Stanley Cup makes way to U.S. Cellular Field
White Sox celebrate with Chicago Blackhawks as trophy continues tour on South Side
CHICAGO -- For a moment, in the middle of the second inning of Sunday's series finale vs. the Rangers, the Stanley Cup sat atop the center-field patio in U.S. Cellular Field, overlooking the ballpark as fans turned to see the spectacle.
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The game was interrupted by a loud cheer while many strained to take pictures and fathers hoisted children on their shoulders for a better view.
After the Chicago Blackhawks won the trophy on Monday, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, they have taken it on a tour of the city to celebrate with fans and players. It had already made its way to the North Side at Wrigley Field and around the town for a parade on Thursday, but Sunday it made its trip to the South Side.
It was the third time the Blackhawks have won the Cup, and it was the third time the Cup has visited the White Sox to celebrate. This year, Blackhawks coaches Joe Quenneville and Kevin Dineen, as well as players Andrew Shaw and Michael Rozsival, accompanied it, all wearing White Sox uniforms with their names stitched on.
"It's the coolest trophy by far," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "The fact that it's a cup and the stories that go with it, guys that have played a long time, you hear some of the stories it has been through. It's cool. Just the way they treat it, and it's fun. It's fun for it to be in our city."
Qunenneville threw out the first pitch before White Sox players raced out of the dugout to take a picture with the Cup at the pitching mound. Many of them brought their children out to join them before celebrating for Father's Day. Many of them tried to touch before it was taken back into the dugout.
The White Sox were in Pittsburgh when the Blackhawks won the Cup and were unable to see the entirety of the game, but many of them still tuned in to watch the last period. Adam Eaton and Tyler Flowers both went to Game 5 in Tampa, and Jose Quintana was photographed wearing a Blackhawks jersey, and it was put on Twitter for good luck.