Honoring White Sox legend Hawk Harrelson on National Bird Day

SHARE Honoring White Sox legend Hawk Harrelson on National Bird Day
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White Sox legend Ken “Hawk” Harrelson was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame last month but today he is being honored as part of National Bird Day.

Cubs fans might hate him, but Sox fans should adore the Hawk. He is a true baseball legend and a Chicago treasure.

In honor of Hawk, below are some of our favorite photos of the former baseball star, Sox broadcaster and absolutely horrible general manager (Hawk would agree with that assessment). We’ve weaved in a “What I’ve Learned” feature with Harrelson from spring training 2013.

At some point today, make sure you “do the Hawk Walk.”

Hawk Harrelson was an emcee on the stage.Jackie Robinson West Little League Team rally in Millennium Park at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | Al Podgorski / Sun-Times Media

Hawk Harrelson was an emcee on the stage.Jackie Robinson West Little League Team rally in Millennium Park at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | Al Podgorski / Sun-Times Media

Hawk Harrelson in his own words

I love baseball more now than I ever have.

I’m one of the few guys who have been in this game parts of seven decades. It has been fantastic to see the changes in the culture of the game.

Ken Harrelson showing off “Hawk” on the back of his uniform.

Ken Harrelson showing off “Hawk” on the back of his uniform.

My first spring training, we didn’t have lockers; we had a nail. You took your street clothes off, hung them on that nail. We got $1.75 meal money. I was making money to play baseball. I couldn’t believe that at 17.

When I came in, the minimum salary was $6,000. Today, it’s right at $400,000. My first two years in baseball, I made more playing golf, shooting pool and arm wrestling than I did playing Major League Baseball.

It’s mostly been good, but there has been some bad. Things I don’t agree with and probably never will.

Three best people I’ve met in baseball – I’m talking great players who were even better people off the field: Catfish Hunter, Mark Buehrle and Robin Ventura.

When I first came into broadcasting in 1975, Curt Gowdy said: ”Let me tell you something, Hawk. You have the chance to be a hell of an announcer. I’m going to give you the best piece of advice you’re ever going to get: Don’t try to please everybody. Those guys become cookie-cutters, and they don’t last long.” About two weeks later, Howard Cosell called me up. He said: ”I’ve been catching a lot of your games. You have a chance to be a hell of an announcer, but I’m going to give you the best piece of advice you ever had: Don’t try to please everybody.” It was almost identical, from two great announcers.

Shots of celebrity Golf Foursome Jim McMahon, Mike Ditka, Michael Jordan and Hawk Harrelson

Shots of celebrity Golf Foursome Jim McMahon, Mike Ditka, Michael Jordan and Hawk Harrelson

I drive 200 miles a day when we are at home during the season. I live near South Bend, a town called Granger, which is the next exit on down after Notre Dame. Been there four years. It’s exactly 100 miles from my garage to my parking spot. That allows me see the grandkids every day. I love it. Gives me a chance to get ready for the game. I go through about two or three books on tape a week. After the game, if we win, I’ll listen to the West Coast games on XM radio. I told Vin Scully, ”I forgot how great you are.”

There are some good umpires out there. And, believe it or not, Joe West behind the plate is a terrific umpire – when he wants to be.

I know Cubs fans don’t like me. The funny thing about it is, I don’t pull against the Cubs. In fact, I would like to play them 18 times a year so we could kick their ass.

I’m the luckiest son of a bitch who ever set two feet on the face of the earth. Really. I’ve never had a job in my life. Everything I’ve ever done, I’ve loved.

Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson, left. Cleveland Indians outfielder matches noses with Boston Patriots footballer Gino Cappaletti at Gino’s restaurant in Boston where “The Hawk” was presented the Sports Personality Award by the Boston Press Photographers Associa

Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson, left. Cleveland Indians outfielder matches noses with Boston Patriots footballer Gino Cappaletti at Gino’s restaurant in Boston where “The Hawk” was presented the Sports Personality Award by the Boston Press Photographers Association.

I want to die in the booth, I really do. If I could write my own script, I would be calling it: ”Here’s the pitch from Sabathia, Konerko at the plate. That ball’s hit hard. Waaay back. Granderson looks up. You can put it on the boarrrrd . . . ” Bam. That would be, for me, the perfect ending.

I would just like to die in the booth, doing a baseball game. That’s how much I love it.

Photo by Chris Sweda/Sun-Times

Photo by Chris Sweda/Sun-Times

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