South Bend Silver Hawks owner Andrew Berlin

Andrew Berlin is the chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging LLC, a company that makes bottles, cans, tubes, drums and just about anything else you can think of that holds anything else you can think of, from Downy to Turtle Wax. For years now, Berlin has been a limited partner in the White Sox. He wears a World Series ring. But he longs to be more than limited. He’d like to be the man in charge, and if he can’t acquire the White Sox he’d consider trying for another team.

But for now, no clubs are on the market. So, last year, when Berlin was approached about investing in the South Bend Silver Hawks, he asked the owners if they’d consider selling the whole team. They jumped at the offer.

Now the 52-year-old owns a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks—and he’s finding that it’s a very different operation from the big leagues.

To see how his first season is going, I drive on a hot July night to meet Berlin at Coveleski Stadium in downtown South Bend, Indiana. As fans walk through the gates, Silver Hawks players are there to greet them, handing out free programs. South Bend has had the franchise since 1988, and big leaguers such as Brandon Webb, Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds have played for the team.

For more of this story and other Chicago sports essays, visit chicagosidesports.com.