Latest news with #OzzieGuillen
Fox Sports
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best White Sox Lineup
The 1919 Black Sox scandal. An 88-year gap between World Series titles. The Chicago White Sox know some hard times, especially lately. Maybe superfan Pope Leo XIV will provide some divine inspiration. Still this is a storied team with proud moments and big legends (and a Big Hurt). But with a few exceptions, the Southsiders' very best is in its past. Manager: Ozzie Guillen Ozzie Guillen isn't first all-time in wins for the White Sox (he's third). He hasn't managed the most games in Chicago's history, either (he's also third there). What Guillen represents, however, is the White Sox manager with the most games and most wins who also won a World Series: given how rarely that's occurred in the 125-year history of the team, that's no small thing, just the most sensible one. As a bonus, as a player with the White Sox, Guillen played a fine shortstop: he ranks first in defensive wins above replacement, ahead of even the slick-fielding Luis Aparicio. Starting pitcher: Mark Buehrle It's easy to underrate Mark Buehrle, since he never won a Cy Young, or led the league in ERA or even a more traditional stat like wins. As far as consistency and durability goes, however, you can't do much better than Buehrle, who spent 12 of his 16 years in the majors with the White Sox. Across nearly 2,500 innings with Chicago, Buehrle produced a 3.83 ERA — for a 120 ERA+ — where he was at-worst league-average for around 200 innings a year, but far more often was one of the better — and most efficient — pitchers in the league. Reliever/closer: Bobby Jenks Bobby Jenks' career was a short one thanks to injuries, but he made his mark in the time he had. Claimed off waivers in the 2004-2005 offseason then called up from Double-A midseason, he was installed as Chicago's closer before the year was out thanks to Dustin Hermanson's back injury. Jenks ended up becoming the first rookie to close out a World Series, with his fourth save of the postseason. His 173 saves ranks second in White Sox history, behind only Bobby Thigpen — Thigpen was excellent and memorable, too, but sometimes it's fair to have to count the rings. Catcher: Carlton Fisk Carlton Fisk played for the Sox for his entire career, just not the same Sox. The first 11 years of his career came with the Red Sox during his peak, but his 13 years with the White Sox sealed his Hall of Fame candidacy. From age 33 through 42, Fisk hit .261/.334/.449, good for a 113 OPS+. Somehow, his bat didn't slow until well into his 40s: he received MVP votes as a 42-year-old, and his three best seasons at the plate in Chicago were that one and the two before it. His defense aged just as gracefully. 1B: Paul Konerko Paul Konerko might not have made Baseball's Hall of Fame, but the White Sox retired his number 14 with good reason. Konerko spent 16 of his 18 years in the majors with Chicago, giving him to rank second in games played (2,268) and RBIs (1,383), third in hits (2,292), runs scored (1,141) and doubles (406), second in home runs (432) and first in total bases (4,010). In 2005, Konerko hit .283/.375/.534 with 40 homers, was named ALCS MVP for two dingers and seven RBIs, and then slugged .500 in the Fall Classic. 2B: Nellie Fox Nellie Fox's career began and ended elsewhere, but Chicago is where most of it happened, in terms of both years and production. Fox made 12 All-Star teams, all with the White Sox, won three Gold Gloves with Chicago, and his sole MVP came in 1959, when he hit .306/.380/.389 — hey, it was a different time — while leading the majors in games and plate appearances. The most notable thing about Fox, though, is that he never struck out more than 18 times in a season: in 19 years, he whiffed 216 times, or just 2.1% of the time. 3B: Robin Ventura Robin Ventura might have struggled to remain productive well into his 30s, but those were his post-White Sox years. With Chicago, the third baseman was an underrated and highly productive third baseman. From his rookie 1990 campaign through his final year in town in '98, Ventura hit .275/.366/.442, good for a 118 OPS+, while winning five Gold Gloves for his defense at the hot corner: he averaged nearly 4.5 wins above replacement per year in that stretch, enough to finish ranked sixth in franchise history among position players despite the relatively limited time spent with Chicago. SS: Luis Aparicio Luis Aparicio had separate stints with the White Sox, with the difference between them their length: he was as productive the second time around in his mid-30s as he had been in his mid-20s. Aparicio led the AL in steals in nine consecutive seasons, and MLB as a whole in five of those, including four campaigns with between 51 and 57 thefts. While you'd never confuse him for Frank Thomas, he hit fine enough for a shortstop of the era, especially one who picked up nine Gold Gloves in his career. If Ozzie Guillen had hit, he'd be Luis Aparicio. OF: Minnie Minoso Minnie Minoso played with the White Sox from ages 27 to 33. And then 36 to 37. Then at 40. And again at 52, and once more at 56. While he only played for a meaningful amount of time in that first return, Minnoso's overall numbers with Chicago were special: .304/.397/.468 with 135 homers, 260 doubles, 79 triples and 658 walks, the last of those good for sixth in franchise history. Minoso ranks fifth all-time in wins above replacement among White Sox players, and was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in their cap in 2022. OF: Jermaine Dye Jermaine Dye arrived to the White Sox late, in a manner of speaking: he was already 31 when he got there, with the first nine years of his career behind him. He was actually right on time, though: Dye's first season in Chicago was 2005, and his hitting .274/.333/.512 with 31 homers and 62 extra-base hits went a long way towards winning their first World Series since 1917. In the end, Dye spent as much time in Chicago as he did anywhere else, racking up 164 homers over five years, with 2006 (1.006 OPS) the standout performance. OF: Magglio Ordonez Maggio Ordonez held things down in Chicago's lineup for eight years, all but one of them — his rookie 1998 — a display of his offensive prowess, as he hit .307/.364/.525 with 187 home runs during those seasons. He left the organization in 2005 as a free agent, right as spring training kicked off, two months after Chicago had signed Jermaine Dye as his replacement in right field. Ordonez would go on to be part of the Tigers' post-2003 resurgence, but it was Dye who won a World Series ring. What could have been, but what was still worked out. DH: Frank Thomas The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Frank Thomas used to play football, and he sure looked like it in an era before outfielders who looked like linebackers was a normal occurrence. The baseballs were certainly aware of his strength: Thomas smashed 521 home runs in his career across 19 seasons, 448 of them with Chicago, the team he spent his first 16 major-league years with. The homers stand out for the two-time AL MVP, but there was more to his game. Thomas' on-base percentage with Chicago was .427: that's first among White Sox all-time, and his .419 career mark sits 21st in MLB. Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Dykes (manager) Al Lopez (manager) Tony La Russa (manager) Billy Pierce (starting pitcher) Ted Lyons (starting pitcher) Red Faber (starting pitcher) Ed Walsh (starting pitcher) Jack McDowell (starting pitcher) Chris Sale (starting pitcher) Hoyt Willhelm (reliever/closer) Bobby Thigpen (reliever/closer) Roberto Hernandez (reliever/closer) Sherm Lollar (catcher) Jose Abreu (1B) Eddie Collins (2B) Willie Kamm (3B) Luke Appling (SS) George Davis (SS) Chet Lemon (OF) Shoeless Joe Jackson (OF) Fielder Jones (OF) Jim Landis (OF) Johnny Mostil (OF) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Axios
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Axios
2005 World Series reunion: White Sox lean into glory days
The Chicago White Sox are leaning into their nostalgia this weekend with a celebration of the 2005 World Series Championship team. Flashback: The scrappy squad was the first Chicago baseball team to win a championship since 1917. The team, under second-year manager Ozzie Guillen, didn't have a bona fide superstar, instead relying on pitching and defense to cruise through the playoffs with an astounding 11-1 record. For example: The Sox had four starting pitchers in the ALCS throw complete games. It was one of the most dominant playoff performances in baseball history. State of play: The 30th anniversary weekend events and promotions at The Rate will feature everything from commemorative Hawaiian shirt night to the unveiling of a Mark Buehrle statue at the ballpark. Several former players and coaches are expected to attend, including Tadahito Iguchi, Joe Crede and Jermaine Dye. The celebration will also be somber as All-Star closer Bobby Jenks died from stomach cancer last weekend. Jenks recorded the final out in the World Series. The Sox are honoring him with a patch on the current team's jersey and a graphic in the home on-deck circle of his iconic pose after the last strikeout. What they're saying: "The reunion takes on a different tone after the death of Bobby Jenks," 670 The Score host Laurence Holmes tells Axios. "But that team means so much to the South Side. The dominance they displayed is almost impossible to duplicate." Zoom out: The 30th anniversary of the World Series win comes as the organization is mired in a rebuild. Last year, the Sox set the modern record for losses in a season, and this year they are already 32 games under .500 and in the sole, dreary possession of last place in the American League. Between the lines: The Sox are taking a page from other sports teams by playing into nostalgia. The Cubs welcomed back Sammy Sosa to Wrigley Field in June, while the Bulls welcomed Derrick Rose back to the United Center in January.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bobby Jenks, closer for 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, dies at 44
Bobby Jenks, the closer for the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox whose fastball touched 100 mph in an era when such heat was uncommon, died July 4 of stomach cancer, the White Sox announced. Jenks was 44. Advertisement An erratic starting pitcher with dominant stuff as a top prospect for the Anaheim Angels, Jenks rose to prominence after the White Sox claimed him off waivers in December 2004. Just a few months later, he was a beloved part of the White Sox's surprise championship team. Manager Ozzie Guillen, rather than signaling with his left or right hand, pantomimed Jenks' rotund shape when he wanted to call the closer into the game. And few were better for a time: Jenks grabbed hold of the closer's job in Chicago late in 2005 and saved four of their 11 postseason victories that season, including Game 4 of the World Series when the White Sox clinched the title with a 1-0 victory at Houston's Minute Maid Park. "We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,' White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts." Advertisement Jenks etched his name into the major league record books two seasons later, when he tied Jim Barr's record of 41 consecutive batters retired, the first to hold that record as a relief pitcher. Jenks' run came over 14 perfect outings. He was an All-Star in 2006 and 2007, when he saved 41 and 40 games, respectively. He pitched six seasons for the White Sox before closing his career by appearing in 19 games for the 2011 Boston Red Sox. "Bobby Jenks is one of my all-time favorite players. I loved that man," Guillen said in a statement released by the White Sox. "This is a very sad day for everyone involved with the White Sox." Says former catcher and current Fox Sports analyst A.J. Pierzynski: "Bobby was a larger-than-life figure and fans related to him. He overcame a lot early in life to have a great playing career, and after his playing days he did a lot of positive things to help himself and others. I was fortunate enough to catch him in some of the biggest games in White Sox history, and I will never forget jumping into his arms after the last out of the World Series." Jenks died in Sintra, Portugal, the White Sox said, as his stomach cancer progressed to its latter stages. He is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, their two children, Zeno and Kate and four children from a previous marriage: Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson. Advertisement This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bobby Jenks, White Sox World Series-winning closer, dies at 44
Chicago Tribune
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: An NL Central feast — with Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals all in Chicago — is something to gnaw on
In a rare scheduling quirk in the middle of June, the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers were both in town for the first time this season, playing on opposite sides of town. The Cubs played host to the Brewers on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, while the White Sox took on the Cardinals at Rate Field. It was a National League Central smorgasbord, though the hors d'oeuvres were perhaps a little more enticing on the North Side, where a rat was spotted wandering the concourse a few hours before the game, looking for dining options. Whether the rat was part of the team's campaign to get the 2027 All-Star Game at Wrigley was unknown, but as Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney once joked to former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, 'the rats are part of the Wrigley Field ambience.' The NL Central, once derided as the Comedy Central, is more competitive than most experts figured going into the season. The Cubs were favored to win the division, but few expected them to be tied with the New York Mets for the second-best record in the majors (45-28) on June 18 after a 5-3 win over the Brewers, especially with Justin Steele out for the season and Shota Imanaga on the injured list the last six weeks. But that's where they are, and every win is building confidence. Seiya Suzuki's three-run home run gave the Cubs the lead for good Tuesday, and Pete Crow-Armstrong put on a show late with a sensational diving catch in the top of the eighth and a 452-foot solo homer off the right-field video board leading off the bottom of the inning. The ballpark erupted both times, and chants of 'M-V-P!' grew louder. 'I love being out there every day,' Crow-Armstrong said. 'I love diving and sliding and banging into stuff. That's what I live for.' So who can catch the Cubs? The Brewers did next to nothing in free agency last offseason, losing Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants and dealing closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees. But they've hung in for the most part, going 14-9 since May 25 with some underrated starting pitching. Rookie Jacob Misiorowski will make his second start Wednesday after becoming the ninth pitcher since 1900 to throw at least five hitless innings in his major-league debut in a 6-0 win over the Cardinals in Milwaukee. The Cardinals were supposed to be in a 'reset' this season but somehow finished May eight games over .500 and only two games behind the Cubs. They've since plummeted back to reset mode, going 5-10 in June after Tuesday's 12-2 win on the South Side. Whether they're sellers or buyers at the trade deadline is the big question in president of baseball operations John Mozeliak's final season. Whether the Brewers, Cardinals or Cincinnati Reds will be battling the Cubs for the division title in September might depend on the next couple of weeks. The Cubs have the NL's second-most potent offense in terms of runs scored and rank fourth in pitching. They also have the resources to add on at the trade deadline, which president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer already has suggested they'll do. Photos: Chicago Cubs take opener vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley FieldThe Cubs' $213 million payroll ranks only 13th in the majors, according to but it's still decidedly larger than those of the Cardinals ($159 million), Reds ($139 million) or Brewers ($135 million). They could pull away from the pack, but with so many intradivision games remaining, anything can happen. The Cubs and Cardinals end the regular season with a three-game series at Wrigley. 'It's always interesting seeing teams at different times of the year, and it's always the tale of 162 (games) to determine who is really a great team,' Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. 'That's part of the challenge of our sport but also why I think 162 is important. It's a great thing for our division to have great competition and a lot of young talent. It's funny because we haven't played the Cardinals yet, so haven't had the full feel of our division. But we have a lot of quality teams.' It does seem strange the Cubs and Cardinals haven't met this far into the season, but that will be rectified next week when they play a four-game series at Busch Stadium. While the two are longtime archrivals, the Cubs-Brewers rivalry might be the most interesting one now with Cubs manager Craig Counsell having switched uniforms before the 2024 season. Hoerner said the Counsell factor might have been a big deal last year, but now Counsell has been around long enough that no one thinks about it much. Counsell, as usual, downplayed the fact he's managing against his former team or that it's a big series. 'This is a team that's been on top of the division for most of the last five, six years,' Counsell said of the Brewers. 'Those are important games. But I had a teammate that came into the clubhouse every single day and said, 'Biggest game of the year,' every single day. That's how you treat it in general.' Counsell wouldn't reveal the name of the former teammate, perhaps protecting him from trolls who would argue every game is not the biggest game of the year. Counsell obviously is not prone to hype a series. There was a better chance the rat would hype this Cubs-Brewers showdown. Crow-Armstrong, who is running away with an outfield spot in NL All-Star voting, said the Cubs' mindset was 'just take three,' which would give them an 8½-game lead over the Brewers. 'It's a good club and they're playing good baseball right now,' he said. 'It'll be fun. First time having them at Wrigley and they always play us well, so a good opportunity to create some more distance.' They got off to a good start Tuesday, improving to 3-1 against the Brewers this year. The Cubs honored the late Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker with a moment of silence before the game, and fans of both teams gave him a standing ovation. Summerlike weather had arrived in time for the Cubs and Sox, and the NL Central smorgasbord was ready to be enjoyed. Just remember, don't feed the rats.
