The 108 Interview Series – Pete Hand

Here at the 108, it is our job….our duty to bring to you the great personalities of White Sox twitter, either via tweet / photo / video or blog post.  In continuing with the tradition of bringing you “the goods” from White Sox twitter we have our interview with our buddy Pete Hand.  Pete is a friend and confidant of the 108ers and was one of the first people we encountered (other than our spouses) that actually thought this 108 thing could become something.  Oh and he’s also a great #WhiteSox and baseball fan, without further ado, Pete Hand……

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Favorite Game That You Were At

Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. Konerko’s slam was the loudest I have ever heard the park. I remember in the 9^th I thought that there would be a walk-off HR, but I thought it would be by Juan Uribe, who batted before Podsednik. I remember walking out of the park down the RF ramps, right by the 108, almost in tears of joy mumbling “They are coming back for a parade”.

Favorite All Time Player That Doesn’t Have a Statue On the Concourse

Mark Buehrle, followed by Ron Kittle

Favorite Drink and Dinner at the Park

I am usually driving so it would be a Coke Zero and Elotes with everything except salt, and don’t be bullshitting around with the butter and red pepper.

Favorite Place to Sit

I have 2 favorite places to sit. One is the section I am in (131) and the other is the 108.

Favorite Uniform

As much as I love the ‘83’s I got to go with the red pinstripes of the early ‘70’s. That was the era I started going to games at the ballpark.

Favorite Giveaway

I really like the magnetic schedules. I have every one of them from 2000 on, plus the 1998 “Line Drive” one.

Favorite Theme Night

Elvis night. I am hoping for a 108 day (10/8) in the near future because that will mean the team is in the playoffs.

Dislikes

What irks you the most about White Sox fans?

I bunch the fans in groups. There are the Jerry Haters, The Rick Hahn apologists, the optimistic fans (although there aren’t many recently), the stat heads, and the realisists.

I do not understand the Jerry Haters. If you hate Jerry that much why do you give him money? I could never figure that out.

The Rick Hahn apologists can never accept he made a mistake (Jeff Keppinger, Tatis Jr for Shields).

The stat heads I have fun with because they quote all these stats and I ask a simple question. Do you watch the game? That usually ends the argument. I have to tell this story. In 2016 I got into a Twitter exchange with a White Sox twitter “expert” who was saying at the beginning of July that the White Sox will be trading for a bat at the deadline. After going back and forth I asked if he actually watched the games and watched the team. If he had actually watched the team, he would have known that this team was shit in division and that they were going nowhere. I said it was be a giant mistake to make a trade, to which I was called every name in the book. Two weeks later Rick Hahn gave the mired in mediocrity speech, and this person then deleted the entire exchange. Sadly, he has on his twitter profile that he will delete tweets. How can you be taken seriously if you delete tweets? I give hot takes and part of doing this is having the ability to say you were wrong.

What is the worst part of being a Sox fan?

The worst part is something that I am hoping will be rectified by the time this is published. The refusal to bring in top tier talent. In the past when the off-season started you knew which free agents were off-limits. Oh, this guy is a Boras client so the Sox won’t negotiate. Oh, that guy wants too much money so he won’t be coming. Let’s go sign this PTP (Past Their Prime) name player for a cheaper rate so it looks like something is being done (Hello Adam Dunn and Adam LaRoche). I just didn’t like KNOWING that there were certain players who were off-limits based on agent or money.

Worst part of the game day experience?

Lately it is the number of fans from other teams who are making themselves comfortable in our home park, hat tip to Beefloaf for that perfect summation.

What really grinds your gears?

Ha, Let’s see. 0 – 2 walks. Jose Quintana was the king of this. He would get ahead 0 – 2 on a hitter and then nibble and wind up walking the hitter. It seems to be a part of Sox pitching strategy to get ahead 0 – 2 and then immediately throw a pitch a foot outside, in the dirt, or both.

Least Favorite White Sox player of all time

Jamie Navarro, not only a bad pitcher but a raging asshole. Had an incident with him in Tiger Stadium in 1998 when I told him, in a drunken stupor, that he was robbing the Sox and that he should sign his paycheck over to Mike Sirotka.

Game Day

Most memorable experience as a White Sox fan

Game 1 & 2 of the 2005 World Series.

Biggest regrets about the White Sox experience

Not boarding a plane on October 26, 2005 to fly to Houston. The company I worked for at the time had offices in Houston so I could have done it. If I ever get the chance I will be on a plane.

Ballpark experience, how could it be better?

I think there are a lot of things. The first thing is I think the team should give preferential treatment to Season Ticket Holders by having a separate entrance and early admission. It is easy enough to do if they use Gate 1 or Gate 6, which are generally not used. I think security should separate people with and without bags, as we saw in Detroit last August. Looking at tickets in the 108 when there are about 20 people in the section is ridiculous, especially when they don’t check tickets where I actually sit.

Best Sox Park hack?

One of my favorite hacks is the Stadium Club. I buy the pass every year for a couple of specific reasons. 1.) You get in a ½ before gates open so you can get the giveaway and 2.) the bathrooms, they are much cleaner, and I am a bathroom snob.

What brings you back for every game?

The hopes of seeing something I have never seen before and all of the friendships I have built over the years with other fans and some White Sox employees.

Feelings on the wave?

Fuck the Wave and the one annoying asshole who feels it is their job to start the wave. They belong in the 7^th level of hell listening to “We Built This City” by Starship on an endless loop.

Which Gate is your favorite to enter the park from?

Gate 5, for many reasons. Whether it’s coming to the park from work, meeting friends at ChiSox, or attending one of the awesome tailgates like the Crosstown Wasted last year, held by Soxon35th and the guys fromthe108.

How Early Do You Get To Games?

I used to get to games right around the time gates opened, but since I started a new job in the ‘burbs it’s a little later. I like to eat and socialize before the game so I can be in my seat for 1^st pitch.

What Do You Bring To Games?

The hope that I will see another World Series Champion

How Many Games Do You Go To Each Year?

Last year was 65. I have done anywhere from 60 – 75. I had perfect attendance in 2017 until I broke my foot in late August.

Section 108 Questions

What is your favorite baseball word?

It’s a relatively new one. Palksmash!

What is your least favorite baseball word?

Cubs

What get’s you excited about the White Sox?

The fact that they quit half-assing the roster and chose a direction.

What makes you sad about the White Sox?

Where to begin. The fact that this team has never made the playoffs in back to back years, while every other team in the division, , all smaller markets as well, have. The fact that the management has let this team atrophy so much they are irrelevant. The fact that this irrelevance has also worked it’s way to the employees who in some respects half-ass things (see previous article I wrote about many STUPID mistakes the team makes in trying to market their product). The fact that when free agency rolls around you know that the top tier talent is an afterthought for the team to pursue because their former GM was butthurt by an agent in the A-Rod negotiations after the 2000 season.

What sound or noise at the ballpark do you love?

Fireworks after a Palksmash!

What sound or noise at the ballpark do you hate?

Go Cubs Go

What is your favorite Hawkism?

He Gone, primarily because He Gone!

You did a really cool recap of your day flying to New York City last year for HOF class announcements, can you tell us how you got involved with the HOF and what drew you do that?

 It started in 2014. I “joined” the Hall of Fame so that I could get a seat for the Frank Thomas induction. I fell in love with the place and the town. If you are a baseball nerd, like I am, it’s heaven, not Iowa, a reference for Chorizy’s favorite movie. I was going to do it again for 2019 but unfortunately the weather cancelled my flight that day. Hope to do it again in 2020, weather permitting.

You do a TON for Ron Kittle charities, tell us about how you became buddies with Ron.

 It’s hard to explain because I am not really sure how. I spoke with him numerous times and did some stuff with White Sox Charities and just got to know him. I remember at Soxfest 2008 I was wearing my Kittle jersey and I walked up to him and said look what I got. He told me that he had interviewed for the Sox radio job, which he didn’t get, and that he was going to buy anyone who wore his jersey at a game a beer. I asked where my beer was, and he said he didn’t get the job. It just went from there. I can say there is also an incident from 2010 at the bar of the Palmer House that I cannot go into here, but it occurred about 5 minutes before the famous Freddy Garcia fuck the Cubs video which you can find on YouTube. I do owe him a lot because he has provided me some valuable advice in the time, I have known him. He has also delivered some messages I needed to hear during that time too.

What capacity do you serve for Ron Kittle charities?

I am one of the directors.

What % of Ron Kittle’s stories aren’t bullshit?

I say 50 / 50. A couple I thought were bullshit were in fact true.

You have pretty boss seats behind home plate, have you met any celebs, if so, name drop the BEST and WORST?

The best and worse are affiliated with visiting teams. The best, by a mile, was Evan Longoria’s family. His wife (Jamie Edmondson) and mother-in-law were so nice and easy going. We have had multiple great conversations.

The worse, and it isn’t even close, is the Girardi family. His wife and daughter think they are privileged. There was an incident where the teenage daughter (Leena) kept hitting the back of my seat with her mini baseball bat. I kindly asked if she could stop. She kept doing it. I finally snapped and said if she didn’t stop, I was going to take the bat away. The mother stepped in and said that if I took the bat away and she got it back she would hit me with it. I told the mother if the kid did hit me with the bat, I would not only take it away, but I would shove it up her ass and pull it out her mouth. She immediately went to security and asked why I was sitting there, and the security guard told her that I pay for those tickets, but of course she couldn’t understand this. That is part of reason I want no part of Girardi as manager. I could see another Guillen family situation from the entitled elitist assholes.

And there is a witness to both sides of this answer. I will tell you who it is and she can confirm.

You’ve been known to crush sports trivia, if you had to pick any one of the 108ers to team up with in a baseball trivia contest, who would it be?

This is a slam dunk. Biguns. BTW, still waiting for my video of destroying Barstool during the Crosstown Wasted Tailgate. I also won $130 on the show Gas Money, which is now known as Beer Money.

The 3-minute handy is a unique video series, who’s idea was it and why do you think it’s so popular?

It was a MySoxSummer idea. Because I’m honest, sometimes rather brutally and crudely, and it’s what a lot of people want to say but don’t have the platform to do. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback about it, mostly good. I did have one person say they wanted to wash my mouth out with soap after watching one of them.

 Do you have a Member’s Only jacket?

Not anymore. I did and I rocked it!

Can you guess which other 108er has a Member’s Only jacket?

I thought I was the last member. I would immediately guess Biguns, but I’m going Slumpbuster here

Why don’t you room with Wally$ on any of the baseball trips?

HELL NO!!! I’m afraid what would happen after Wally$ has a night of 108’ing and his GF isn’t around. I don’t want to wake up with the smell of cool water in the air.

Do you have any favorite #108ing stories you’d like to share, ballpark or otherwise?

I remember being chastised for having Ginger Beer, which I did not drink, in Detroit. That whole weekend was a blast, from seeing Slumpbuster make a new friend in the bar, to the whole Wally$ performance.

What’s your greatest fear about the “rebuild”?

That they half-ass it and put themselves in the same situation they were before.

What is there about this team that excites you the most?

Potential, with unfulfilled potential scaring me the most

Give us a #HotTake about the rebuild.

 I have a fear that the coaching staff they have in place in multiple stops won’t be able to develop the players they have into what they can be. How many players have they truly developed? Pickings are slim. And frankly I have the most fear with Cooper. He cannot help pitchers develop what their talent says they have. He has to develop them into the same pitcher. All throw cutters. Why do you think division teams have teed off on the Sox for years? They pretty much know the pitcher’s repertoire.

Favorite White Sox Twitter Account (Besides @fromthe108) and why?

Oh geez, several to choose from. I really like Palka’s because its entertaining.

Person from White Sox Twitter that you’d most like to meet and why?

KeNWO. Even though I think I may have met him already.

Favorite Non-White Sox Twitter Account and why?

Ken Rosenthal. If he reports it you know it to be true.

What do you like best about @fromthe108?

Everyone is themselves. No one is trying to be something they are not. No one is afraid to bust balls, and everyone treats each other with respect. I would also add that #108ing is not only about having a good time, but friendship and mutual respect.

Favorite White Sox related blog or podcast and why?

I like White Sox Talk and Sox in the Basement, but the podcast about Baseball and Bullshit (aka the 108 podcast) is my favorite.

What is your favorite alcoholic drink for #108ing?  Be specific and feel free to go with more than one if you need to.  What about your favorite beer style?

I am not that big of a beer guy. I am more of a spirits guy. Love me some Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire, and Angels Envy. I have a bottle of Jack Daniels Frank Sinatra century which I take a glass from on occasion. As far as beer style, I don’t have the first clue but I will drink a black and tan if available. Also, like Newcastle Brown Ale and Peroni. I liked Baderbrau High Noon but we know what happened there.

Favorite cut of Steak?  Prepared?

Filet, Medium

Gimme an “Uncle Rico” moment from your prior sports playing past.

 I have two, both in high school. I led the winning intramurals team for softball and volleyball. The best part is that I was on the team with the “smart kids”, because believe it or not I was one of them, and we beat the jocks, who were guys I played sports with. After beating them in Softball they refused to shake hands, similar to what the Pistons did to the Bulls in 1991.

Where would you take @ChiPartyAunt out on a date?

Portillo’s on Harlem and then Rainbow Motel

Favorite performance enhancing drug?

Baseball – Steroids, Other – Viagra.

Who do you hate more Jim Belushi or John Cusack?

Fuck them both, but if I had to choose, I would go with Belushi. At least Cusack made some movies I liked.

Happy Ending

What Other Chicago Teams Do You Enjoy

Bears and Blackhawks

Favorite Chicago Sports History Moment

2005 World Series, otherwise the “17 Seconds” in the 2013 Stanley Cup finals.

Favorite All-Time Sox Broadcaster

I miss John Rooney on the radio.

Any Stories About Running Into or Meeting White Sox Players? Other Chicago Athletes?

I’ve met a few. The one that stands out is Jim McMahon. When I was in High School McMahon was the man. I met him a few years later and what a JERK.

Favorite Band?

The Rolling Stones

What is your favorite song?

Let’s go go White Sox

Favorite TV Show (or Netflix or HBO or whatever the fuck)?

If you read some of the stuff I tweet, you know it’s Seinfeld.

Married or Single? Looking for a GF?

This is funny. I am not married but I am no longer single or looking for a GF. I met a beautiful woman named Michele at the 108 Festivus party.

Do you remember your first Sox game?

Sort of. I do not know if it was my first Sox game but I remember being on the field for picture day, when they would allow fans on the warning track and the players would come and take pictures. I remember Dick Allen walking up and scaring the shit out of me.

What Player had the greatest impact on you?

From a fan standpoint I would say Fisk and Thomas. From a personal standpoint Kittle.

What was the happiest day watching the Sox?

October 26, 2005

What was the saddest day watching the Sox?

 October 8, 1983. Tito FUCKING Landrum.

What do you do for work? If you could be or do anything else – what?

I am currently working for a bank as an IT Auditor. I received a BS (in more ways than one) in Computer Information Systems. I make sure that banks systems are secure, no inappropriate access, changes to systems are appropriate, and all necessary banking regulations and requirements are being followed. It’s a geeky type of job but allows me to buy season tickets. If I could have been anything else it would have been the 1^st baseman for the White Sox, but in my prime years there was this Frank Thomas guy who blocked me.

If you could live in any other time, when might that be?

I think the 50’s would have been cool. Some great baseball and life seemed easier then.

If you could have dinner with five White Sox Players, past and present, who would they be?

Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Nellie Fox, Mark Buehrle, and Juan Uribe

If you could change one thing in your past, what might that be?

As previously mentioned, if I had the chance I would board a plane for Houston on October 26, 2005

What are you most proud of?

Knowing that my nieces and nephew are not afraid to come to me for advice or help.

How would you like to be remembered?

A good guy who was honest with himself and everyone else

What’s the one thing about you few people know?

I learned long division when I was 6 years old so I could compute batting average

What do you dislike most about yourself?

Temper can get the best of me at times, even though I’m not as angry as I seem, to quote MySoxSummer.

What do you dislike most in others?

Treating people with disrespect

What were your best/worst subjects in school?

Best subjects were Math and History. Worse subject was Spanish

What do you like doing in your spare time?

 Golf

Who is your celebrity crush?

Well before I met Michele the next future Mrs. Hand was Jennifer Aniston

What is your favorite movie?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I played basketball with co-workers in the 90’s. They used to call me Chief because I played basketball like the character of Chief in the movie. If you haven’t watched it do.

What is your favorite baseball movie?

For baseball it’s The Natural. One with a baseball reference Naked Gun

What is your biggest/weirdest fear?

Walking on subway grates on the streets downtown.

What would be your one super power?

 X-Ray vision

What would you change your name to?

Clint McQueen or Dirk Diggler

What pet would you love to have?

I would love to have a dog, but I am hardly ever home so it wouldn’t be fair.

What’s your one biggest pet peeve?

“Fans” of a team who don’t know their players or have never been to their home park.

What’s your one annoying habit?

I bite my nails.

What would be a good theme song for your life?

My Way by Frank Sinatra

What ballpark would you like to visit?

I haven’t been to PNC yet. I hear that is the only one that compares to AT&T, actually Oracle Park now, in San Francisco.