

Authors

10083hb_small KenWo4LiFe

Archerme_small Uribe Down