By Larry Atseff

There is no better symbol for summer and outdoors and fun than baseball. Right on cue, the Hinsdale Central baseball team enjoyed their greatest season ever. Congratulations to them! We’ll give you a taste of the season they just had. In addition, we’re fortunate to have two professional baseball teams in town. The White Sox look like they will be getting to the post season. The Cubs situation is a little more uncertain. We’ll give you a look at activities both are offering this season, including the City Series. The Southside Rises Again With A White Hot White Sox Team At the All-Star break, the White Sox were in first place in the American League Central Division, 19 games over .500. We recently took in a day game when the Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays in an extra inning thriller on June 16. This was before they were allowed to play before capacity crowds, but it was great fun to be in the bleachers and joining a crowd that made it sound like the stadium was full. And, think of this. On August 6, 7 and 8, the Sox and Cubs play at Wrigley, and the Cubs visit Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 28, 29.

In between, the Sox are playing in a Field of Dreams Game in Iowa at the site of the 1989 movie on August 12 against the Yankees. The Sox can also boast new uniforms. Just as Hinsdale Magazine staff attended a recent Sox game, we also sent a contingent of baseball players from local area Hinsdale teams to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs take on the Philadelphia Phillies for a night game on July 8. It was an unseasonably cool night at the “Friendly Confines”, but the stands were almost full, and fans were there in full voice. The field was immaculate and the ivy never looked greener, under the lights. Unfortunately, the Cubs fell to the Phillies, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of being at the old ballpark. After the game the kids walked around and saw various statues of Ernie Banks, and other Hall of Famers as well as the classic scoreboard. Hope springs eternal that the Cubs will still make it to the postseason. No wonder baseball is called our national pastime.