The ideal job for a baseball fan
by Eugene YohannanAttending several Chicago White Sox home baseball games is something that the average baseball fan doesn’t have the time, or the money, to spend on. Adam Passaliga, 20, a junior communication major at DePaul University, is one of the lucky ones who attend 85 to 90 percent of the White Sox home games.
"It’s been one of my hobbies attending baseball games since my dad always took me to the ballpark when I was little," Passaliga said. "Now, I just get paid to go to a baseball game and life simply doesn’t get any better than that for me".
Passaliga, a native of Skokie, Ill., is entering his second season working for the White Sox organization as a hot dog and peanut vendor. Passaliga works after school and on the weekends, and his pay varies from day to day.
"I usually have to get to the ballpark sometime between 90 minutes to an hour [before the game] so that I can load up my tray with hot dogs and peanuts," Passaliga said. "My hourly rate is not all that great and my income usually depends on how many hot dogs and peanuts I sell during the game. My base salary is $5 per hour and I will get 50 cents for every hot dog I sell and 75 cents for every bag of peanuts I sell."
Passaliga says there are a few downsides to the job.
"As a vendor you walk around in your assigned sections and it is real easy, at least in my case, to get caught up in the moment since I love baseball and the Sox. It is also tough to work when the Sox are doing well and when the fans become involved in the ballgame because I want to be part of the excitement, but I have to control my emotions since I am on the clock," Passaliga said.
Even though Passaliga works for the White Sox organization, he does not have the luxury of meeting any of the players.
"It is disappointing but what can I do?" Passaliga said. "I guess you can’t get everything that you wish for, but they [the White Sox] offer their employees two lower level tickets to every Sox home ballgame.
"Overall it is fun working for the Sox except in April and May when the weather is cold and when I have to deal with rude fans. The fireworks are cool and it is so much fun when I can see a lot of the players up close and when the Sox are winning," Passaliga said.
As for this season, Passaliga looks forward when the cross-town rival Chicago Cubs visits the south side. Passaliga also hopes that his White Sox make it to the postseason for the second year in a row and have better success in the hunt to bring the World Series to Chicago.
"The best part of the season is when the Cubs come to Comiskey because the atmosphere is energetic and the Sox will show Chicago that the best baseball team is on the South side," Passaliga said.
"Hopefully, the Sox will make it to the playoffs again and make the World Series because I can take part in experiencing another playoff series that is a rare commodity in Chicago."
PHOTO:
Adam Passaliga away from the ballpark.
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