Jean Shepherd's America - Chicago (White Sox)

[@CRStoller]

Love this ballpark. Growing up in Northwest Indiana, I went to many games there with my Dad. Ahhh a lifetime of memories there.

[@mariocisneros911]

My papa was an immigrant, he never took us , but my older brothers and I went o many

[@Ripr620]

So under rated. Comiskey was a true baseball palace none of these retro come close

[@MrZinjanthropus]

reinsdorf tore it down because of greed.

[@de-fault_de-fault]

Jean rattling off the exact location of his father's favorite seat in old Comiskey brought a tear to my eye. I am a reformed Yankee fan (I grew up with the Yankees but grew to despise the organization for much the same reasons he describes here), and I can still tell you my dad's favorite seat in the old Yankee Stadium even though it's been gone for nearly 15 years and my dad has been gone for nearly 18: Box 323A, seat 1. On the aisle, front row in right field fair territory. It roughly corresponded to my grandfather's favorite seat in the pre-renovation years. That original front row was eliminated along with a few others when they made right field larger during the remodeling in 1974-75 (from Babe Ruth's 296-foot home run porch to a spacious 314), so my dad adopted the new front row. I sat with him there only maybe ten times as a kid, but even if we were sitting somewhere else, he always took me to right field first to pay our respects. I sat there one last time during the final week in the old stadium, then impulsively went to the final game, too. I couldn't get my dad's favorite seat in the front row for that game, so I sat in the very last row of the upper deck directly above it instead. And that was it. I gave the new stadium a try once, even though my interest in the Yankees had waned after my dad passed away, replaced instead with an unquantifiable attachment to the stadium where we had watched many games together, but I felt nothing. It was cold, sterile, a shopping mall where baseball sometimes happened. And I never looked back. But I did eventually manage to track down the little sign from the railing in right field that marked Box 323, and it hangs on the wall in my basement.

[@mattborman5780]

"A shopping mall where baseball sometimes happened." A great description of many modern stadiums.

[@RRaquello]

Comiskey Park was the greatest baseball stadium EVER. All you'd ever hear of was Fenway and Wrigley Field, but Comiskey was the best park I've ever been to to watch a baseball game. I've been to Fenway & Wrigley. Both crowded and uncomfortable and over-hyped. I also went to many games at the old Yankee Stadium, pre-1973 reconstruction, and it was also great, but Comiskey was better. And I've been to the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Shea Stadium, both the Baltimore Stadiums (Memorial & Camden Yards), Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, County Stadium in Milwaukee and Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Shea was always a dump, and even good seats were too far from the field. Cleveland Municipal certainly wasn't crowded, but it was pretty dirty, though that didn't bother me. Three Rivers, the day I was there, was hot as hell. I think it was about 110 degrees out, and you got NO shade, so that wasn't fun. Milwaukee was a nice park, but too much of a frat boy atmosphere. I don't know if Milwaukee is a college town, but it seemed to be that day, and the frat boys couldn't hold their beer. We went to an afternoon game in Milwaukee and a night game at Comiskey on the same day, which was cool. We drove all the way across the country (from NY) specifically to go to Comiskey Park in 1987 to see it before it closed. Went to three games vs. Oakland. Sat in three different places in the park, and every seat was great. The White Sox won all three games. The third game, they were losing, but tied it in the bottom of the ninth, then won it in the bottom of the tenth on a "walk off" home run by Greg Walker. Our seats were right by the scoreboard, and when that thing went off in person, man it was LOUD! TV didn't do it justice. Also, they gave you coupons when you entered the stadium for free tacos at Taco Bell if the White Sox won. Since they won all three games, we had Taco Bell for dinner each night, LOL. It was great.

[@subg8858]

This is 100% true. I have never been to a game that comes anywhere close to a game at Comiskey

[@subg8858]

I’d say old Tiger Stadium was the next best when it came to atmosphere and that feeling. The thing I remember most about Comiskey was the sound. Just an incredible vibration whether it was packed or half empty

[@RRaquello]

@@subg8858 Tiger Stadium was the one old park I never got to see. I really wish I could have gotten to a game there but we just couldn’t make it.

[@Ripr620]

Shower was worth price of admission.

[@Shuman81]

What an absolute jewel Old Comiskey was.

[@mick2spic]

Shame we didn’t rehab that beautiful park instead of tearing it down. Wasn’t it the oldest park in baseball? Thanks Jerry. He could have at least picked a better ballpark design, like the Amour Field design that he stupidly passed over. Our ballpark will be stuck with us long after he’s dead, thanks Jerry.

[@michaelward9880]

So was Jean Shepard.

[@acousticshadow4032]

Indeed, Frank S - indeed.

[@subg8858]

I actually like the new Sox park since the renovation. But still nowhere close to Comiskey

[@rogerlambert9316]

Man, he really dropped the ball. Get it? Change Jerry an error.⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️

[@erickfutbolk]

Born and raised in Bridgeport proud of my white Sox I’m glad I found this.

[@jayvalentine2046]

The worlds greatest narrator, this guy could make any story interesting I'd listen to him tell a story of paint drying

[@VolumedMusicMan]

When I first saw this, I shed a tear out of happiness. This is so damn good! It’s a Chicago thing I guess. The Sox and Cubs had a lot of losing seasons ... until recently!

[@MegaJustGeorge]

That's true, my friend - but the Pale Hose won a World Series Championship in 2005, while the Cubbies won theirs in 2016, so I guess you cloud say that the Pale Hose got the jump on the North Siders.

[@walkdownmainstreet]

Who could ever give Shepherd a thumbs down? Very strange.

[@xerotonin6776]

My heart aches for the days and fireworks nights of my childhood in my baseball cathedral. Comiskey Park. (Ralphie's ) Jean Shepard's telling of his beloved memory summoned such a melancholic lump in my throat, I just barely held it at bay. Wasn't it weird how he ended that heart wrenching story with "Yup, lots of stuff happened in this great ballpark." Like, either positive or negative, the magnitude of that memory, was great. I expect nothing less from a master storyteller such as he.

[@rogerlambert9316]

Thank you, sir for telling your White Sox story.

[@theSocal515]

jean shepherd was the best. God rest his soul.. his sense of humor, tongue-in-cheek was terrific and i loved comiskey park and go sox...

[@Clark7466]

I had a coworker who grew up on the south side of Chicago. Tony told me his mom was a big Cubs fan and remembers listening/watching many Cub game. Their favorite players were Banks and Kessinger.

[@acousticshadow4032]

Great story, true or false. I am New Englander & my home ballyard is Fenway Park, but I flew out for the final two games at Old Comiskey - Sept 29 (Sat nite), and Sept 30 (Sunday), 1990. Simply could not believe they were abandoning - and destroying - that gem. It was sad then, and remains sad now. I feel the same about Tiger Stadium, and drove out to the last Tigers game played there, Sept 27, 1999. Both Chicago & Detroit were going for the 5-year honeymoon that comes with a new ballyard. Neither team got that much, because neither new ballpark could hold a candle to their predecessor.

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Comerica is great for a new ballpark but I would trade for Tiger Stadium and not think twice.

[@Knightmessenger]

Comerica desperately needs the kind of major renovations the white sox have done with Gurenteed Rate Field. It wasnt well thought out and newer ballparks make the seating design look even worse.

[@MrZinjanthropus]

its because reinsdorf is greedy and could care less about the fan. he never spends to win.

[@Shuman81]

I watched and commented on this video years ago because I enjoyed it so much. Came back to it to hear it again. Just out of curiosity I looked up all the Yankee-White Sox games from the late 20's and early 30's to find the date of the game. It's a totally made up story. Gehrig did hit a 9th inning home run against Ted Lyons in Chicago....it was a Yankees route. Great story. I hung on every word and believed it for nearly 10 years. But this game never happened.

[@acousticshadow4032]

@@Shuman81 The alleged game has nothing to do with Old Comiskey ~ which was a real ballpark, Shuman. Trust me on that one.

[@zazuzazz5419]

Simultaneously hilarious and poignant! So lovely, Jeannie. 💔 ⚾️ 🏟️ And so touching to read about all these shared and beloved memories.

[@Ripr620]

I was at game vs Red Sox in 80s. With dad and his buddy. Boggs hots foul into upper deck and dads buddy makes bare handed catch. What a moment

[@nflisrigged1395]

Has to be in top 5 all time greatest stories ever .

[@CastleMr40]

This particular episode of Jean Shepherd's America was one of my favorite memories of the 1960s. I never thought I would see it again. Thanks for sharing. Comisky Park. I never went there, but loved watching games on TV.

[@Knightmessenger]

I feel very fortunate to have seen many games at Tiger Stadium, including the final one, and visited Fenway and Wrigley. Sadly never saw Comiskey.

[@jsinaiko]

Always loved it - the absolute best explanation of what it means to be a White Sox fan ever. Thanks for putting it up here so my kid can enjoy it too. Fantastic show, almost poetic.

[@Finispshellnut]

you're welcome, I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[@song-rz6hi]

poetic, truly

[@JustinDeFiblander]

Long live the pale hose. Aggravating the north side since 1906

[@Steve-gx9ot]

Best thing about Shep was that he dis-liked nort side scrubs!😮❤

[@davidcawrowl3865]

Shep bared his soul on this one.

[@darryljorden9177]

Wow, that looks like the old Bel-Air drive-in at 3:21. Located on Cicero Avenue across from the racetrack. Our family went there often in the Summertime (and with four kids in the family, you can bet that really was our “neighborhood theater”).

[@chazhogue2945]

Kudos to your father! I miss the old ballyard too. Thanks for the post!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Enjoyed every minute of Jean Shepherd's story. Is there anything better than being entertained by a master storyteller? Time stops when he weaves his spell. Thank you for sharing. Is America smart enough to appreciate this? God I hope so. Thank you.

[@TomNall]

From a South Sider and long-time Jean Shepherd fan, THANKS!!!

[@genesclean1]

thank you for this gem.

[@brianarbenz1329]

You can start listening to Jean Shepherd tell a story figuring you’ll stay only for a bit and you end up staying to the end and wishing you could listen to him forever!

[@kevinw9073]

Loved this old park...a classic.

[@timepoet77]

I used to watch this show when I was younger, and I thought it was hilarious. Thanks for posting this.

[@joeconti4392]

Shep-- sheer, ecstatic genius! Flick lives!

[@usmctanks1]

Waited a long time for this, one of the funniest!! Go Sox

[@peterdelaney6478]

Internet Archive has the Audio of the lost 1971. episodes - punch in 1971 Jean Shepherd then JSAmerica

[@edzudzyn8963]

That was an outstanding Story,You’re a Loyal WhiteSox FAN.

[@TheSteveBerlin]

I remember watching this one Saturday morning in 1985. It is a classic, and brings back vivid memories. Thank you for posting it.

[@mick2spic]

“My Old Man the Bum.” Lol. The resignation in his voice saying that. Haha

[@stevensinger]

This is simply wonderful. Thank you for posting.

[@Finispshellnut]

Thank you for the apreciation

[@dcfire2222]

I love my White Sox!

[@Steve-gx9ot]

Yeah - Gehrig IRON MAN was GREAT.❤

[@davidryan1295]

An American icon!

[@unwavery]

Nice! I've been curious about these TV programmes since I discovered Shep's voluminous and also hilarious radio output. Thanks so much for these uploads!

[@victoriajoyce7363]

And thank you seventeen million times for posting this.

[@Finispshellnut]

You are very welcome.Thank you for your nice words.

[@Ripr620]

I went to game vs yanks in 70s. Sitting behind NY dugout. A fan was getting wasted off ass and thought cat calling Mr October was good idea. Around 6th, Reggie paused and pointed to drunk. Instant sobriety

[@arturoarabitg6438]

There's a much bigger story here than about Comiskey, the Sox and the Yankees. A great American and human story about class and existential frustration. Great literature and film-making. Awesome.

[@dantrav1927]

6:45 Original stairway to heaven...

[@ronaldstubbs9450]

This is great, soxfan forever.

[@RWildekrav66]

Thank you for posting this , the last time I saw this was in August of 1976 on WTTW .

[@HighSierraDawn]

Love love love this!!! Thank you! 😘💖👍

[@ricknicosia2015]

this is the best of Jean's best....thanks

[@NoPrivateProperty]

thank you. love Shep

[@bobmaleski1823]

I attended many games in the 50’s, and this captures perfectly my hatred of the Yankees. Shep was great in all he did!

[@robhill4470]

Loved him and the radio show on WOR.

[@jazzmarty1966]

Jean Shepherd South side raconteur extraordinaire!

[@recoswell]

wonder how many people just skip past this without realizing he wrote and narrated "a Christmas story"

[@OldRustySteele]

And appeared in a cameo role! Shep was guy in the line waiting to see Santa who says, “Kid, the end of the line is back THERE!”

[@charlesandrews2360]

I spent many a wonderful summer evening in that right-field Upper Deck during the late 1970s smoking wacky tobaccy and consuming mass quantities of Stroh's Beer

[@vibra64]

Step is gone and so is Comiskey Park. Sad. Wish they were both here!! Miss them both. I rather have the old time ballparks than today's ugly modern stadiums.

[@RonaldVaughan]

I've just gotta laugh when he does ANYTHING....what a SOB....a real hellraiser.....super LOL!!

[@pbandj37]

Shep's hometown is Hammond, IN. Beyond that, good stuff!

[@roberthill799]

He was born on the south side of Chicago but moved to East Chicago, IN at a very young age. His family only lived there briefly before moving to the Hessville neighborhood of Hammond where he spent most of his youth.

[@Ben-bb7mi]

@@roberthill799 As a "region rat" myself, I usually answer "Chicago" when asked where I'm from. Only real Chicagoans will correct you when you do that.

[@TurboBoostin312]

His dad must've been Ed Farmer lol. This vid is awesome!!

[@Jamestown-y9j]

R.I.P, Farmeo, we miss ya.

[@sillambretta]

Damn! great story. Kind of a precursor to Bartman. This would make a great 30 for 30 episode, animated, right on opening day or B4 a Sox/ Yankees or Sox/ Cubs Sunday Night Game. Stripped like a Banana spot on.

[@adamredfield]

Love this. I'm a Yankee fan and loved it. As for Comiskey, it was the best ballpark I was ever in. Better than Wrigley, better than Fenway, better than Tiger (Briggs) Stadium, better...yes, I'll say it, better than the REAL Yankee Stadium (born 1923 died 1973). You know why? Cause it was, in a way, horrible. Odd angles to watch the game. Run down. It seemed like there was only one men's room in the whole damn place. Yet, the very spirit of baseball seemed to live there. Oh and my dad was a Yankee hater also. :)

[@jonclaudehopwood6366]

Shep was born in Chicago but his hometown was Hammond, Indiana. Then again, I was raised in Manchester, NH but identified with Boston, which was 55 miles away.

[@Jeschitown]

Hammond is like 5 miles from metro Chicago

[@Ben-bb7mi]

Almost everyone from NWI always says they're "from Chicago."

[@donnix768]

Jean Shepherd born in Chicago and grew up in one of Chicago’s border cities in Hammond, Indiana, my hometown.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Considering that Jean Shepherd was born in 1921, he's talking here about the Chicago White Sox of the 1920's and 30's.

[@dcfire2222]

Time for the Sox to go one up!

[@koreancardboard]

For a second I thought I was about to watch A Christmas Story. No idea he was from Chicago.

[@Ben-bb7mi]

technically from Northwest Indiana, but might as well be from Chicago. Hammond is closer to Comiskey than most of the Cook County suburbs

[@CJinsoo]

if he saw Gherig play regularly then this guy must be in his 60s when he made this video. it’s hard to tell how old he is with the dark lighting, but his voice sounds younger than 60s. his voice is like the guy who did di Christmas story movie.

[@marchmadness76]

Is this the guy that did the voice in The Christmas Story as the narrator?

[@Finispshellnut]

Yes he was the narrator and author of the movie. It came from a story in his book. In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash

[@shiloh6519]

Yes it was his story

[@davidcawrowl3865]

Look closely for his cameo appearance, when the kids were standing in line to see Santa.

[@marcomacias3960]

no its Adam West. of course its him I recognize that narrative type voice he did as the adult Ralphie

[@BigLouUSAF_VET]

Great video! I grew up going to Comiskey Park. Life long Sox fan!

[@Finispshellnut]

I merely recorded it off the air. I can't wait to see your film.

[@Steve-gx9ot]

S Bartman = greatest superhero ever😂😮

[@thetruefistofthenort]

Southside, Chicago baseball.🍿🍺

[@MrJimmyoc00]

they left Ted Lyons in to pitch to Gehrig in the 9th!! the good old days,when pitchers had to pitch!!

[@CastleMr40]

Real pitchers go alll the way! In the 40s and 50s, no one could name a "reliever".

[@Checkmate34851]

Why did they have to tear that place down

[@Ripr620]

I love this video. Said it all about Bill Veeck as train wreck

[@garycraig6506]

The White Sox should have had some of the old Comisky incorporated into the “new,” what’s it called now, stadium!

[@arturoarabitg6438]

Bravo.

[@AroundTheRegion]

I love it...I am producing a Documentary/Film called "Shep" that covers his entire Life and Career. When you said taped did you mean you recorded it or were you a camera man on the scene? Thanks for the post!

[@hattorihanzo2275]

It says "taped by me when originally aired" sounds like he recorded the broadcast. Any updates on your doc?

[@chicagowsox212]

What a great video! I never knew this guys name but I recognized his voice after about 10 seconds. He was in one of my fav movies

[@kmac3215]

Love Jean, but how could anyone hate Lou Gehrig?!?!? Guess The Old Man could, that’s who. Those awful Sox teams drove him to it.

[@arturoarabitg6438]

Genius.

[@mick2spic]

Anyone know that jazz song at 2:10? Thanks

[@bygtr]

I Can't Say, Johnny Dodds.

[@RonaldVaughan]

I wish you had the episode where he visited Hawaii....

[@davisdurand]

Great story

[@hattorihanzo2275]

Like that White Sox track jacket.

[@j.peters3053]

is this series available,on DVD?

[@Finispshellnut]

Not available in stores. If you Google Schmidco Jean Shepherd audio and video the proprietor Max Schmid sell the dvds the has burned himself. Unfortunately there is no distribution deal for this material. Just collectors making copies available. I have posted several more episodes on KZbin of varied quality.

[@glenbard07]

The Gehrig story is fictional. While Gehrig hit several home runs off Lyons, none of them came in the situation described here. Jean sure made it sound believable though.

[@Ben-bb7mi]

most of Jean's "true" stories ended up being so, but man he could spin good ones

[@brianknoblock8873]

It's fictional, but a great story. Bonura left the Sox for Washington in '38 and Tresh's first year was '38 so he's remembering parts of games. But it's OK, because it's a Jean Shepherd story, which I can listen to him talk about baseball for days.

[@glenbard07]

Also, Tresh never appeared in the same game as Gehrig.

[@victoriajoyce7363]

Not one thumbs down!

[@CRStoller]

Yuppy Cubs fans, lol, love it!!

[@alraspberry4327]

Internet Archive has a lot of his radio shows, You're welcome. Ha ha ha

[@marchmadness76]

Go Go White Sox!!

[@TimHunold]

You know that old question, "if you are on a desert island, who would you want to be stranded with?" well, he's always been top of the list. Ricky Jay would be second.

[@SleepBomber]

RIP Ricky Jay

[@billsmith5985]

If his age he said was correct, it was 1930 or '31. Shep was born in July of 1921,so that is the facts. The A's were killing all comers, anyway in that era.

[@BrianRetro]

Either the game he's describing took place between 1935 and 1939 or Babe Ruth was either hurt or not playing. Ruth always batted ahead of Gehrig (Ruth was #3, Gehrig #4). Surprised Shepherd did not mention anything about Ruth or, if this story takes place from 1936 to 1939, Joe DiMaggio.

[@theSocal515]

BrianRetro ruth left the yankees after 1933 and went to the boston braves, finished there in may of 1935.

[@BrianRetro]

Calvin Pipher Ruth was still with the Yankees in 1934. He had a .288 batting average and hit 22 home runs. That was also the first year in which he started campaigning to be a possible manager.

[@orionorion99]

It/s a tall yarn

[@andrewmuller6049]

I found a game on baseball-reference.com on Saturday, July 13, 1929. 30,000 people were there. Shep would have been 8 years old. It was a 14-inning game in which the Yankees beat the Sox 6-5. After the game, the Sox were in 7th place, 30.5 games out of first place. Ted Lyons pitched innings 8-14 in relief. In the top of the 14th inning, with the score tied, Gehrig hit a double to right field to knock in the go ahead run. In the bottom of the 14th the Sox got a leadoff triple, but they couldn't get the run in. Gehrig batted 3rd and Ruth batted 4th. Ruth hit a homer in the 5th inning. Even if he was a little off on the details, Shep still told a great story that gave a taste of going with his dad to a Yankees-White Sox game at old Comiskey. I've lived in Chicago since 1997. I regret that I never had a chance to go to a game at old Comiskey.

[@roberthill799]

It's a fictional story based on his childhood experience, like 90% of his work.

[@jameshaury2716]

Did Gene live long enough to see the 2005 series?

[@Finispshellnut]

No he died in 1997 or 98

[@sillambretta]

Died in 1999, sadly he did have the misfortune to see the end of Comiskey

[@leachimleedo7853]

OH hoh DID i ever tell you about the time .....

[@gregthegroove]

The only good things about the Chicago south side is Ricobenes steak sandwiches and Vito n Nicks pizza. That’s about it.

[@bama79rolltide]

Jean Shepherd and I are from the same city. He grew up when it was nice there. Now it's a ruined, filthy, polluted, poverty-stricken city.

[@johnmcnelis2897]

Flick Lives! Excelsior!

[@luisreyes1963]

Those must be the ruins of the Harlem Drive-in Theater before they were torn down & built the Harlem-Irving Mall years later.

[@ZaZaZoo22]

And we’re still losing to Cleveland!! 😂