White Sox Anthem Singer Collapses Mid-Song in 'Scary' On-Field Emergency
Gerald Chaney was singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing" when he fell to the ground
Gerald Chaney collapses at Rate Field Credit: AP Photo/Erin Hooley; AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast NEED TO KNOW Gerald Chaney collapsed while singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in Rate Field, Chicago, on Wednesday, April 14 Medics treated Chaney on the field before taking him to the hospital The White Sox later updated game fans that Chaney was “doing well” as he continued to undergo further evaluation The longtime national anthem singer for the Chicago White Sox has been taken to the hospital after collapsing mid-song. Gerald Chaney was singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing" on Wednesday, April 15, at Rate Field when he suddenly paused twice and fell to the ground, according to Major League Baseball (MLB). Medics at the game against the Tampa Bay Rays immediately assisted Chaney before he was taken away on a stretcher to the hospital for further treatment, per MLB and ESPN .
The White Sox later updated game fans that Chaney was “doing well” as he continued to undergo further evaluation. Gerald Chaney collapses at Rate Field Credit: AP Photo/Erin Hooley Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Chaney sang the song as part of the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, which falls on April 15 every year to commemorate the day the baseball legend made his major league debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Chaney was also due to sing the national anthem. “I kind of just saw what you guys all saw, kinda saw him go down," White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke told MLB about the incident, which happened as he was warming up in the bullpen. "They said he's doing well at the hospital now so hopefully he's going to make a full recovery from that.
” “I was just trying to make sure he was all good first and foremost and then from there just kind of building back up,” Burke added. Chaney has been an anthem singer since the early 1990s, according to the Chicago Tribune . Rate Field, Chicago Credit: Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty He performed for the NBA's Pacers before traveling to Chicago to sing at Bulls games and has also performed at matches for the Mets, Knicks, Bears and Cubs.