‘South Side Pride’ Mural Unveiled At Midway International Airport, Celebrating Historic White Sox Moments

'South Side Pride' Mural Unveiled At Midway International Airport, Celebrating Historic White Sox Moments

13,600-square-foot installation in Orange Line pedway honors more than a century of White Sox history and South Side spirit

CHICAGO - With the 2026 Major League Baseball season soon underway, a new mural honoring great achievements in Chicago White Sox baseball history debuted Thursday in the CTA pedway area of Midway International Airport.

"You will not find a city in America whose love for the game of baseball runs as deep as it is does here in Chicago," said Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Michael McMurray. "For more than 125 seasons, the White Sox have been an iconic symbol of the South Side's close-knit, never-back-down spirit. This mural perfectly captures the essence of the White Sox fan base, the South Side and the entire city, and we are thrilled to have this be among the works of art travelers see as they navigate through Midway."

Presented by the White Sox and the CDA, "South Side Pride" is a vinyl artwork that spans more than 13,600 square feet. Adorning the walls of the pedway area, the mural consists of memorable on-field moments in the team's history, which are complemented by iconic ballpark imagery and historic Chicago landmarks.

Created by artist Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff, the exhibit is also a tribute to the city's grit, creativity and deep baseball roots on the South Side, where the White Sox have played since 1900. Tasseff-Elenkoff is the owner of All Star Press, a Chicago gallery that has collaborated with the White Sox on projects since 2017.

"This project is particularly special because both the White Sox and Midway are based on the South Side, and have demonstrated a commitment to supporting their community," said Tasseff-Elenkoff, who goes by the nickname of 'Z.' "This mural culminates all of our past collaborations, and it has been a great pleasure to work with such a storied organization that has existed for over 125 years."

The unveiling also featured an appearance by White Sox mascot Southpaw, musical entertainment from one of the Sox's DJs and hot dogs provided to attendees courtesy of the White Sox Bar & Grill, which operates at Midway's Central Market.

"This mural is a celebration of Chicago's South Side team-legendary White Sox players and milestones, and most importantly, the fans who carry Sox pride wherever they go," said Gareth Breunlin, vice president of marketing and advertising for the White Sox. "We're proud to team up with Z from All Star Press, whose creativity reflects how deeply the White Sox are woven into Chicago's fabric and the diverse communities our fans call home. We're especially grateful to the City and the Department of Aviation for bringing this project to life at Midway Airport, a gateway that helps showcase the Sox as a top baseball entertainment destination."

Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, with both the White Sox and the Chicago Cubs playing their first games of the year. Chicago's official airport magazine, Air Chicago, is celebrating the upcoming season with its baseball-themed spring 2026 edition, which has two different covers featuring White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery and the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong. Read more at airchicagomagazine.com.