Polish American Heritage Night - White Sox host the Yankees at Guarantee Rate Field

South Sider from Brighton Park, Paul Skrzypczynski, strikes a pose with author Mark Pienkos before the White Sox-Yankee game. Polish American Heritage Night at Guarantee Rate Field was held on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Paul is quite a guy - and a big White Sox fan! Mark proudly signed a copy of his book for him. STO LAT! (Polish Salutation: "May you live 100 years . . . and more!")

Celebrating Polish Pride outside Guarantee Rate Field - Home of the Chicago White Sox. (Tuesday, June 27, 2017) It's "Polish American Heritage Night" as the Pale Hose rally and defeat the New York Yankees. Here, Sox fans - and fellow Poles - meet up with Mark and Ann (second from left). Books were bought, too! Enjoy a fun read about a great team!

Ann and Mark Pienkos were at the Yankees vs. White Sox game on June 27 as Chicago celebrated Polish American Heritage Night at the ballpark. Since both Ann and Mark are 100% Polish, they wanted to share their pride in their heritage, as well as their pride in being Chisox fans, Their drive from their Wisconsin home to the South Side of Chicago to attend the game was a very profitable one, too!  
 
Outside the ballpark, on the concourse honoring the 2005 World Series championship White Sox team, Ann and Mark met up with several fans. Mark talked about his book and sold copies to loyal Sox fans – several of whom happened to be Polish Americans. Ann and Mark unfurled the flag of Poland and photos were taken on the occasion. One of the fellows they talked with was Paul Skrzypczynski. Mark asked him where he lived and Paul responded that although he now lives in Bolingbrook, IL, he originally was from Brighton Park on the South Side. What a coincidence! When Ann and her parents first came to America, they lived in Brighton Park. They were long-time parishioners at Five Holy Martyrs Catholic Church where Ann went to grammar school. Later in 1972, Ann and Mark were married there with Bishop Alfred Abramowicz officiating. Again, what a coincidence to meet Paul. What a neat guy!
 
Afterwards, Ann and Mark stopped at O’Malley’s Hot Dogs to have a dog, fries and a R.C. Cola! Delicious! They met up with the new owner, Al Pappalito. Mark and Al had their photo taken together and talked about a possible book signing event later this year at O’Malley’s. That would be a lot of fun - AND the food is great, too! What atmosphere! Just down the street from Guarantee Rate Field – Home of the White Sox! By the way, Al’s dad, Sal, is a real gem. Mark gave Sal a signed copy of his book “1917-2017: One Hundred Years of White Sox Baseball” and wished him STO LAT! (Polish Salutation: “May you live 100 years . . . and more!”)