CHICAGO -- Gerald Chaney, the longtime and popular anthem singer for the White Sox at Rate Field, continues to improve and doctors expect him to be released from the hospital Thursday, according to the team.
Chaney collapsed while singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing" prior to the start of Wednesday’s 8-3 Rays victory. He was set to perform this anthem as part of the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, along with the national anthem. He paused twice during the initial song and fell to the ground just behind home plate after the second pause. Medical personnel immediately administered treatment to Chaney before he was eventually taken off the field via stretcher.
Chaney was alert as he left the field and was taken to the hospital for treatment and further tests. A later, in-game update from the team stressed Chaney was doing well as he continued to recover and undergo further evaluation.
“Scary stuff, and really just hopeful that he was all right,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “I was really glad to hear that he is doing well, but obviously a scary moment. Everyone did a great job in responding and did the best to make sure he was all right. So, really good news to hear that he is all right. And yeah, I think that's the most important thing.”
“I'm glad that he's OK,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Appreciate the White Sox and really everybody that played a role, and they came over and kind of told us that they thought he was going to be OK. But that was very scary for I'm sure both clubs, players. It kind of put a little bit of dull feeling there for the first inning or two.”
The game was delayed until a first pitch of 6:52 p.m. CT. Right-hander Sean Burke, who was the starting and losing pitcher for the White Sox, was warming up in the bullpen when Chaney experienced his medical emergency.
“I kind of just saw what you guys all saw, kinda saw him go down. They said he's doing well at the hospital now so hopefully he's going to make a full recovery from that,” Burke said. “I was just trying to make sure he was all good first and foremost and then from there just kind of building back up.