View source for Comiskey Park

{{Short description|Chicago White Sox baseball park (1910–1990)}}
{{About|the original Comiskey Park|the existing stadium that once carried this name|Rate Field}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Comiskey Park
| nickname = ''The Baseball Palace of the World''<br />''Old Comiskey Park''<br />''White Sox Park''
| image = Old comiskey park.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Comiskey Park in [[1990 Chicago White Sox season|1990]], its final season
| location = 324 West 35th Street<br />Chicago, Illinois <!--60616-->
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|49|54|N|87|38|03|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground = 1910
| opened = July 1, [[1910 Chicago White Sox season|1910]]<ref name=nhoswoj>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1910/06/18/page/12/article/new-home-of-sox-will-open-july-1 |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Sanborn |first=I.F. |title=New home of Sox will open July 1 |date=June 18, 1910 |page=12 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073121/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=dianwspk>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1910/06/18/page/13/article/diamond-at-new-white-sox-park-where-sodding-was-finishd-yesterday |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |agency=(photo) |title=Diamond at new White Sox Park where sodding was finished yesterday |page=13 |access-date=2017-06-15 |archive-date=2023-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073109/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ctgsft">{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1910/07/01/page/12/article/theres-no-such-thing-as-superior-guessing-ability-in-existence |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Sanborn |first=I.E. |title=Commy to greet Sox fans today |date=July 1, 1910 |page=12 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073122/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bigarm">{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1910/07/02/page/10/article/unwished-for-happens-quite-as-frequently-as-the-unexpected |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Sanborn |first=I.E. |title=Big army of fans greets "Commy" |date=July 2, 1910 |page=10 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073121/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| closed = September 30, [[1990 Chicago White Sox season|1990]]<ref name=rwtofrnd>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1990/10/01/page/1/article/at-comiskey-farewell-to-an-old-friend |work=Chicago Tribune |last=Hersh |first=Phil |title=At Comiskey, farewell to an old friend |date=October 1, 1990 |page=1 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073108/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demolished = 1991
| owner = [[Chicago White Sox]]
| operator = Chicago White Sox
| surface = Natural grass<br />[[AstroTurf]] infield (1969–1975)
| construction_cost = US$750,000<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|750000|1910}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} <!--dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [[Zachary Taylor Davis]]<br />[[Osborn Engineering]]
| general_contractor = George W. Jackson<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/index.htm |title=Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes |publisher=Ballparks.com |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-date=2015-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115205155/http://ballparks.com/baseball/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| former_names = White Sox Park<br />(1910–1912, 1962–1975)
| tenants = [[Chicago White Sox]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1910–1990)<br />[[Chicago Cardinals]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1922–1925, 1929–1930, 1940–1958)<br />[[Chicago Bulls (AFL)|Chicago Bulls]] ([[American Football League (1926)|AFL]]) (1926)<br />[[Chicago American Giants]] ([[Negro American League|NAL]]) (1941–1952)<br />[[Card-Pitt]] (NFL) (1944)<br />[[Chicago Mustangs (1967–68)|Chicago Mustangs]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1967–1968)<br />[[Chicago Sting]] (NASL) (1980–1985)
| seating_capacity = 28,000 (1910–1926)<br />52,000 (1927–1937)<br />50,000 (1938)<br />51,000 (1939)<br />50,000 (1940–1946)<br />47,400 (1947–1953)<br />46,550 (1954–1972)<br />44,492 (1973–1982)<br />43,695 (1983–1985)<br />44,087 (1986–1987)<br />43,931 (1988–1989)<br />43,951 (1990)
| record_attendance = 55,555 (largest)<br />May 20, [[1973 Chicago White Sox season|1973]]<br />[[1973 Chicago White Sox season|White Sox]] vs. [[1973 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota]]<br />511 (smallest)<br />May 6, [[1971 Chicago White Sox season|1971]]<br />[[1971 Chicago White Sox season|White Sox]] vs. [[1971 Boston Red Sox season|Boston]]
| dimensions = ''(1910)''<br />'''Foul lines''' – {{cvt|363|ft}}<br />{{nowrap|'''Power alleys''' – {{cvt|382|ft}}}}<br />'''Center field''' – {{cvt|420|ft|0}}<br />'''Backstop''' – {{cvt|98|ft}}<br />''(1986)''<br />'''Foul lines''' – {{cvt|347|ft}}<br />'''Power alleys''' – {{cvt|382|ft}}<br />'''Center Field''' – {{cvt|409|ft}}<br />'''Backstop''' – {{cvt|86|ft}} [[File:ComiskeyParkDimensions.svg|200px|]]
}}
'''Comiskey Park''' was a [[ballpark]] in [[Chicago]], Illinois, located in the [[Armour Square, Chicago|Armour Square]] neighborhood on the near-south side of the city. The stadium served as the home of the [[Chicago White Sox]] of the [[American League]] from [[1910 Chicago White Sox season|1910]] through [[1990 Chicago White Sox season|1990]]. Built by White Sox owner [[Charles Comiskey]] and designed by [[Zachary Taylor Davis]], Comiskey Park hosted four [[World Series]] and more than 6,000 [[Major League Baseball]] games. The field also hosted one of the most famous boxing matches in history: [[Joe Louis]]' defeat of champion [[James J. Braddock]], launching his 11-year run as the heavyweight champion of the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/315.html |title=Comiskey Park |last=Bachin |first=Robin F. |date=2004 |website=Encyclopedia of Chicago |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504042259/http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/315.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/people/joe-louis-9386989 |title=Joe Louis |date=April 27, 2017 |website=Biography |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519223337/http://www.biography.com/people/joe-louis-9386989 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[History of the Chicago Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] also called Comiskey Park home when they were not playing at [[Normal Park]], [[Soldier Field]], or [[Wrigley Field]]. They won the [[1947 NFL Championship Game]] over the [[1947 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] at Comiskey Park. Much less popular than the [[Chicago Bears|Bears]], the Cardinals had their last season at Comiskey in [[1958 Chicago Cardinals season|1958]], and they left for [[St. Louis]] in March [[1960 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1960]]. The [[Chicago American Giants]] of the Negro American League called Comiskey Park home from 1941 to 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/history/negro-leagues/teams/chicago-american-giants |title=The Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues |website=MLB.com |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227072309/https://www.mlb.com/history/negro-leagues/teams/chicago-american-giants |url-status=live }}</ref> The park was also home to the [[Chicago Mustangs (1967–68)|Chicago Mustangs]] and [[Chicago Sting]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]], and hosted the [[Soccer Bowl '84|final edition]] of the original [[Soccer Bowl]].

The park was demolished in [[1991 Chicago White Sox season|1991]], after a new Comiskey Park stadium (later renamed U.S. Cellular Field, then [[Rate Field]]) opened just to the south.

==Early years==
[[File:South Side Park, home of the White Sox, Chicago, Illinois, circa 1907-1913.jpg|thumb|left|Comiskey Park in 1913. The "South Side" label refers to the White Sox themselves, not the stadium.]]
'''White Sox Park''' was built on a former city [[Landfill|dump]] that [[Charles Comiskey]] bought in 1909 to replace the wooden [[South Side Park]]. Within three years, it was renamed Comiskey Park. The original name was restored in [[1962 Chicago White Sox season|1962]], then it changed back to Comiskey Park [[1976 Chicago White Sox season|in 1976]].<ref name=bvestbg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GRwsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J8kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2568%2C2029905 |newspaper=Florence (AL) Times |agency=UPI |title=Bill Veeck era ready to begin |date=April 11, 1976 |page=45 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=September 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906140619/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GRwsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J8kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2568%2C2029905 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 22, 1923, the park was subject to a bombing, suspected to be labor unions in response to it being painted by [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis#Building trades award, controversy, and resignation (1920–1922)|Landis Award]], [[open shop]], painters. [[1920–1921 Chicago rent strikes# Labor bombings|During a time of unrest due to an employer movement to weaken labor unions]].<ref name=":36">{{Cite web |date=2018-05-28 |title=Judge Landis and the Forgotten Chicago Baseball Bombings |url=https://jacobpomrenke.com/black-sox/judge-landis-and-the-forgotten-chicago-baseball-bombings/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Jacob Pomrenke |language=en}}</ref>

Comiskey Park was very modern for its time. It was the third concrete-and-steel stadium in the major leagues to be built since 1909. As originally built, it seated almost 32,000, a record at the time. Briefly, it retained the nickname "The Baseball Palace of the World". Light towers were added in 1939.

The park's design was strongly influenced by Sox pitcher [[Ed Walsh]], and was known for its pitcher-friendly proportions ({{convert|362|ft}} to the [[foul pole]]s; {{cvt|420|ft|0}} to center field). Later changes were made, but the park remained more or less favorable to defensive teams. For many years this reflected on the White Sox style of play: solid defense, and short, quick hits. The park was unusual in that no player hit 100 home runs there: [[Carlton Fisk]] set the record with 94.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/elias?date=20130410 |title=ESPN – Elias Says: Sports Statistics – Stats from the Elias Sports Bureau – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-date=2015-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001092017/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/elias?date=20130410 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first game in Comiskey Park was a 2–0 loss to the [[1910 St. Louis Browns season|St. Louis Browns on July 1, 1910]].<ref name="ctgsft"/><ref name=bigarm/> The first [[no-hitter]] at Comiskey Park was [[1911 Chicago White Sox season|in 1911]], hurled by [[Ed Walsh]] on August 27, a 5–0 win [[1911 Boston Red Sox season|over Boston]]. The Sox won their first home night game, over St. Louis [[1939 Chicago White Sox season|on August 14, 1939]], 5–2.<ref name=swinfsngm>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1939/08/15/page/15/article/sox-win-1st-night-game-5-2-before-35-000 |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Burns |first=Edward |title=Sox win 1st night game, 5–2, before 35,000 |date=August 15, 1939 |page=15 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073152/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ballpark was significantly expanded during the 1926-1927 off-season. The single-deck pavilions and the outfield bleachers were replaced by a double-decked stand which surrounded almost the entire field except for a new, small bleacher section in straightaway centerfield.<ref>''Chicago Tribune'', April 17, 1927, p.&nbsp;30</ref>

==Special baseball events==
===World Series===
Comiskey Park was the site of four [[World Series]] contests. In 1917, the Chicago White Sox won Games 1, 2 and 5 at Comiskey Park and went on to defeat the [[1917 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] four games to two. In 1918, Comiskey Park hosted the World Series between the [[1918 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] and [[1918 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]. The Cubs borrowed Comiskey Park for the series because of its larger [[seating capacity]]. The Red Sox defeated the Cubs four games to two. Games 1–3 were played at Comiskey Park. The Red Sox won games one and three. Attendance was under capacity in that [[World War I|war]] year. The best crowd was Game 3, with some 27,000 patrons.

In 1919, the White Sox lost the infamous "[[Black Sox Scandal|Black Sox]]" World Series to the [[1919 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]], five games to three in a nine-game series. Games three, four, five and eight were played at Comiskey Park. The White Sox won game three and lost games four, five and eight.

In 1959, the White Sox lost four games to two to the [[1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]]. Games one, two and six were played at Comiskey Park. The White Sox won game one and lost games two and six. With their win in Game 6 at Comiskey Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first West Coast team to win a World Series.

Comiskey saw its last post-season action in [[1983 Chicago White Sox season|1983]], when the White Sox lost the American League Championship Series to the [[1983 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] 3–1. The White Sox lost both of their home games (Games 3 and 4). Baltimore went on to win the [[1983 World Series|World Series]].

===All-Star Games===
[[File:CK 193, Comiskey Park (NBY 648).jpg|thumb|Comiskey Park in 1954]]
[[File:Oldcomiskeypark1986a.jpg|thumb|Comiskey Park in [[1986 Chicago White Sox season|1986]]]]
Comiskey Park was the site of three [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]s, and each marked a turn in the direction of dominance by one league or the other:
*The first All-Star Game was held in [[1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1933]]. It began as a promotion by [[Arch Ward]], sports editor of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', in connection with the 1933 [[Century of Progress Exposition]] being held on Chicago's lakefront. The Americans defeated the Nationals, helped in part by a home run by [[Babe Ruth]], who was nearing the end of his career, but could still swing a mighty bat. The game also inaugurated a stretch when the Americans dominated, winning 12 of the first 16 (skipping [[1945 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1945]] because of wartime travel restrictions).
*The park next hosted the July classic in [[1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1950]], a game best remembered for [[Ted Williams]]' collision with the outfield wall that broke his elbow and ended his playing season. Less remembered is that it began a turnaround for the Nationals, who won the game in extra innings and started to win frequently, a trend that continued for more than three decades, building up an astounding 30 wins against only 6 losses and 1 tie (from 1959 to 1962 two games were held each year).
*The 50th Anniversary All-Star Game in [[1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1983]] was held at Comiskey Park in commemoration of the first All-Star Game at that same venue. The American League's lopsided win, including the first-ever grand slam in an All-Star Game, by [[Fred Lynn]], turned out to signal an end to the National League's dominance in the mid-summer classic. During the last eight years of the park's existence the Americans went 5–3. Hosting a winning All-Star Game was also a good omen for the Sox, as they won their division in 1983, the first baseball title of any kind in Chicago since the Sox won the 1959 pennant.
*Comiskey Park was the most frequent home to the Negro leagues [[East-West All-Star Game]] from 1933 to 1960. The Negro leagues' all-star game achieved higher attendance in some years than its [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball counterpart]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Marcus |last=Hayes |title=Negro League Classic Was Big Event – East-West Game Outdrew Major Leagues' All-Stars |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960707/2337998/negro-league-classic-was-big-event----east-west-game-outdrew-major-leagues-all-stars |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=July 7, 1996 |access-date=2008-06-22 |archive-date=2011-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519095705/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960707&slug=2337998 |url-status=live }}</ref> thanks in part to Comiskey's high attendance capacity.

==Fans==
From 1971 until its demolition in 1991, Comiskey was the oldest park still in use in Major League Baseball (it had already been the oldest in the American League since 1955). Many of its known characteristics, such as the pinwheels on the "exploding" scoreboard, were installed by [[Bill Veeck]] (owner of the White Sox from 1959 to 1961, and again from 1976 to 1981). Another Veeck innovation was the "picnic area", created by replacing portions of the left field walls (the side of the field not facing the setting sun) with screens and setting up picnic tables under the seating areas. This concept was later extended to right field. During Veeck's second ownership, he installed a shower behind the speaker horns in the center field bleachers, for fans to cool off on hot summer days.

From 1960 to 1990, Sox fans were also entertained by [[Andy the Clown]], famous for his famous [[Jerry Colonna (entertainer)|Jerry Colonna]]-like elongated cry, "Come ooooooooooon, go! White! Sox!"

[[File:Nancy Faust 800521.JPG|thumb|right|Longtime White Sox organist [[Nancy Faust]]]]
Starting in the 1970s, Sox fans were further entertained by organist [[Nancy Faust]] who picked up on spontaneous chants of fans who were singing tunes like, "[[We Will Rock You|We will, we will, SOX YOU!]]" and popularized the now-ubiquitous farewell to departing pitchers and ejected managers, [[Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye|"Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey-hey, GOOD-BYE!"]]

Before he became an institution on the north side with the Cubs, Sox broadcaster [[Harry Caray]] was a south side icon. At some point he started "conducting" [[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]] during the [[seventh-inning stretch]], egged on by Veeck, who (according to Harry himself) said that the fans would sing along when they realized that none of them sang any worse than Harry did; Caray would take this tradition with him to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, which has continued even with Caray's death in 1998. Harry would sometimes broadcast from the center field bleachers, where he could hobnob with fans and get a suntan (or a burn).

The largest crowd at Old Comiskey Park was in [[1973 Chicago White Sox season|1973]] with a crowd of 55,555 (which was 11,063 over capacity) on May 20 for a doubleheader against the [[1971 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]], which also had the promotion of "Bat Day". By contrast, just over two years earlier, the smallest attendance at the park was recorded, with 511 spectators attending a game against the [[1971 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] on Thursday, May 6, [[1971 Chicago White Sox season|1971]].

===Disco Demolition Night===
{{Main|Disco Demolition Night}}
A major and oft-mentioned promotional event held at Old Comiskey was "Disco Demolition Night" in [[1979 Chicago White Sox season|1979]], organized by longtime Chicago radio personality [[Steve Dahl]] and White Sox promotions manager Mike Veeck (Bill's son) on Thursday, July 12.<ref name=speims>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1979/07/13/page/61/ |work=Chicago Tribune |last=Dozer |first=Richard |title=Sox promotion ends in a mob scene |date=July 13, 1979 |page=1, sec. 5 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024654/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1979/07/13/page/61/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=wsdbwab>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fzdSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VjYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7128%2C2603476 |newspaper=Victoria Advocate |location=Texas |agency=Associated Press |title=White Sox disco bash was a bust |date=July 13, 1989 |page=2B |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212062534/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fzdSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VjYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7128%2C2603476 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=blbpk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WrtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4R8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3902%2C2230454 |newspaper=Wilmington Star-News |location=North Carolina |title=Blowup at the ballpark |agency=Associated Press |date=July 11, 2004 |page=6C |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212062537/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WrtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4R8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3902%2C2230454 |url-status=live }}</ref> Between games of a make-up doubleheader between the White Sox and the [[1979 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]], Dahl and his crew destroyed a pile of disco records that fans had brought in exchange for a ticket with a discounted price of 98[[cent (currency)|¢]] in honor of Dahl's station at that time, [[WCKL (FM)|WLUP-FM]], the frequency of which was 97.9&nbsp;MHz (98&nbsp;FM). More than 50,000 fans were in attendance, along with another 20,000 who crashed the gates even though the game was sold out.<ref name=bordisc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q0FYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1PYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914%2C1764826 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=Oregon |agency=UPI |title=Disco riot |date=July 13, 1979 |page=14 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073637/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q0FYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1PYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914%2C1764826 |url-status=live }}</ref> The demolition tore a huge hole in center field and several thousand fans, many of them intoxicated, stormed the field, stole equipment, and destroyed the infield. The nightcap was postponed,<ref name=tnfdr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lggdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BJ4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6509%2C2653513 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Thursday night fever disrupts Comiskey Park |date=July 13, 1979 |page=10 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073643/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lggdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BJ4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6509%2C2653513 |url-status=live }}</ref> but league officials ruled it a forfeit the next day,<ref name=fgofaf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MtVOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3144%2C6702453 |newspaper=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |agency=Associated Press |title=Friday's game officially a forfeit |date=July 14, 1979 |page=8 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212062535/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MtVOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IkoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3144%2C6702453 |url-status=live }}</ref> the fourth in American League history, all in the 1970s.<ref name=tmwkndr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7VcrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pNkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1194%2C694941 |newspaper=Daily Reporter |location=Spencer, Iowa |agency=UPI |title=Riot causes Sox to forfeit |date=July 14, 1979 |page=7, Times Weekender |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212062548/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7VcrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pNkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1194%2C694941 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, some blamed Dahl; some blamed Veeck. Howard Cosell even blamed then-White Sox announcer Harry Caray, saying Caray contributed to a "carnival" atmosphere. In reality, a handful of rowdies had taken advantage of a situation for which stadium security was woefully unprepared. "I never thought that I, a stupid disc jockey, could draw 70,000 people to a disco demolition," Dahl said in a ''Tribune'' interview. "Unfortunately, some of our followers got a little carried away." That was the last anti-disco rally for WLUP. But it brought Dahl national attention and established him as a radio superstar in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-chicagodays-disco-story-story.html |title=Steve Dahl's Disco Demolition at Comiskey Park |work=Chicago Tribune |date=July 12, 1979 |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-date=2016-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007130419/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-chicagodays-disco-story-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transitions==
When Bill Veeck re-acquired the team, he took out the center field fence, reverting to the original distance to the wall (posted as 440 in the 1940s, re-measured as 445 in the 1970s)&nbsp;... a tough target, but reachable by sluggers like [[Oscar Gamble]] and [[Richie Zisk]] and other members of a team that was tagged "The South Side Hit Men". They were long removed from their days as "The Hitless Wonders". During that time the ballpark also featured a lounge where one could buy mixed drinks. This prompted some writers to dub Comiskey "Chicago's Largest Outdoor Saloon".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/park/comiskey-park-chicago/ |title=Comiskey Park (Chicago) – Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227072543/https://sabr.org/bioproj/park/comiskey-park-chicago/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Final years==
[[File:00118 n 9abwn9hwm1496.jpg|thumb|left|Batting practice in 1986]]
In [[1969 Chicago White Sox season|1969]], [[AstroTurf]] was installed in the infield and the adjacent foul territory, with the outfield and adjoining foul territory remaining as natural grass. It was the first outdoor field in the major leagues to install artificial turf.<ref name=aginfcp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_t0eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3WUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5373%2C4214820 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |location=Florida |title='Artificial grass' infield set at Chicago White Sox Park |last=Brockmann |first=John |date=March 15, 1969 |page=18 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712073608/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_t0eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3WUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5373%2C4214820 |url-status=live }}</ref><!--much like [[Tim McCarver Stadium]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] would be in the 1980s and [[Telus Field]] in Edmonton in the 1990s.--> After seven seasons, the artificial turf was removed prior to the [[1976 Chicago White Sox season|1976 season]].<ref name=bvestbg/><ref name=frrpff>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rwQqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LSkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2202%2C1203598 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Free ripoff |agency=press dispatches |date=March 13, 1976 |page=11 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

During its last eight years, Comiskey's annual attendance surpassed the two million mark three times, including the final season when the Sox contended for much of the year before losing the western division title to the [[1990 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]].

White Sox owner [[Jerry Reinsdorf]] received more than $200&nbsp;million in public financing for the new stadium after threatening to move the club to [[St. Petersburg, Florida]] (a similar threat was later used by the [[San Francisco Giants]] until they broke ground on what would be [[AT&T Park|their current ballpark]] in late 1997). An interesting phenomenon occurred in the Illinois state legislature, in that the Speaker ([[Michael Madigan]]) [[stopping the clock|stopped the clock]] on the evening of June 30, 1988, so that the legislature could report that the money had been granted on June 30, and not July 1. The stadium now called [[Tropicana Field]] was constructed by officials in St. Petersburg in an effort to lure a Major League Baseball club to Florida (which arrived in 1998 in the form of the expansion [[Tampa Bay Rays|Devil Rays]]), but Miami beat the Tampa Bay area to the punch when it launched the expansion [[Florida Marlins]] in 1993. The deal was sealed in a last-minute legislative maneuver by then-governor [[James R. Thompson]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/07/sports/white-sox-fill-the-bill.html |title=White Sox Fill the Bill |work=The New York Times |date=July 7, 1988 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |via=NYTimes.com |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729051635/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/07/sports/white-sox-fill-the-bill.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:SoxPark920904 1.JPG|thumb|Site of Comiskey Park as it looked in 1992]]
On September 30, 1990, with 42,849 in paid attendance, the Chicago White Sox played the last game at Comiskey Park, defeating the [[Seattle Mariners]] 2–1. [[Richard M. Daley|Mayor Richard M. Daley]] (a lifelong White Sox fan) threw out the opening pitch, legendary Sox player [[Minnie Miñoso]] delivered the lineup card to the umpires, and well-known ball-park organist Nancy Faust played for the crowd during the final game. Also, former White Sox Vice President [[Chuck Comiskey]], grandson of the man for whom the park was named, was on hand. The final play occurred when White Sox closer [[Bobby Thigpen]] forced Mariners' second baseman [[Harold Reynolds]] to hit a grounder to second baseman [[Scott Fletcher (baseball)|Scott Fletcher]], who in return threw it to first baseman [[Steve Lyons (baseball)|Steve Lyons]] for the [[Force out|force-out.]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-chicagodays-comiskeypark-story-story.html |title=The last Sox game at old Comiskey Park |last=Vanderberg |first=Bob |website=Chicago Tribune |date=January 3, 2008 |access-date=June 7, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002115537/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-chicagodays-comiskeypark-story-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/comiskey-parks-last-game/ |title=Comiskey Park's Last Game |date=December 13, 2008 |access-date=June 7, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002120732/https://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/comiskey-parks-last-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The crowd then joined the organist by singing a final rendition of their unofficial victory song "[[Na Na&nbsp;Hey Hey&nbsp;Kiss Him&nbsp;Goodbye]]".<ref name=":0" />

Comiskey Park was demolished in 1991; starting from behind the right field corner, the process took all summer to complete. The last portion to come down was the center field bleachers and the "exploding" scoreboard. The site of the old park was turned into a parking lot to serve those attending games at the new Comiskey Park (later renamed ''U.S. Cellular Field'', now [[Rate Field]]).

[[File:Comiskey Park Chicago 1912 Sanborn map.jpg|thumb|left|Comiskey Park depicted on a 1912 [[Sanborn map]]]]

At the time Comiskey was demolished, Chicago's two baseball stadiums were a combined 157 years old.

Bill Veeck once remarked that "There is no more beautiful sight in the world than a ballpark full of people!"{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} On its best days,{{when|date=February 2021}} Comiskey was stuffed to the gills,{{explain|date=February 2021}} with 55,000 people or more lining the aisles and even standing for 9 (or 18) innings on the sloping ramps that criss-crossed behind the scoreboard. The nearly-fully enclosed stands had a way of capturing and reverberating the noise without any artificial enhancement. Chicago sportswriter Alan Solomon remarked in 1988 that growing up in Chicago, "Wrigley Field ''yayed'' and Comiskey Park ''roared''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-07-10-8801130848-story.html |title=WHEN IT COMES TO MEMORIES |website=Chicago Tribune |date=July 10, 1988 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227073818/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-07-10-8801130848-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The location of Comiskey Park's home plate is marked with a marble plaque near the parking lot across the street from Rate Field; foul lines for the old park are painted on the lot's asphalt.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Comiskey Park Home Plate Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=248307 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> Based on Google Maps measurements, the old home plate is 503 feet due north of the current home plate at [[Rate Field]].<ref name=":1" /> Also, the spectator ramp across 35th Street is designed in such a way (partly curved, partly straight but angling east-northeast) that it echoes the outline of part of the old grandstand.

Shortly before the park's demolition, the ballpark was featured in the movie ''[[Only the Lonely (film)|Only the Lonely]]''. [[John Candy]]'s character (on a first date) arranged to have a private picnic on the stadium grass under the lights with his date ([[Ally Sheedy]]). Candy made a reference of the stadium's impending demolition during the date.

When the Sox won the [[2005 World Series]], their victory parade began at U.S. Cellular Field, and then circled the block where old Comiskey had stood, before heading on a route through various south side neighborhoods and toward downtown Chicago.

==Nicholson home run==
On May 6, 1964, White Sox outfielder [[Dave Nicholson]] hit a home run that either bounced atop the left-field roof or entirely cleared it. The home run was officially measured at 573 feet, and is one of baseball's all-time longest.

==No-hitters at Comiskey==
A total of nine [[no-hitter]]s were pitched at Comiskey Park; six by White Sox pitchers and three by pitchers of opposing teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nonohitters.com/comiskey-park-i-no-hitters/ |title=Comiskey Park I no-hitters |website=nonohitters.com |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Pitcher !! Date !! Winning team !! Score !! Losing team !! Ref.
|-
| {{sortname|Ed|Walsh}} || align=right|{{dts|August 27, 1911}} || [[1911 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|5–0 || [[1911 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/B08270CHA1911.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 5, Boston Red Sox 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=August 27, 1911 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-27-1911-big-ed-walsh-slobberballs-his-way-to-no-hitter/ |title=August 27, 1911: Big Ed Walsh 'slobber-balls' his way to no-hitter for White Sox |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Joe|Benz}} || align=right|{{dts|May 31, 1914}} || [[1914 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|6–1 || [[1914 Cleveland Naps season|Cleveland Naps]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1914/B05310CHA1914.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 6, Cleveland Naps 1 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=May 31, 1914 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-31-1914-benz-was-humming-on-all-cylinders/ |title=May 31, 1914: Joe Benz humming on all cylinders with no-hitter |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Vern|Kennedy}} || align=right|{{dts|August 31, 1935}} || [[1935 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|5–0 || [[1935 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1935/B08310CHA1935.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 5, Cleveland Indians 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=August 31, 1935 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-31-1935-vern-kennedys-no-hitter-kos-cleveland/ |title=August 31, 1935: In first full season, Vern Kennedy throws no-hitter for White Sox |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Bill|Dietrich}} || align=right|{{dts|June 1, 1937}} || [[1937 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|8–0 || [[1937 St. Louis Browns season|St. Louis Browns]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B06010CHA1937.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 8, St. Louis Browns 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=June 1, 1937 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-1-1937-dietrich-resusciates-career-with-a-no-hitter/ |title=June 1, 1937: Bill Dietrich resuscitates career with a no-hitter |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Bob|Feller}} || align=right|{{dts|April 16, 1940}} || [[1940 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] || align=center|1–0  || [[1940 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B04160CHA1940.htm |title=Cleveland Indians 1, Chicago White Sox 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=April 16, 1940 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-16-1940-bob-fellers-no-hitter-on-opening-day-propels-cleveland-to-1-0-win-over-white-sox/ |title=April 16, 1940: Bob Feller's no-hitter on Opening Day propels Cleveland to 1-0 win over White Sox |first=C. Paul  |last=Rogers III |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Bob|Keegan|dab=baseball}} || align=right|{{dts|August 20, 1957}} || [[1957 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|6–0 || [[1957 Washington Senators season|Washington Senators]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1957/B08202CHA1957.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 6, Washington Senators 0 (2) |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=August 20, 1957 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-20-1957-keegan-uses-new-motion-to-toss-no-hitter/ |title=August 20, 1957: Bob Keegan uses new motion to toss no-hitter at Comiskey Park |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Bill|Monbouquette}} || align=right|{{dts|August 1, 1962}} || [[1962 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] || align=center|1–0 || [[1962 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B08010CHA1962.htm |title=Boston Red Sox 1, Chicago White Sox 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=August 1, 1962 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-1-1962-monbo-was-unhittable/ |title=August 1, 1962: Boston's Bill Monbouquette throws no-hitter at Comiskey Park |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Joe|Horlen}} || align=right|{{dts|September 10, 1967}} || [[1967 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || align=center|6–0 || [[1967 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B09101CHA1967.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 6, Detroit Tigers 0 (1) |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=September 10, 1967 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-10-1967-joe-horlens-no-hitter-rekindles-white-soxs-pennant-dreams/ |title=September 10, 1967: Joe Horlen's no-hitter rekindles White Sox's pennant dreams |first=Gregory H. |last=Wolf |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| {{sortname|Jack|Morris}} || align=right|{{dts|April 7, 1984}} || [[1984 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] || align=center|4–0 || [[1984 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] || <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B04070CHA1984.htm |title=Detroit Tigers 4, Chicago White Sox 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=April 7, 1984 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-7-1984-jack-morris-throws-a-no-hitter-against-the-white-sox/ |title=April 7, 1984: Jack Morris throws a no-hitter against the White Sox |first=Nathan |last=Bierma |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
|}

An unofficial no-hitter was pitched at Comiskey Park on July 1, 1990, when [[New York Yankees]] pitcher [[Andy Hawkins]] did not allow a hit for eight innings, but lost 4–0 to the White Sox.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nonohitters.com/near-no-hitters/ |title=The true "no no-hitters": No-hitters not officially recognized by MLB |website=nonohitters.com |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/B07010CHA1990.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 4, New York Yankees 0 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=July 1, 1990 |accessdate=April 13, 2025}}</ref> Games lost by the visiting team in {{frac|8|1|2}} innings but without allowing any hits do not qualify as no-hitters, as the visiting team has only pitched eight innings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Donaghy|first=Jack|title=Is revised no-hitter rule a no-no?|page=2D|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=April 14, 1992|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19920414&id=fn8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=4963,3071278|access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref>

==Notable concerts==
{{List missing criteria|date=April 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Date
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Artist
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Opening act(s)
! width=16% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Tour / Concert name
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Attendance
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Revenue
! width=20% style="text-align:center;{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};"| Notes
|-
| August 20, 1965 || [[The Beatles]] || [[King Curtis]]<br />[[Cannibal and the Headhunters]]<br />[[Brenda Holloway]]<br />[[Sounds Incorporated]] || [[The Beatles' 1965 US tour|1965 US tour]] || 56,000 || — || Two shows<ref name=skswsxpk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kJ8oAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5527%2C58257 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Beatlemaniacs, 56,000 of 'em, shriek and sway at Sox Park |date=August 21, 1965 |page=10 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| July 10, 1976 || [[Aerosmith]] || [[Jeff Beck]]<br />[[Stu Daye]]<br />[[Rick Derringer]]<br />[[Jan Hammer]] || [[Rocks Tour]] || — || — ||
|-
| August 5, 1978 || [[Aerosmith]]<br />[[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]]<br />[[AC/DC]]<br />[[Mahogany Rush]]<br />[[Walter Egan]] || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|Summer Jam || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|— || rowspan=2|
|-
| August 19, 1978 || [[The Eagles (band)|The Eagles]]<br />[[Steve Miller Band]]<br />[[Pablo Cruise]]
|-
| August 5, 1979 || [[Journey (band)|Journey]] || [[Molly Hatchet]]<br />[[Eddie Money]]<br />[[Santana (band)|Santana]]<br />[[Thin Lizzy]] || Evolution Tour || — || — ||
|-
| August 18, 1979 || [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] || [[Beach Boys]]<br />[[Atlanta Rhythm Section]]<br />[[Sha Na Na]] || U.S. Tour '79 || — || — || This show was part of Chicago Jam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.blondie.net/gig_list.php |title=Blondie Gig List |access-date=2023-06-16 |publisher=Official Blondie Web Site |archive-date=2011-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723030418/http://archive.blondie.net/gig_list.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| August 19, 1979 || [[Rush (band)|Rush]] || — || Permanent Waves Tour || — || — || This show was part of Chicago Jam 2 concert series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rush.com/tour/permanent-waves/ |title=Permanent Waves |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-date=2017-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023213837/https://www.rush.com/tour/permanent-waves/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| July 23, 1983 || [[The Police]] || [[Joan Jett & The Blackhearts]]<br />[[A Flock of Seagulls]]<br />[[The Fixx]]<br />[[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] || [[Synchronicity Tour]] || 50,000 || — || As soon as The Police hit the stage, they were covered in a swirl of red, yellow and blue smoke. The red, yellow and blue lighting scheme and video projections were used during the whole show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scarlet.nl/~gugten/s19830723.htm |title=The Police – Concert information |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-date=2019-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518074335/http://www.scarlet.nl/~gugten/s19830723.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| July 24, 1983 || [[Simon and Garfunkel]] || — || Summer Evening Tour || — || — ||
|-
| October 12, 1984 || rowspan=3|[[The Jacksons]] || rowspan=3|— || rowspan=3|[[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]] || rowspan=3|120,000 || rowspan=3|— || rowspan=3|Two shows were moved from Pittsburgh.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EwUiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lGIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4475,3501996&dq=the+jacksons+victory+tour+pittsburgh+cancel&hl=en |title=The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-date=2016-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425165210/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EwUiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lGIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4475,3501996&dq=the+jacksons+victory+tour+pittsburgh+cancel&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| October 13, 1984
|-
| October 14, 1984
|}

==Other events==
===Boxing===
*On June 22, 1937, Comiskey Park was host to the [[James Braddock vs. Joe Louis]] heavyweight world title fight.<ref>{{cite web |last=Willis |first=George |url=https://nypost.com/2005/05/29/champion-of-the-people-even-after-cinderella-man-james-braddock-made-history/ |title=Champion Of The People – Even After 'Cinderella Man,' James Braddock Made History &#124; New York Post |publisher=Nypost.com |date=May 29, 2005 |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-date=2016-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001926/http://nypost.com/2005/05/29/champion-of-the-people-even-after-cinderella-man-james-braddock-made-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*On June 22, 1949, [[Ezzard Charles]] [[Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles|defeats]] [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] to win the vacant NBA heavyweight title.
*On September 25, 1962, [[Sonny Liston]] [[Floyd Patterson vs. Sonny Liston|fought]] then world heavyweight champ [[Floyd Patterson]].<ref>''King of the World, Muhammad Ali & the Rise of an American Hero'', [[David Remnick]], Picador 1999 pp27</ref>

===Wrestling===
* June 30, 1961, [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]] defeated [[Pat O'Connor (wrestler)|Pat O'Connor]] to win the [[NWA World's Heavyweight Championship|NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. The attendance was 38,622.

===Roller Derby===
The all-time attendance record of 50,118 for any roller derby event was set on September 15, 1972 at an interleague match between the Los Angeles Thunderbirds of Roller Games (National Skating Derby) and the Midwest Pioneers of Roller Derby (International Roller Derby League). The banked track was placed around second base.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date=1972-09-16| title=50,000 Screamers| page=W1| last=Pratt| first=Steven| url= http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/09/16/page/33/article/50-000-screamers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkL3wLG44vQ|title=1970s Roller Derby TV Intro - Largest Ever Roller Derby Crowd|date=28 October 2014 |via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=2023-01-09}}</ref>

===Soccer===
*October 1, 1984, 8,352 attended the first game of [[Soccer Bowl '84]].
*Comiskey Park was the host of the 1990 [[Marlboro Cup (soccer)|Marlboro Cup]]. Among the players participating were [[Enrique Díaz (footballer, born 1959)|Enrique Díaz]], [[Arnoldo Iguarán]], [[Carlos Estrada]], [[Daniel Pighín]], [[Eric Wynalda]], [[Juan Cayasso]], [[Leszek Pisz]], [[Luis Fajardo Posada|Luis Fajardo]], [[Piotr Nowak]], [[Roberto Siboldi]], and [[Roman Kosecki]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hersh |first=Phil |date=May 7, 1990 |title=Atlas Crawls Past Colombia |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/05/07/atlas-crawls-past-colombia/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009231424/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-05-07/sports/9002090119_1_costa-rica-world-cup-new-coach-bora-milutinovic |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/marlboro.html |title=Marlboro Soccer Cup Series (USA) 1987–1990 |access-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925175830/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/marlboro.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Date
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Team No. 1
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Result
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Team No. 2
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Attendance
!style="{{Baseball primary style|Chicago White Sox|border=2}};|Round
|-
|rowspan=2|May 4, 1990||{{fb|COL}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|POL}}|| ||rowspan=2|Semi-finals
|-
|{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Futbol Club Atlas|Atlas]]||style="text-align:center;"|2–0||{{fb|CRC}}||
|-
|rowspan=2|May 6, 1990||{{fb|POL}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|CRC}}|| ||Third place match
|- style="background:gold;"
|{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Futbol Club Atlas|Atlas]]||style="text-align:center;"|0–0 (4–2 pen)||{{fb|COL}}||8,783||Final
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Baseball|Chicago}}
{{Commons category|Comiskey Park}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/@lastcomiskey1990 ''Last Comiskey'' documentary], covering the 1990 season
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040407144008/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/C/Comiskey_Park.stm BaseballLibrary.com]
*[http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/comisk.htm Ballparks.com]
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Chicago White Sox]]
 | years = 1910–1990
 | before = [[South Side Park]]
 | after = [[Rate Field|Comiskey Park II]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]]
 | years = 1922–1925<br />1929–1930<br />1940–1959
 | before = [[Normal Park]]<br />[[Normal Park]]<br />[[Wrigley Field]]
 | after = [[Normal Park]]<br />[[Wrigley Field]]<br />[[Soldier Field]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]
 | years = [[1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1933]]<br />[[1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1950]]<br />[[1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1983]]
 | before = First<br />[[Ebbets Field]]<br />[[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]]
 | after = [[Polo Grounds]]<br />[[Briggs Stadium]]<br />[[Candlestick Park]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chicago White Sox}}
{{Chicago American Giants}}
{{Arizona Cardinals}}
{{Chicago Bulls (AFL)}}
{{Chicago Sting}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{Defunct MLB Ballparks}}
{{AFL I}}
{{The Beatles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American football venues in Chicago]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Chicago]]
[[Category:Boxing venues in Chicago]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Chicago]]
[[Category:Armour Square, Chicago]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Chicago]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Defunct Major League Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox stadiums]]
[[Category:Chicago Cardinals stadiums]]
[[Category:Chicago Sting sports facilities|c]]
[[Category:Defunct Negro league baseball venues]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:American Football League (1926) venues]]
[[Category:Card-Pitt]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1910]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 1991]]
[[Category:Jewel Box parks]]