Cherishing the memories, Harrelson ready for final road game Sunday

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Ken “Hawk” Harrelson will broadcast his final road game Sunday in Cleveland, where he once played for the Indians. (Sun-Times Media)

CLEVELAND — ‘‘This is it,’’ longtime White Sox TV broadcaster Ken Harrelson said Saturday.

‘‘This’’ is Harrelson working his final two games on the road as a broadcaster.

With Jason Benetti moving to a full-time schedule, Harrelson, 76, who worked road games only as he scaled back his workload the last two seasons, will do a limited amount of home games in 2018.

Harrelson said he already has cut the cord.

‘‘The other day and last night, when I went [back to the team hotel in Cleveland], I had some tears in my eyes,’’ Harrelson said. ‘‘I’m a crier. I cry when I’m watching TV if it’s not an action movie. That’s the way I’ve always been.’’

Road production crews have given Harrelson cards and cake. Other well-wishers — including some Saturday in Cleveland, where he hit 27 home runs and drove in 84 runs for the 1969 Indians — have extended their best around visiting ballparks all season long.

Harrelson said Sunday won’t be a tough day.

‘‘The difficult part is over,’’ he said. ‘‘Fifty-six years [in the game] and parts of seven decades, you create a lot of memories.

‘‘Life is about two things: making choices and memories. That’s what we create. And I have a lot of good memories.’’

Harrelson missed many of his children’s childhood activities because of his playing and broadcasting careers, but he said he doesn’t want to miss his grandchildren’s athletic events.

Harrelson said he still will watch the Sox closely and will broadcast selected games to be determined.

‘‘I’m looking forward to next year and watching this club grow,’’ he said. ‘‘I want to be around the ballpark, and I’ll do 20 or 25 games next year.’’

Harrelson said the Sox ‘‘in three years will be a monster’’ and have ‘‘the right man to take them there’’ in manager Rick Renteria.

‘‘I can see it coming, just like you could see Kansas City coming, just like you could see the Cubs coming with all those good players,’’ he said. ‘‘Chicago fans are going to have a great time watching baseball for the next 10 years.’’

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

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