On This Date in Sports June 30, 1988: Saving the Chisox
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Going down to the last minute, the State of Illinois approves a bill to build a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox, playing in Comiskey Park, the oldest stadium in baseball, had demanded a new ballpark, threatening to move to Tampa. Tampa had a new stadium, the Suncoast Dome under construction, and the White Sox would have been able to relocate in 1989 if Chicago did not answer the call. Governor James Thompson fiercely lobbied as the vote came down to the midnight deadline. The vote comes three minutes after midnight, with the bill winning by one vote.
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The Chicago White Sox were among the eight charter franchises in the American League in 1901. The White Sox, carrying a name that was used by the Cubs in their early days, the White Sox won the last inaugural American League Pennant. The White Sox appeared in their first World Series five years later, upsetting the crosstown Cubs in 1906. In 1917, the White Sox won a second World Championship, beating the New York Giants. The same team appeared poised for another title in 1919. However, with several players agreeing to throw the World Series, the White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds. The Black Sox scandal caused great damage to the game and the White Sox, who would not win another pennant for 40 years.
The White Sox always had their financial troubles, as the Cubs were the more popular team in the Windy City. The White Sox made a breakthrough in 1910 with the building of Comiskey Park, one of the first concrete and steel stadiums that would soon become the template for future ballparks. Comiskey Park hosted the first All-Star Game in 1933 and the All-Star Game's 50th Anniversary in 1983. That season saw the White Sox win their first division title, but in the ALCS, they were upended by the Baltimore Orioles.
By 1988, the Chicago White Sox were struggling, Comiskey Park. The Cubs, with the help of WGN and the ownership of the Tribune Company, had left them in the shadows on the Southside. For years, the White Sox survived on gimmicks and promotions from Bill Veeck. These included the first team with name on the back of uniforms, players in short pants, an exploding scoreboard, and Disco Demolition Night. However, Jerry Reinsdorf, who purchased the team in 1980, did not believe in such promotions, and the White Sox struggling to compete had trouble filling their old beaten-up ballpark, which nearing 80 was the oldest in the four major sports.
Down in Florida, fans hungered for a major league team. With just the NFL, Florida had recently gained approval for two NBA teams in Miami that would begin play in October and one in Orlando that would take the floor in 1989. Tampa sought to bring a major league team to the Gulf Coast and began building a domed stadium in 1986. The Suncoast Dome would be ready in 1990, and they began aggressively trying to lure a team. The White Sox seeking a new stadium from Chicago had an agreement in principle to move to Florida. Still, they gave Chicago and the State of Illinois a chance by issuing a midnight deadline on June 30, when the state's legislative session would go into recess.
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The vote for the new stadium came down to the 11th hour. Fans in Florida watched, waiting to celebrate, as the loyal fans of the White Sox hoped for a miracle. Governor James Thompson lobbied to get the votes, but as midnight approached, it appeared he was going to fall five votes short. Midnight came, and the deal was not approved, but Thompson worked behind the scenes and changed a few votes to get the bill to pass. The state had agreed to build a new Comiskey Park next to the old one for $150 million, with the deal coming three minutes after midnight. The new stadium opened in 1991.
Spurned by the White Sox, the Suncoast Dome opened in 1990, with Davis Cup Tennis. Tampa continued its work to land an MLB team, losing out on expansion, when the National League chose to add a team to Miami and Denver for the 1993 season. Tampa would continue to work at landing an existing team and nearly landed the San Francisco Giants. Still, the owners had wanted to keep the Giants in California and arraigned for a new investor to step in before the team was sold to VIncent Namoli. While the Suncoast Dome became the Thunderdome for the NHL team that was added to Tampa, Namoli weighed his legal options. This would open the door for Tampa to finally get the Devil Rays as an expansion team in 1998, with the Thunderdome becoming Tropicana Field.