CHICAGO — Bailey Smith, an Indiana native, Indiana University graduate and Lakeview resident, feels right at home on Chicago's South Side.
Smith is the first-year in-game emcee of White Sox games at U.S. Cellular Field, where her on-camera duties are shown on the stadium's giant video board. The 24-year-old, who moved to Chicago from Indiana in March after learning the Sox were going to hire her, said she loves being around fans of the Pale Hose.
"Living up on the North Side, you have tons of Cubs fans, but it's just different on the South Side," Smith said. "They love Chicago and love the White Sox very much, rather than it just being a thing to do. Sox fans are actually truly Sox fans. They know all the players, they know the history of the team, and I like that about them."
As the Sox emcee for all 81 home games, Smith performs in-game announcing and hosts contests with fans like "name that tune," where the winner who guesses the most correct songs earns a prize.
And although she's new to Chicago, Smith said she understands Sox supporters because she's a "sports junkie" and baseball is her favorite game. She's been to 15 Major League ballparks, and, as a child on summer vacations, her parents — Steve and Beth — would take her and her two sisters to as many stadiums as possible.
It doesn't hurt she also loves being in front of a camera.
"I always felt this job was meant to be, and clearly it was," Smith said. "Being able to do this is a privilege and an honor. The best thing is I get to be on camera and get people excited for baseball."
Smith started emcee work while she was a student at Indiana University, where she did in-game hosting for the school's baseball, football and women's basketball teams. After graduating in 2012, she found an emcee gig with the Indiana Pacers, and her experience from the NBA and Big Ten helped her get the White Sox job.
She applied for the Sox emcee position in late February, had a phone interview in early March, met in-person with team representatives on March 11 and was hired March 12.
"Her ability to engage and interact with fans is something that is important to building the best game day atmosphere possible," said Cris Quintana, the Sox director of game operations. "Her experience and ability to adapt to situations made her a great fit for our team, as we continue to look for ways to enhance our game day experience for our fans."
Working for the Sox is not full-time; Smith also as a server at Joe's on Weed Street in Lincoln Park. Smith, who will continue to emcee for the Pacers next season, eventually wants to turn the role into a career as a broadcaster or sideline reporter for a sports network like Comcast SportsNet or ESPN.
She said the key to professional success has been hard work. Smith began interning at IU's athletics department while she was a high school student at Bloomington (Ind.) South High School.
And Smith said living and working in Chicago has been "a dream come true."
"I've worked really hard, and I didn't think I'd have all of this by this young of age, but I wouldn't do anything to change it," she said.
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