Emergency During Anthem Performance

The White Sox’ national anthem singer, Gerald Chaney, collapsed on the field while performing on Wednesday night and was subsequently taken to the hospital.

During the game against the Rays, Chaney was singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of Jackie Robinson Day celebrations when he paused twice before falling to the ground. His second pause was alarming, and he eventually collapsed, prompting a rapid response from medical personnel, as reported.

Paramedics reached him quickly, tending to him for several minutes before he was carried off the field on a stretcher. The team later stated that he was treated at the stadium and remained conscious until his transport to the hospital for further evaluation.

In a message to fans, the White Sox expressed their support for Chaney and his family, wishing him a swift and complete recovery.

This incident caused a 12-minute delay in the game.

Interestingly, Chaney has been a seasoned national anthem singer since the early 1990s, having performed for various teams, including the NBA’s Pacers and the Bulls. The Chicago Tribune mentioned that he later sang at Bears, Cubs, Mets, and Knicks games.

According to LinkedIn, Chaney is also an English and language arts teacher in Chicago Public Schools. He has shared his perspective on singing the national anthem, saying he aims to convey a story rather than just entertain the crowd. “It’s about reminding people of perseverance and triumph over tragedy,” Chaney noted, referencing the sentiments behind Francis Scott Key’s lyrics.