CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- As White Sox fans returned Thursday to Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since late 2019, old jerseys from the franchise's past were on display.
One featured the old red pinstripes and the late Dick Allen's No. 15 on the back. Another fan walked to his seat in right field donning Mark Buehrle's No. 56, while another had on Frank Thomas' No. 35. But these days, there are also plenty of present-day jerseys being worn -- Eloy Jimenez's No. 74, Tim Anderson's No. 7, Luis Robert's No. 88 and more.
After years of rebuilding by the White Sox and one season with cardboard cutouts filling ballpark seats, the South Side is buzzing about this team. That was clear during the White Sox's 6-0 win against the Royals in their home opener Thursday, one in which right-hander Lance Lynn dominated with a complete game shutout and designated hitter Yermin Mercedes mashed a 485-foot home run to the left-field concourse.
The White Sox are now proud of their present and future just as much as the past.
"It's nice to be part of an organization that has this history, these legacy players that fans hold onto from their youth throughout their lives," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "At the same time, it's good to see the young group that we brought along here evolving into those legacy-type players. I'm hoping that when my grandkids come to White Sox games, they'll hopefully see someone wearing an Eloy jersey or Abreu jersey or Tim Anderson jersey, Lucas Giolito.
"It all sort of goes into that notion that what we tried to put together is starting to come together at the big league level."
In 2020, the White Sox's famed exploding scoreboard didn't shoot fireworks over the Bridgeport neighborhood. Instead of natural jubilation, piped-in crowd noise cheered the final out of Giolito's no-hitter last August. There was no victory lap to celebrate the playoff berth that was clinched in September. The first year of contention for the White Sox was accompanied by emptiness without fans allowed into Guaranteed Rate Field.
Since the franchise was born in 1900, the White Sox have never enjoyed a period of sustained success. In fact, they've never reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. That's just one of their goals for 2021, and it's why fans finally have good reason to look forward.
The White Sox have been built with homegrown talents and bolstered by quality veteran additions, forming an American League contender for 2021 and beyond. The White Sox can boast a different hero each night. On Thursday, it was Lynn who led the way.
"When you look at a complete game shutout," Lynn said, "it's hard to say you've pitched better."
Since the White Sox began their rebuild in December 2016 and in each step since, Hahn has reminded of the ultimate goal. It's to win the World Series multiple times, which would represent the kind of sustained winning the organization has never seen before. Hahn used to preach patience. Now, he's pointing toward where the bar is set.
"We know we're not there yet," Hahn said, reiterating comments he has said many times before. "We haven't accomplished our goals yet. We haven't won anything yet."
But the White Sox have enough talent to do it and players with the potential to leave a legacy. The South Side is eagerly anticipating what's to come.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
