Chicago White Sox earn walk-off win over Toronto Blue Jays in home opener at Rate Field

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Friday was the home season opener for the Chicago White Sox. Thursday scheduled opener was moved because of weather.

The Sox got their second win of the young season, walking it off in the bottom of the 9th.

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First pitch was at 1:10 p.m. at Rate Field against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The White Sox beat the Blue Jays 5-4.

Also Friday afternoon, the team announced they will retire 2005 World Series champion manager Ozzie Guillén's No. 13 in a special ceremony August 8.

South Siders showed up to tailgate early before the game.

"Feeling great yeah!" Sox fan Dan Kozlowski said. "Hope we get a W today."

The libations flowing, fans started tailgating shenanigans early, a tradition for many.

"It's always fun," fan Tom Flores said. "You gotta enjoy it. The food people."

"This happens to be my 46th home opener in a row," fan Dan Stegvilas said. "Came here with my great grandmother, started off when we used to ride the bus for $.25 and go to the Old Comiskey."

Hopeful fans were energized with some in Papal garb, a nod to the perhaps most famous Sox fan in the world, Pope Leo.

"We've got 25 people showing up and thousand others here at the best tailgate parking lot in sports," Kozlowski said. "Only on one side of town can you tailgate like this and it's on the South Side."

In one fell swoop, the grounds crew removed the tarp, protecting the field from rain overnight and away they went, preparing The Rate for Opening Day!

The man known as the "Sodfather" leads the crew. This is his 60th home opener with the Sox.

A Vietnam war veteran, he will be honored as the Hero of the Game.
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"Roger Bossard is an icon when it comes to keeping fields pristine," Sheena Quinn, White Sox VP of public relations, said. "He's just a legend within the White Sox baseball community."

The team pulled out all the stops for the first home game with endless entertainment and a slew of great giveaways, over a dozen new food items, and awesome theme nights ahead.

"Chance the Rapper is throwing the ceremonial first pitch," Quinn said. "It's been 10 years since he's been on the mound throwing the ceremonial first pitch with us so very cool. And then the national anthem is going to be performed by Chicago's very own Leo high school choir."
Fans are just excited to be back to experience it all.

"We gotta do good this year," Flores said. "Am I right or wrong?"

And fans are hopeful the team will do a little better this year than last season with a much better forecast for the home opener, as well.