CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox are set to honor Mark Buehrle by unveiling a statue in his likeness as part of the celebration for the team’s 2005 World Series championship, which will take place at Rate Field on July 11.
Buehrle, who spent the initial 12 years of his 16-season Major League Baseball career with the White Sox, is renowned for his efficiency on the mound and precise control. During his time in Chicago, the left-handed pitcher compiled an impressive record of 161 wins and 119 losses, along with a 3.83 earned run average (ERA) over 390 appearances, including 365 starts.
The announcement regarding Buehrle’s statue was made during the team’s fan festival held on Friday. The franchise paid tribute to Buehrle by retiring his No. 56 in 2017, solidifying his legacy within the organization.
Buehrle expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating, “It’s an incredible honor. To put a statue up, of me, out there, forever. I guess the number could be unretired and get taken out and put it back into play. But the statue, unless someone tears it down or does something to it, it’s always going to be there.”
At 45 years old, Buehrle donned his old team uniform to assist the sculptor in capturing the finer details of the statue. He humorously remarked on the experience, “I ain’t going to lie. It actually felt pretty good — for the 10 minutes I did it. A couple hours later it did not feel good.”
Following his stint with the White Sox, Buehrle also pitched for the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays. He concluded his career with a record of 214 wins and 160 losses, maintaining a 3.81 ERA across 3,283 1/3 innings pitched, and earning four Gold Glove awards. Over his career, he struck out 1,870 batters and walked 734.
Buehrle appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for five consecutive years and received 45 votes, which equated to 11.4% of the total. “I’m literally just honored to be on the ballot this many years,” he reflected. “Just getting my name on the first, I was like, ‘Man if I can just stay on for another year.’ And now we are going into Year 6. I mean literally giving me goosebumps. It’s insane.”
During the 2005 season, Buehrle was pivotal in securing Chicago’s last World Series title, finishing with a 16-8 record and a career-best 3.12 ERA over 33 starts, aiding the White Sox in their 2005 AL Central victory. In the postseason, he boasted a 2-0 record and a 3.47 ERA across four games, which included three starts.
In a memorable moment during the World Series, Buehrle recorded a save by retiring Adam Everett on a popup to clinch a 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the series.
“Every time you go out there you’re trying to win a World Series. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t,” Buehrle shared. “I have the feeling the way these fans are and the way they talk to you about that year, they start tearing up and shaking when they’re talking to you about it, yeah you can definitely feel how it affects everybody.”
