A longtime national anthem singer for the White Sox was taken to the hospital on Wednesday night after collapsing on the field during a performance.
Gerald Chaney experienced a medical emergency ahead of the White Sox game against the Rays while he was singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He collapsed while performing as part of the Jackie Robinson Day celebration after pausing twice during the song. He then fell to the ground after stopping a second time, MLB.com reported.
EMTs quickly rushed to aid Chaney, and he was tended to for several minutes before being put onto a gurney and taken off the field.
“The White Sox longtime anthem performer, Gerald Chaney, experienced a medical emergency while singing during pregame tonight,” the team said in a statement. “He received treatment by EMTs at the ballpark and was alert prior to being transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
“The entire White Sox family is sending love to Gerald and his family for a full and speedy recovery.”
The incident delayed the game for 12 minutes.
Chaney has been an experienced anthem singer since the early 1990s, when he performed for the NBA’s Pacers before coming to Chicago to sing at Bulls games and finish college, according to a story by the Chicago Tribune published in 2011.
He has also performed at games for the Bears, Cubs, Mets and Knicks.
Chaney is an English and Language Arts teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system, according to his LinkedIn.
He was quoted as saying in the Tribune story that he hopes to tell a story through his singing of the national anthem.
“That’s all I am doing. I am not there to get the crowd all crazy. I’m reminding people of the perseverance and the triumph over tragedy,” Chaney said. “What does Francis Scott Key say? He looks out of the ship and the flag is still there.”
