It seemed unlikely that the stadium Jumbotron was cutting to the CHSN studio set for no reason in the middle of the third inning, and Scott Podsednik shielding his former manager while he slowly opened a big white envelope only fueled further suspicion.
Despite all that, Ozzie Guillen still seemed stunned by the announcement that the White Sox will retire his uniform in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 8, even a half hour later as he was addressing a media scrum.
"I was very surprised, very, very surprised," said Guillen, his eyes still watery at portions. "I don't know how they keep it so quiet. That's one of the biggest surprises I ever have. You know what I mean? In baseball-wise. I mean, family-wise, you've got so many things around. It's funny because every year, it obviously comes up in family conversations. I was with Chuck [Garfien] a couple days ago. We go to eat and he asked me about it. I said, 'Well, right now, I don't know,' The only reason I want to do it, or I want them to do this is when my grandkids walk to this ballpark and sees Grandpa's name out there."
Ironically, Guillen will be the 13th member of the White Sox to have his number retired by the organization. He's the fourth member of the 2005 World Series winning team to receive the honor (Mark Buehrle, Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas), and as much as his 16-year big league career with a Rookie of the Year award and three All-Star appearances deserve a lot of weight, he's the first manager to have his jersey retired in franchise history.
"Ozzie is truly one of a kind, and his passion for baseball and the White Sox is unmatched," said chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in a statement. "Ozzie’s knowledge of the game, combined with his energy and ability to motivate his teams, helped deliver a World Series Championship to White Sox fans and the city of Chicago after an 88-year drought. The number 13 has always belonged to Ozzie in the hearts of our fans, and this season, we wanted to make it official by retiring his number. Like many of the White Sox legends, there will never be another 13.”
Guillen joked that he was thankful he didn't curse when the honor was announced, especially since that language tends to come out of him when he's in the familiar presence of his former players. He shot down any notion that he thinks the Sox took too long to honor him, noting that the other retired numbers in team history belong to players with superior playing statistics to him. Famously loquacious and engaging as ever, Guillen still summed up his conversation with Reinsdorf after hearing the news as filled with more tears than words.
But he also made it clear at SoxFest that he desired an honor like this, and as he unfurled his emotions in one of his trademark long, winding and joke-filled media sessions, the reason for his urgency became clear.
"I grew up [idolizing] Luis Aparacio, and I hope he have a chance to see it, he's not doing well," Guillen said. "When I got here, they say I can’t wear 9 because of Minnie Miñoso. I have to wear my number for the guy I admired the most, Davey Concepcion. I know guys don’t like that number, I respect that. He’s still my hero. Hopefully he’s still alive when that happens because he’s one of the guys I want here.
"I hope Jerry is still here. I always tell my family my number will be retired someday, I said [laughs], I told my kids if I died, and one month later they retired my number, you are not going to the ceremony. Make them retire the number by themselves. I want to be alive. I want to enjoy it. I want my kids to enjoy it. I want my grandkids to enjoy it. I want you guys to enjoy it. You guys cover me as a player and as a manager, all the fans.
"I’ve been lucky in Chicago, man. I’m telling you. A lot of people know me as a player. A lot people know me as a manager. And a lot of kids know me as the crazy guy on TV."
So now, the White Sox have a plan in place to give Guillen his flowers while he can still smell them. And if that's a draw on its own, maybe you'll be inclined to do it alongside us at Sox Machine, for our 20th anniversary tailgate celebration now overlaps with Ozzie Guillen Day at Rate Field.
There will also be a game to enjoy that night, and if you've ever doubted how locked in the players are, Sean Burke found out the news that Guillen's number was being retired during his postgame interview. The Jumbotron announcement and subsequent graphics, the round of applause from fans, apparently were all just background noise. Sox players might wind up noticing the actual ceremony more, since Guillen wants the guy who signs their checks to be front and center.
"I love Jerry Reinsdorf more than my own dad. You know why? My dad, every time my dad calls me, he asks me for money. Jerry makes me money," said Guillen, with a comedic timing that always lifts his material. "Jerry gave me all the opportunities in my career. He gave me an opportunity and traded for me. On the manager side, he could have brought somebody else, I didn’t have any experience. And now he gives me the opportunity to be on TV with the ballclub. So many opportunities. That’s why, when this day happens, I want him to be next to me."
