St. Rita Highlights Its Longtime Connection To The White Sox

CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago White Sox have long been the favorite team for those who attend Catholic high schools on the South Side of Chicago, but the team's connection is a bit stronger with one. Historical coincidences and ties have now connected the White Sox and St. Rita High School for more than a century.

The school outlined its connection with its favorite team after last week's St. Rita Night at Guaranteed Rate Field. Here's a few of the more interesting tidbits from the connection between the school and the team.

Early 20th Century beginnings

• The Chicago White Sox were incorporated with the start of the American League in 1901
• St. Rita High School first opened on the South Side at 63rd and Claremont in 1905

Walk-a-Thons

Opening Day walk-a-thons were once a tradition for St. Rita students at both 63rd and Claremont and 77th and Western locations. For years, students and staff would walk all the way from the Southwest Side to 35th and Shields the morning of the first White Sox home game of the year.

Ed Farmer

The longtime radio voice of the Chicago White Sox is a proud 1967 St. Rita High School alum. Farmer was a star pitcher for both the Mustangs and White Sox before launching his radio career.

End Of An Era x 2

• The final set of games at the Old Comiskey Park and final football game at the old St. Rita Stadium on 63rd Street occurred over the same weekend in 1990.
• When the White Sox opened the new Comiskey Park the next year, an entire section of the ballpark was reserved for St. Rita on Opening Day.

Go! Go!

Both the school and team's fight songs use similar words: Go! Go! White Sox! and Go! Rita Go!

Fr. Bernard Danber, O.S.A. ‘68

The former St. Rita principal is the current team chaplain for the White Sox.

St. Rita Night

The school and team continued its partnership last week with the second annual St. Rita Night at Guaranteed Rate Field. The school's jazz band played the national anthem and 1971 alum Ernie Mrozek threw out the first pitch.

Photo: A co-branded St. Rita/Chicago White Sox baseball cap that was handed out before St. Rita Night at the ballpark this year / Courtesy of St. Rita High School