‘Hawk’ Harrelson will call White Sox games for 4 more seasons

Alexei Ramirez flips his hat to a fan at the Cell after the last game of the season. | Jonathan Daniel~Getty Images

Updated: December 2, 2011 2:12PM

Four more years! No campaign was needed for TV broadcaster Ken Harrelson to get a contract extension Wednesday.

“The White Sox are thrilled to have ‘Hawk’ back in the booth for the next four seasons,” senior vice president of marketing and sales Brooks Boyer said. ‘‘ ‘Hawk’ is deservingly recognized as one of the game’s great broadcasters, and his overall passion for the White Sox has made him a very popular legend among our devoted fans.”

Harrelson, 70, will work his 27th season in the booth, including the last 22 in a row. He has been paired with Steve Stone the last three seasons.

“As millions of White Sox fans already know, his love and passion for this team is second to none,” said Jim Corno, president of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

Harrelson is well-known for being a “homer,” but he told it like it was during the final broadcast of the season.

“This is the most underachieving team I have ever seen,’’ he said.

Oz remembered

As Ozzie Guillen was being introduced as manager of the Marlins, it was baseball as usual for his former players.

They held Guillen’s managerial skills in high regard, appreciated his honesty with them and said they were not adversely affected when he made his contract an issue in late August.

“If you can’t block that stuff out,’’ captain Paul Konerko said, “you’re not a playoff team anyway.’’

”For all of his quirks, he was always entertaining,’’ pitcher Philip Humber said. “That was the fun part about him.’’

Farewell

Juan Pierre, who likely played his last game with the Sox, made the last out of the season when he lined out to right field in the ninth inning.

Pierre, 34, said he has some years left in his career and is willing to play just about anywhere. Pierre batted .279 with 50 RBI.

“I can still play,’’ he said. “I ain’t picky.’’

Pierre said the highlight of his season was getting his 2,000th career hit.

Dunn, and done

Adam Dunn, fighting a bad cold, did not play. He finished with a .159 batting average, 11 home runs, 42 RBI and a franchise-record 177 strikeouts.

Dunn and Alex Rios, expected to be pillars in the middle of the lineup, combined for 86 RBI.

“Next year will be much better,’’ Dunn said. “We’ll have better things to talk about.’’

For what it’s worth

Gordon Beckham hit his 10th home run. A nice springboard into the offseason?

“No,’’ said Beckham, who finished with a disappointing .230 average and 44 RBI.

His defense was Gold Glove-caliber, but that did not make up, in his mind, for the lack of offense.

“I have to be better mentally and physically and more disciplined physically,’’ he said.

“That’s all stuff I have to work on. I will, and I’ll try to get it right for next season.’’

Notes

Humber had a career-high 10 strikeouts against Toronto.

◆ The Sox reached the 2 million mark in attendance for the sixth straight season.

Wednesday’s paid attendance put them barely over at 2,001,262.

Show / Hide Comments