Former Chicago White Sox All-Star pitcher Bobby Jenks, who helped the club to a World Series title in 2005, died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, where he had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, the Sox announced Saturday.
He was 44 years old.
“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” 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.”
Jenks pitched six major-league seasons with the Sox (2005-10), going 14-18 with a 3.40 ERA, 173 saves and 334 strikeouts in 329 relief appearances. He ranks among franchise relief leaders in saves (second), appearances (sixth) and strikeouts (seventh). He received All-Star recognition in 2006 and 2007.
“Bobby Jenks is one of my all-time favorite players. I loved that man,” said his former manager and current Chicago Sports Network broadcaster Ozzie Guillén. “This is a very sad day for everyone involved with the White Sox. Everyone remembers the moment when I called for the big fella in the World Series, so the bobblehead of that moment will be a great way to keep that moment alive for White Sox fans.
“Everyone has a favorite story about Bobby, so the 2005 reunion will be a great opportunity to get together with all his teammates and coaches and relive some of our greatest memories of him.”
Jenks appeared in six games during the Sox 2005 postseason, earning saves in series-clinching wins in Game 3 of the ALDS at Boston and Game 4 of the World Series at Houston.
Overall, Jenks had a 3.53 ERA, 173 saves and 351 strikeouts in 348 career games during part of seven seasons with the White Sox and Red Sox (2011).
The Anaheim Angels originally selected the Mission Hills, Calif., native in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB draft. The White Sox claimed the right-hander off waivers in December 2004. He made his major-league debut on July 6, 2005, with a scoreless inning against Tampa Bay.
He had a 2.75 ERA and six saves in 32 regular-season appearances with the White Sox in 2005 and then collected 41 and 40 saves in the back-to-back All-Star seasons of 2006 and 2007. Jenks had 30 saves in 2008, 29 in 2009 and 27 in 2010.
Jenks ranked third among the American League relief leaders in saves (167), sixth in appearances (297) and save percentage (87.4), seventh in strikeouts (284) and innings pitched (302 1/3) from 2006-10. He retired 41 consecutive batters for a stretch during the 2007 season, which tied a then-major-league record.
Bobby Jenks, World Series hero for Chicago White Sox, settles in with Windy City ThunderBolts. ‘Baseball is my life.’
“Just a sad day for his family and friends, former teammates and all White Sox fans,” said former teammate Paul Konerko. “Everyone remembers him as a big guy and tough competitor who could throw 100 (mph), but he was really a big teddy bear off the field. Bobby was such a big part of our success and was on the mound at the end of the game for some of the biggest wins in White Sox history. He truly will be missed by all.”
Jenks returned to baseball last year as the manager of the independent league Windy City ThunderBolts in Crestwood.
Former Sox teammate A.J. Pierzynski said, “Terrible news about Bobby. He came to the major leagues with some of the biggest expectations and lived up to them.
“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. He will be missed by all of his family, friends, and teammates.”