Say what you want about Ken “Hawk” Harrelson — Lord knows he’s had his share of controversial moments — but he is an icon of Chicago sports. Sunday was Hawk’s last day in the broadcast booth after spending fifty years in baseball, something he never let White Sox fans forget.
Hawk gets emotional and thanks #WhiteSox fans as he signs off for the last time: https://t.co/Rcph9kc5aZ pic.twitter.com/qxJGiEXQBk
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) September 23, 2018
For as silly and drunk-uncle-ish Harry Caray was for Cubs fans, Hawk was intense and abrasive. He embraced the homer attitude and openly cheered for his guys on the south side. On Sunday, he spent more time than usual wistfully remembering his days in Chicago, something anathema to the Hawk’s typical tropes on the 1968 Boston Red Sox and Carl Yastrzemski.
Memories of 2005: pic.twitter.com/084VOT3ik0
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) September 23, 2018
Some players leave their imprint on a city after their careers are over. Hawk is cut from this cloth. He only played eight seasons in the majors from 1963 to 1971, lead the league in runs batted in (109 in that unforgettable 1968 season) and only played in one All-Star game.
Yet, Hawk — whether you like to admit it or not — has left a lasting impression on White Sox fans, the city of Chicago and the greater baseball community at large. He’s coined baseball phrases like “He gone!” and “This ballgame is ovah!” And generations of White Sox fans have answered the call to “sit back, relax and strap it down.” A personal favorite of mine is “he gone!”
Hawk has always been an unapologetic fan of the White Sox and has never hidden this fact from the fanbase. He routinely bristled about his hatred for Wrigley Field’s press box, — usually good for one spat with the Cubs over something irrelevant each season — openly rooted for White Sox players and occasionally spouted off-color views on the modern game and its players.
Aside from lighting media fires he couldn’t put out, Harrelson was good for at least one nightly rumination on the good’ol days. Hawk never let anyone forget he played for the Red Sox, unequivocally expressed his admiration for Yastremzki, Micky Mantle and A.J. Pierzynski (an odd trio indeed). He consistently gushed over Paul Konerko and compared utility infielder Tyler Saladino to Brooks Robinson, Todd Frazier to Kris Bryant, and complained about LeBron James and his politics.
But love him or hate him, Hawk has made an indelible impact on Chicago baseball that won’t soon be forgotten and we love him for it. We will laugh about his outdated views and old-man-yells-at-cloud moments, but we will cherish the 2005 World Series and his passion for the game even more.
As the sun sets on a generation of White Sox memories we look forward to the wry sarcasm of Jason Bennetti and Steve Stone. So, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
Hats off to you, Hawk. Thank you for the memories and enjoy your retirement. pic.twitter.com/nCpIqV4WRt
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 23, 2018
