Fired Sox ball girl claims discrimination

But in 2003, she and the team's other ball girls were all fired because the White Sox thought that rowdy fans were more likely to charge onto the field when girls were present, according to a lawsuit filed this week.

Wilkes claims in the suit, filed against the White Sox in federal court, that it was pure discrimination.

"Wilkes was well qualified for her work, and performed in a competent and responsible manner," the suit states.

Neither Wilkes nor her attorney could be reached Tuesday. Calls to the White Sox were not returned.

Wilkes said she was fired on April 15, 2003 -- the same day spectator Eric Dybas stormed onto the field during a game between the White Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

Wilkes says Sox General Manager Ken Williams told her that "recent well-publicized incidents involving unruly fans entering the field was the reason for the termination."

But Wilkes argues in the lawsuit that being a ball girl has nothing to do with security or stopping fans from running onto the field.

In an April 27, 2003, story, a Major League Baseball official told the Sun-Times that the ball girls were replaced with security personnel in the interest of maximizing protection for the players and the umpires.