CHICAGO -- All eyes were on Gerald Chaney on May 31 at Rate Field, during the last game of a successful 6-1 homestand for the White Sox.
Chaney wasn’t leading off for the South Siders as they completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers. He wasn’t on the mound for the current upstart playoff squad.
But he has been a popular South Side figure as a national anthem performer for the past 25 years. This afternoon marked a triumphant return for Chaney, who collapsed on the field before the start of an 8-3 Rays victory on April 15.
After delivering his typical rousing rendition of "God Bless America" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" behind home plate to close out May, Chaney took time to take in the moment.
“You know what? I felt like it was good to be back home,” Chaney told MLB.com before the White Sox 2-1 victory over Detroit on a Family Sunday. “I really did.
“This is a great organization. I always feel like family. They have always taken care of me. They always look out for me. Everybody looked out for me this time.”
Nearly two months ago, Chaney paused twice during the beginning of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on Jackie Robinson Day, then fell to the ground behind home plate. Medical personnel immediately administered treatment, and Chaney was eventually taken off the field via stretcher.
He was alert as he left the field and was taken to the hospital for treatment and further tests. Those examinations revealed the collapse was related to vertigo, a specific type of dizziness, with Chaney explaining the day as it unfolded.
“I woke up with a headache, something I rarely have, and I took two aspirins. And I’m like, ‘OK, move, move, move,’” Chaney said. “Everything started feeling really dizzy. It stopped. I came here, was talking to people, and then when they gave me the mic and I put it up to get ready to sing, everything just started turning. I was feeling, ‘Something is not right.’
“Then it just got weird. This weird feeling of swirling and everything, and I have no idea what happened after that. I remember trying to start the song, and I remember stopping. They rushed me to Rush [University Medical Center] -- I like to say that -- and found out it was an extreme case of vertigo, something I never had.”
Medication and physical therapy has the vertigo under control, according to the teacher of English language arts, social studies and essay writing. The native of Evanston, Ill., is a three-time heart attack survivor, and during the 30 seconds he came to and was aware during that initial Rate Field collapse, he pulled out his medic alert and gave it to those who were treating him.
“That’s what I thought it was, but everything was fine when they did the checks,” Chaney said. “I’ve been checked. I asked if they all wanted me to bring in my doctor’s statement. But everything is good. Voice is good.”
During his emergency room stint, Chaney received phone calls from a few White Sox personnel to check how he was doing. That concern reinforced the family feeling for Chaney, who will be back to sing again at Rate Field very soon.
“I just thought, ‘That’s amazing,’" said Chaney of the phone calls. “They were calling just to check. The first thing they said is, ‘When you are feeling better, we want you back.’”