Hawk Harrelson Held Open An Elevator When He Saw My White Sox Hat

CHICAGO, IL — This Sunday marks the end of an era in Chicago White Sox baseball. Ken "Hawk" Harrelson will call the final game of his decades-long career as the play-by-play television broadcaster for the team. While there have been many great broadcasters with connections to their teams over the years, Harrelson's love for the White Sox matches up against just about any voice ever.

I saw that love first hand one night in Toronto back in 1996.

Then 11 years old and a huge fan of the Chicago White Sox, it was pure luck that our family's summer road trip to Niagara Falls included a stop in the Canadian metropolis the very same August weekend the White Sox were scheduled to visit the Blue Jays. It was a big series for the South Siders, who were in the thick of the American League Wild Card race at the time.

My mother, father, younger brother and I didn't have a set spot to stay that night. And somehow I convinced them that it would be an amazing experience to try and get a room at the Skydome (now Rogers Centre, home field of the Toronto Blue Jays). I remembered from watching past White Sox games in Toronto (including the heartbreaking 1993 ALCS) that the stadium had a hotel attached with several rooms overlooking the retractable roof ballpark.

It wasn't until we checked in when we learned that most of the other guests that night were employed by the Chicago White Sox. The entire team, coaching staff and broadcast groups were there. We remember vividly getting onto the elevator as we arrived and coming face-to-face with Frank Thomas.

My brother and I had the time of our lives that night and following morning, collecting autographs from the White Sox, many of whom were thrilled to see we made the trip from Chicago and engaged in conversations with us.

My lasting image of the stop in Toronto was a moment shared with Harrelson. As I was wandering the lobby on the first floor, I looked over to a closing elevator door and saw the Hawk inside. Already wearing a White Sox hat signed by many players, I looked over and yelled "Hawk!"

He looked at me and noticed my hat before lunging toward the door and preventing it from closing.

"Come on in, little White Sox fan," he said as I rushed into the elevator.

During the ride up the floors, he asked if I was from Chicago and talked briefly about the pitching match-up for that night's game. The moment, as well as meeting all the other White Sox, gave our family nothing but good vibes on our way home to Chicago.

As did the game, which we stuck around for as well. The White Sox belted the Blue Jays, 11-2, sparked by a monster home run from Thomas and a considerably large and vocal visiting fan-base.

The elevator moment is my personal favorite memory of Harrelson, who will go down as one of baseball's most iconic home-team broadcasters.

Phrases like "He Gone!," "Can of Corn," and "You Can Put it on the Board.... YES!" have cemented themselves in baseball lore, as have the many great ballplayers who have Hawk to thank for their permanent nicknames like "Black Jack" McDowell, "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas, "One Dog" Lance Johnson and Tim "The Rock" Raines.

Listening to him call games with Tom "Wimpy" Paciorek was music to the ears of the White Sox growing up in the 1990s.

So on Sunday, let's "strap it down" one last time for the great one and all select Hawk Harrelson as our forever "pick to click."