Nevest Coleman, a White Sox grounds crew member who was wrongly convicted of rape and murder in 1994, received a World Series watch by team owner Jerry Reinsdorf Wednesday afternoon.
In 2005, every groundskeeper was given the same commemorative timepiece. Coleman was rehired in March after he was freed from imprisonment after 23 years in November when DNA evidence exonerated him. The organization decided to give him the device he would’ve gotten if he was still working for the White Sox during the time they won the World Series.
The team issued a statement in March about having Coleman back as an employee.
“We’re grateful that after more than two decades, justice has been carried out for Nevest,” the White Sox said. “It has been a long time, but we’re thrilled that we have the opportunity to welcome him back to the White Sox family. We’re looking forward to having Nevest back on Opening Day at home in our ballpark.”
Now, he is working at Guaranteed Rate Field for one of his old crew mates, who is now his boss, and is grateful to have his job again on the South Side.
“They didn't have to hire me back,” Coleman said in March. “I appreciate the White Sox giving me the opportunity to come back to work.”
