The White Sox will have a special guest in the building on Opening Day next Thursday. Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose will be in attendance and throw out the ceremonial first pitch, per the team's announcement.
Rose's Illustrious NBA Career
Born and raised in Chicago, Rose's illustrious Bulls career included being the #1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, a Rookie of The Year award (2009), an All-NBA First Team selection (2011), three All-Star appearances (2010-2012), and an MVP award (2011). He became the youngest player in NBA history to win the MVP and provided Bulls fans a joy they had not experienced since the Michael Jordan era. Rose officially retired from basketball last September, and while he did not achieve his ultimate goal of bringing an NBA title back to Chicago, the Bulls honored him in a game earlier this season. His number #1 jersey will reportedly be officially retired at some point during the 2025-2026 season. Both the White Sox and Rose's Instagram accounts posted cryptic images yesterday alluding to Rose's involvement in the Opening Day festivities, which we now know is the case.
— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) March 20, 2025
Chicago’s Own @drose coming to Opening Day 3/27 🌹 pic.twitter.com/HaEqjmbfA6
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 20, 2025
Rose's Community Involvement
Mayor Brandon Johnson declared January 4th, 2025, "Derrick Rose Day" in the city of Chicago. That same day, Rose stopped by an urban farm in his native Englewood and helped establish "The Rose Garden," a pollination site designed to attract pollinators to help grow fruits and vegetables for the local community. Rose also hosted a pop-up flower shop in the West Loop, giving fans the opportunity to meet him. Rose had made it very clear that giving back to his hometown is important to him, and his actions have proved that. He donated to local charities through his NBA career and is dedicated to positively impacting the community.
Honoring A Chicago Legend
The White Sox are not the first team to honor Rose in recent months. He also attended a Bears game last season, receiving an ovation from the Chicago faithful.
While the 2025 White Sox season will likely not be successful from a wins/losses standpoint, having a hometown legend like Derrick Rose throw out the first pitch on Opening Day is a bonus to the festivities at the start of a new season.
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