The Chicago White Sox on Friday unveiled a bronze statue of former ace Mark Buehrle at Guaranteed Rate Field, kicking off a three-day celebration of the 20th anniversary of the club’s 2005 World Series championship. The sculpture, installed behind the right-field bleachers, joins those of eight other franchise greats and was revealed in a pre-game ceremony attended by Buehrle’s family, manager Ozzie Guillén and several members of the title-winning roster. Saturday’s program will bring back most of the 2005 team for an on-field reunion, while Sunday features a bobblehead giveaway honoring the rotation that delivered four consecutive complete-game wins in the 2005 American League Championship Series. The weekend will also include a tribute to former closer Bobby Jenks, who died on July 4 at age 44. Drafted in the 38th round in 1998, Buehrle spent 12 seasons on the South Side, throwing more than 200 innings in 14 straight campaigns, firing two no-hitters—including a 2009 perfect game—and earning four All-Star selections. The White Sox retired his No. 56 in 2017. “Thank you is not enough,” the 46-year-old said during the ceremony, adding that he was humbled to become part of the ballpark’s sculpture garden.
Mark Buehrle and his 2005 teammates pose with his newly unveiled statue @suntimes_sports https://t.co/WZCSyd8DQz
Mark Buehrle gets his statue. 👏 (Via: @WhiteSox) https://t.co/OSOUEiW6D3
Mark Buehrle’s family unveils his new statue at Rate Field @suntimes_sports https://t.co/l7dqm7TmWN