While the White Sox thrashed the Royals 22-1 on Friday night, former Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle married his girlfriend, Barbara, in a ballpark suite officiated by Chicago chairman Jerry Reinsdorf during the team’s 10-run third inning.
CHICAGO — The White Sox were taking the Royals apart on Friday night, pounding their way to a 22-1 victory. Right in the middle of it, in a ballpark suite, former player Ron Kittle was saying “I do.”
Kittle tied the knot with his girlfriend, Barbara, with Chicago chairman Jerry Reinsdorf officiating from Reinsdorf’s suite. The ceremony took place during Chicago’s 10-run third inning, when the game’s momentum tilted so sharply it left little room for anything else.
Kittle later described the moment with a grin, telling Saturday that Reinsdorf is “so superstitious he might marry somebody today in the bottom of the third.”
When the inning ended, the score flashed past the kind of comfortable dominance that baseball fans recognize instantly. The White Sox went on to score their most runs since a 22-13 victory at Boston on May 31, 1970.
The quick wedding drew familiar faces. Harold Baines and Greg Walker—both Kittle’s teammates on the 1983 White Sox squad—and their spouses attended the ceremony as well. Kittle said his wife-to-be wanted the attention kept quiet.
“My better half doesn’t want any notoriety, recognition. She wants to keep it to herself,” he said. “But I invited Harold Baines and his wife and Greg Walker and his wife, and we did it and I was pretty excited. I think Jerry is excited. We’ve become a family over the years.”
It wasn’t the first time Kittle had stepped into a role like this. He said he is ordained and that he officiated a wedding in the outfield last season on Bill Veeck Day. After Friday’s ceremony, he joked that he’s now the only player to marry someone at the park and then get married at the park.
“Now I’m the only player to marry someone at the park and get married at the park,” Kittle said. “And I’m good.”
Saturday also carried the weight of history around the ballpark. The 1983 White Sox—who won the AL West—were honored before the game between Chicago and Kansas City at Rate Field. Among those in attendance were Hall of Famer Tony La Russa. who serves as a White Sox special adviser. along with Richard Dotson and Greg Luzinski.
White Sox Ron Kittle Jerry Reinsdorf wedding Rate Field Royals Harold Baines Greg Walker 1983 White Sox AL Rookie of the Year
Dude got married in the third inning lol.
Wait so Reinsdorf officiated like… during the game? That feels kinda disrespectful to the Royals but I guess it was a sweep. Also 22-1 is wild.
I’m confused though, because Kittle’s a former player so why is he officiating weddings now? I thought that was like a stadium announcer job. And wasn’t Bill Veeck Day like some old-school promotion? Seems like they just needed something to fill the time when the Sox were up 10 runs.
Superstitious he might marry somebody today in the bottom of the third… that’s actually hilarious but also kinda sounds made up. Like if it was the “bottom of the third” and they were already scoring a ton, then wouldn’t it be random timing anyway? Either way I’m glad they kept the attention quiet bc ballparks are already loud enough.