Earlier this month, the White Sox welcomed fans for Mexican Heritage Night, presented by Modelo. With standing room only and an electric gameday atmosphere, the evening honored Chicago’s vibrant Mexican and Mexican American communities. Blending tradition, pride and America’s pastime, the White Sox leaned into this cornerstone of their fan base, creating a one-of-a-kind celebration on the South Side.
Here’s a look at the activities and giveaways fans enjoyed:
Tailgate Performances: Before first pitch, fans gathered outside the ballpark for a high-energy pregame celebration, with Los Pumas performing at Gate 4 and Los Desaparecidos, Vagos de HP, and Eskandalozza Banda Viento drawing big crowds at Gate 5. The tailgate-style performances brought music, dancing, and excitement to the ballpark plaza, setting the tone for a night of cultural pride.
Local Business Mercadito: Thanks to El Churro Shop from Little Village, fans enjoyed samples of aguas frescas, churros and chicharrónes at Gate 5.
Lotería Night: Fans took part in a special White Sox-themed lotería prior to first pitch in the ballpark Patio. The iconic Mexican game brought smiles to everyone.
Photo Opportunity: Fans created lasting memories at Section 116 with a Mexican themed photo backdrop thanks to ItsPoppinChi, a small local business here in Chicago.
Ballpark Performances: Inside Rate Field, Mariachi Monumental de Mexico and Ballet Folklorico de Chicago dazzled fans with their vibrant music and dance choreography.
In the third inning, NIU Mariachi and Ballet Folkloric took stage from the Kids Zone.
National Anthem and Ceremonial First Pitch: After the pregame festivities, the spotlight shifted to Mexican American music artist and Chicago native Angelina Victoria. With over 2 million TikTok followers and performance credits alongside Grupo Firme, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Gerardo Ortiz, and Carin León, Victoria delivered a stirring rendition of the national anthem before taking the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. She’s set to debut her first album later this year.
Jersey Giveaway: The first 15,000 fans, ages 21+, enjoyed a ‘Los White Sox’ themed jersey giveaway, presented by Modelo. The jersey featured a black-on-black design inspired by the Aztec Calendar, honoring Mexico’s rich cultural roots. Across the chest, ‘Los White Sox’ represents family and the unity between Mexican and Chicago communities, while the collar and sleeve pattern drew from the iconic Mexican sarape symbolizing warmth, community, and tradition.
T-Shirt Redemption: Fans who purchased a special ticket selected from one of two custom designs: ‘Lindo y Querido’ or ‘Hecho en México’.
Hero Of The Game: During the game, the White Sox honored U.S. Army Specialist Michael Perez Torres — a proud Mexican American and Chicago native — as the evening’s Hero of the Game. Specialist Torres joined the armed forces in 2020 as a Military Policeman and is currently deployed in South Korea and Poland, serving in counterintelligence. The crowd rose to its feet in applause, recognizing Torres for his courage, service, and commitment to protecting the United States.
To learn more about upcoming celebrations, including African American Heritage Night, Puerto Rican Heritage Night and Hispanic Heritage Night, presented by Modelo, visit whitesox.com/promos.
White Sox Hold Mexican Heritage Night, Honoring Chicago’s Vibrant Mexican Community was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.