By Steve Metsch
A tall, furry and green creature who loves baseball visited the Lyons Public Library the morning of July 18.
Southpaw, the mascot of the Chicago White Sox, received a hero’s welcome from about 45 children gathered on the patio south of the building.
It was a fun way to spend a summer morning, Lyons resident Karina Cardona said.
Cardona brought her three sons – Emiliano, 9, Leo, 6, and Sebastian, 1 – to visit with the White Sox’ mascot.
“We live a couple houses down and they’re having really nice events this summer. The kids are big White Sox fans,” she said.
“We knew he was going to come here and the kids were so excited,” she said of her sons.
Leo, evidently a boy of few words, said “good” when asked for his thoughts about hanging out with Southpaw.
His chatty older brother Emiliano — who enjoys playing third base and, like Leo, wore White Sox gear, — was happy he had his photo taken with Southpaw.
“He’s cool and the best,” said Emiliano who added that he’s attended a White Sox game this season.
“And they won,” his mom said.
During Southpaw’s visit, library employee Lizette Williams, 17, read a book called “The Adventures of Left and Righty” to the children.
It told of two friends as they journey across Chicago, eventually winding up at Guaranteed Rate Field for a White Sox game.
Southpaw – who does not speak – was happy to pantomime along to the words.
After that, Williams, other library workers and the children joined Southpaw as he led them dancing to “Cha-Cha Slide,” which was renamed “Southpaw Slide.”
The kids and their parents had a blast judging by their laughter and smiles.
Library Director Dan Hilker was pleased with another visit by Southpaw, who has been to the library in previous summers.
“They are good people to deal with,” he said of the White Sox employees.