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Southpaw gets a big smile of approval from a young boy during his visit to the Lyons Public Library.
A fuzzy green dude celebrated his 20th birthday with about 100 kids at the Lyons Public Library on July 23.
Kids being kids, they enjoyed eating tiny cakes donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes and vanilla ice cream donated by Culver’s.
But they especially enjoyed hanging out with that fuzzy green dude.
He was the one dressed in a pinstriped White Sox uniform – with a big hat for his big noggin – none other than Southpaw, the White Sox mascot we first met 20 years ago at the ballpark.
Southpaw, who makes about 400 appearances each year, spent an hour with the kids, most of whom were from Lyons, and their parents.
About 40 children from the village’s summer camp, based up the street at Washington Middle School, walked a few blocks south to participate.
After the kids heard a White Sox-based story, Southpaw made his grand entrance.
He was soon high-fiving and hugging as many kids as possible. He led them on a dance that accompanied a video.
And he then took time to pose for photographs with each child that wanted one.
Each kid received a Southpaw headband or a small White Sox flag.
There’s reason the library hosted Southpaw. It’s a way to get parents and kids into the library to see what it offers, director Dan Hilker said.
“They love the mascots,” Hilker said. “They came out for him even though the team is not doing well.”
He wasn’t kidding about that.
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A young Sox fan traded caps with Southpaw at the Lyons Public Library.
The White Sox have the worst record in Major League Baseball.
They have a good chance to finish worse than the 1962 New York Mets who set a record for futility by finishing a dismal 40-120. Frustrated Mets Manager Casey Stengel famously asked: “Can’t anybody here play this game?”
Despite the Sox’ woes, Cecilia Quiroga, 40, of Lyons, brought son Baltazar, 12, and Leyla, 7, to see Southpaw.
“It was a blast,” Cecilia said.
Leyla said “it was fun.” She received a headband and a flag.
Baltazar said he “liked the free ice cream.’
Before Southpaw’s entrance to the library, the kids were shown a highlight movie of the 2005 World Series champion White Sox team.
Only 19 years ago, it feels a lot longer given the team’s performance this season.
But Cecilia is not giving up hope: “I’m a true fan, so, hopefully, it will get better.”
“The one game we went to, we actually won. They beat the Rays. It was (Leyla’s) first baseball game. They beat the Rays. She got a certificate for her first game. It’s very family oriented (at the ballpark),” Cecilia said.
If you want to see more photos of Southpaw, who is a member of the Mascot Hall of Fame, his Instagram account is – what else? – @fuzzygreendude.