Pierce joins concourse pals

Billy Pierce was pleased to see the White Sox completed the statue of him that now stands on the left-field concourse of U.S. Cellular Field.

"The last time I saw it, I was the Headless Horseman,'' said Pierce, who attended the unveiling of the statue before Monday's game between the White Sox and Detroit Tigers.

"They had taken the head off because they had worked on it a couple of times and it wasn't what anybody wanted. So when I saw it this time complete, it was very nice."

The statue of Pierce joins those of Carlton Fisk, Minnie Minoso, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparacio and Charles Comiskey on the outfield concourse.

"I get to join Minnie and Nellie and Louie, friends of mine,'' Pierce said. "This will mean a lot in the future. You can come to the ballpark and the kids and grandkids can see it."

As to whether the statue actually resembles the young Pierce, that is up to others to decide. "I was kind of flustered and excited out there, so I couldn't really take a look at it,'' he said.

Pierce had 186 victories with the White Sox from 1949-61, the most by a left-hander in franchise history.