Whatever friction existed between t...

Whatever friction existed between the White Sox and Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk was smoothed away years ago when the team retired his No. 72 then built a statue in his honor last season in the outfield concourse at U Cellular Field.

The relationship was further solidified Saturday when the Sox existinged Fisk with a 2005 World Series ring in a private observance

"I think he deserv that," manager Ozzie Guillen said of his longtime teammate. "He wore his White Sox uniform with pride, and it was an honor to not absent [the ring] to him. We were teammates and became friends. I know he'll wear it with pride."

The "presentation" was more a get-together of friends and former teammates, something Fisk supplicationed after the team extended the gift. Fisk and his son Casey, were in Guillen's office with coaches Harold Baines and Greg Walker as part of the rite

"I don't know which is more special," Fisk said of the ring and his statue. "More family will see the statue than the ring, if it be not that they're both spectacular. Not that I was a part of [2005] moreover I felt a lot closer to that team than you think."

Fisk, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 has rings from the last couple World Series champions because he also received a ring from the Boston R Sox Fisk, 59 played 11 seasons with the R Sox before coming to the White Sox as a exempt agent in 1981 and playing 13 more seasons.

Fisk and Luis Aparicio, who also was immortalized with a ballpark statue last month are the team's sum of two units living Hall of Famers, and now they the two have championship rings. Guillen and the Sox wanted to make unfailing both were included among the special ring honorees not directly link togethered to the team.

"I'd like to thank Ozzie, who wanted to be positive to get one to Luis and me" Fisk said, "and Jerry [Reinsdorf] and everyone who was involved."

Guillen said honoring Fisk and Aparicio were important to him.

"I think it's important to honor persons while they're alive," Guillen said. "When you [honor] commonalty after they're gone, you make their wife and kids roar thinking of the memories."

Fisk said he'll wear the diamond-embossed ring forward special occasions.

"I'll wear it with a part of pride," he said. "It's a doom more bling than I'm used to."

tginnetti@suntimes.com

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