Ask Ken “Hawk” Harrelson how he’ll wish to be remembered, and he doesn’t hesitate.
“As the most important homer within the historical past of broadcasting,” Harrelson informed the Solar-Occasions.
Harrelson, who was inducted into the Corridor of Fame as a Ford C. Frick Award winner in 2020, will take all of the guff you’ll be able to dish out for being a White Sox fan.
“As a result of I used to be with the followers,” he mentioned. “I didn’t broadcast with the crew; I used to be proper there with the followers.”
Harrelson, 83, whose final recreation as a broadcaster was a 6-1 loss to the Cubs on Sept. 24, 2018, mentioned he nonetheless receives fan mail — he has packing containers full proper now that want consideration — and a few of it contains letters chiding him for being a homer.
“That doesn’t trouble me one bit; I wished our membership to win,” he mentioned. “And when any individual was horses— and with out saying ‘horses—,’ I wished them to know issues might be so much higher or they stunk, one of many two. The followers know when any individual is nice, mediocre or horses—.”
Harrelson’s love and keenness for the Sox have been made clear to everybody who watched at the least one in every of his broadcasts throughout his 33 years within the crew’s sales space (out of 42 in broadcasting), which adopted careers as a baseball participant, golfer and Sox common supervisor. But when his viewing habits within the upcoming season are something like 2024, ‘‘Choose Judy’’ and ‘‘Walker, Texas Ranger,’’ two of his can’t-miss exhibits, will likely be on his docket greater than his favourite crew.
He’s not alone. Harrelson just isn’t not like the hundreds of aged followers and shut-ins whose summertime nightly leisure is the Sox recreation on TV.
“I’ve good days and dangerous days,’’ Harrelson mentioned. “If I rise up too fast from sitting down, I get a bit dizzy. Medical doctors say take about 10 or 15 seconds, then go forward and rise up. I obtained no kick. I’m 83, however in case you put a speedometer on my [butt], I’m about 104 with all my physique has been via and the [stuff] my physique has been via.”
Harrelson, a colourful, bigger-than-life character with a thousand tales to inform, laughs when he says that.
He has wished to cry watching his favourite crew in recent times, although. He fumes over dangerous defensive performs. And people sufficiently old to recollect Minnie Minoso, Nellie Fox, the “Go-Go” Sox who went to the World Sequence in 1959 and the 2005 crew that broke an 88-year world-championship drought are fuming and tuning out with him. Many say they’re turning away after a 101-loss season in 2023 was adopted by 121 defeats, a modern-era report, final season.
Harrelson admits to turning off the TV greater than ever whereas the Sox have been plunging under the growth 1962 Mets.
“With the expertise we ran on the market, we may have misplaced 125,” Harrelson mentioned.
“I didn’t watch them that a lot. If a crew is dropping so much they usually’re busting their behinds, that’s one factor. However in case you’re a nasty defensive crew, and we’ve had some dangerous defensive golf equipment, you understand that. . . . Should you give them 30 outs, you’re going to get your [butt] kicked. You’ve got outfielders who can’t catch the ball or who throw to the unsuitable bases. . . . We’ve had one of many worst defensive golf equipment I’ve seen.”
The Sox ranked twenty fourth in fielding share and have been final in quite a few classes, together with minus-86 defensive runs saved. The Athletics have been next-to-last at minus-57.
For Harrelson, it might be worse. He mentioned he made the fielding play of his life when he scooped up Aris, who gave him his children and grandchildren.
“I’m one of many luckiest guys to set two ft on the face of the earth,” he mentioned. “I’ve been blessed with numerous expertise as an athlete, and I’ve been blessed with a spouse, now 52 years, children and 4 grandkids. I couldn’t ask for something extra. And we’re a really shut household.
“While you’re an athlete, you’re by no means residence. The mom, father and go-to individual is the spouse, and she or he has been there the entire time. Folks congratulate me for having a terrific household, and I say it wasn’t me, it was Aris. I used to be both working or taking part in golf, so I used to be by no means residence. I’ve been fortunate. The Lord has blessed me with every thing you’ll be able to ask for.
“I all the time say our prayer earlier than dinner or lunch, and I give thanks in entrance of our youngsters after they’re there. There could be wives pretty much as good as Aris, however there may be none higher.”
Possibly Harrelson ought to pray for his beloved Sox, too. As pitchers and catchers report back to spring coaching Feb. 12, it’s good to know he’s nonetheless in good palms.
