Bridgeport in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Comiskey Park Project Labor Agreement

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Comiskey Park Project Labor Agreement Marker

Inscription. This magnificent ball park was built all union under an historic project labor agreement and stands in tribute to the vision and unprecedented cooperation of those who crafted the agreement and to the many tradesmen and tradeswomen whose skill brought the agreement alive by transforming bricks and mortar into this outstanding public facility.

Erected by City of Chicago; State of Illinois; Chicago and Cook County Building Trades Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Labor Unions • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1991.

Location. 41° 49.836′ N, 87° 38.102′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bridgeport. It is on 35th Street near Shields Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is just to the right of Gate 4 at Guaranteed Rate Field, home of baseball's Chicago White Sox. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James R. Thompson (here, next to this marker); Carlton Fisk (a few steps from this marker); Mark Buehrle (a few steps from this marker); Jackie Robinson (a few steps from

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this marker); Billy Pierce (a few steps from this marker); Frank Thomas (a few steps from this marker); Nellie Fox (a few steps from this marker); Harold Baines (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. There are two related markers; the one on the left lists all of the political and union leaders who drafted the agreement below an explanation of the agreement; a second marker to its right lists all of the Chicago-area unions that were signatories to the project agreement. A bust of former Illinois governor Jim Thompson is to the right of these union agreement markers.

To the left of the Gate 4 entrance is a marker denoting new Comiskey Park's opening day on April 18, 1991, with a list of White Sox board members and officers at that time.

Regarding Comiskey Park Project Labor Agreement. The June 1988 agreement between the State of Illinois and the Chicago White Sox to build new Comiskey Park specified that the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority would only employ union labor in the construction of the park.

"Chicago Area Unions Signatory to Project Agreement" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 28, 2023

2. "Chicago Area Unions Signatory to Project Agreement"

This marker lists leaders from 33 different labor unions who signed on March 8, 1999, to build the new Comiskey Park. The park opened for its first game on April 18, 1991.

Comiskey Park: Opening Day April 18, 1991 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn

3. Comiskey Park: Opening Day April 18, 1991

A dedication plaque for what was then known as Comiskey Park, listing the White Sox's ownership and executive leadership team. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf remains the owner of the White Sox as of 2023; Eddie Einhorn, a minority owner, died in 2016.

Guaranteed Rate Field, Gate 4 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn

4. Guaranteed Rate Field, Gate 4

The labor agreement markers are at the center, to the right of the gate. To the far right is a bust of former Illinois governor Jim Thompson, whose arm-twisting led to the 1988 legislation that built the ballpark. The dedication plaque for new Comiskey Park's opening day in 1991 is to the left of the gate.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.