27th Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray at Navy Pier. (Photo by Matt Mansueto)
The spirit of Harry Caray once again brought together sports legends, die-hard fans and believers in baseball lore for the 27th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray. Taking place at Harry Caray’s Tavern, Navy Pier on Tuesday, March 18, this year’s event proved to be unforgettable, as it featured a special White Sox curse-breaking ceremony to rid the team of the infamous “Curse of the Black Sox Ball.”
Sports legends, that included Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Mike Huff, Richard Dent and Ron Kittle, and fans Lee Golub and former Governor Pat Quinn and Lisa Dent were on hand to toast Harry Caray and try to break the White Sox "Black Sox Ball" curse from the 1919 World Series. (Photo by Matt Mansueto)
A star-studded lineup of sports greats, including Ron Kittle (who served as emcee), Richard Dent, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, and more, witnessed history in the making. Fans gathered at the legendary sports bar to celebrate the legacy of Harry Caray, whose electrifying voice and larger-than-life personality made him a beloved figure in Chicago baseball. The event culminated in a toast to the Hall of Fame broadcaster, but not before a desperate attempt to turn the White Sox’s fortunes around.
Grant DePorter, owner Harry Caray's Restaurant Group.
The ceremony focused on the notorious “Black Sox Ball” from the 1919 World Series, a relic at the center of one of baseball’s darkest scandals. The ball, buried in 1920 within a time capsule at the old Tribune Tower and unearthed in 2022 by Lee Golub (Managing Principal Golub & Co., co-developer of the Tribune Tower), had been linked to the White Sox’s dramatic decline. Since its relocation to the Chicago Sports Museum by Grant DePorter (Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group owner), the team had suffered one misfortune after another, including back-to-back losing seasons, a staggering 101 losses in 2023, and a record-setting 121 losses in 2024. Superstition or not, many believed the ball's movement cursed the team, leading to this year’s efforts to return it to its original resting place at the Tribune Tower.
The infamous "Black Sox Ball" from the 1919 World Series.
Adding to the event’s mystique, a bagpipe procession by the Shannon Rovers accompanied the ball’s departure from the venue. Security ceremoniously escorted the relic out of Harry Caray’s Tavern, marking a symbolic moment of closure for White Sox fans hoping to see the team rise again.
White Sox mascot Southpaw and lil' friend.
Following the curse-breaking spectacle, attendees raised their Budweisers for the traditional toast to Harry Caray, paying homage to the man whose legacy continues to unite Chicago baseball fans. WGN Radio broadcasted live from 2:00pm-6:00pm, with special segments from The Lisa Dent Show and appearances by Lisa Dent, Kevin Powell, Bob Sirott, John Landecker, and John Williams. Listeners also had multiple chances to win White Sox tickets while tuning into exclusive coverage of the event.
A packed house at Harry Caray's Tavern on Navy Pier for the 27th Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray.
For those unable to attend in person, the event was streamed live on WGN Radio 720 and online at wgnradio.com. With baseball legends, Chicago sports icons and a potential reversal of fortune for the White Sox on the line, the 27th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray turned out to be a day for the history books.
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