Rick Larsen, left, his wife, Carol Villa, and son Max with cardboard cutouts of Larsen and his best friend Mike Koncel on Oct. 7, 2021, in Western Springs. The cutouts were placed in the stands at Guaranteed Rate Field during fanless games. Larsen is a lifelong White Sox fan who has been going to Sox opening day games for 50 years. He wrote a remembrance of best friend Koncel, who went to every game with him before dying of cancer at age 40. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
From opening day into the playoffs, White Sox fan cheers on his favorite team and savors memories of his late ballpark buddy
