'It's always going to be there': White Sox to honor Buehrle with statue in 2025
Scott Merkin
@scottmerkinCHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle was on his lawn mower at home in Missouri, cutting grass this past summer, when he felt his phone beeping.
The incoming call was from White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and the news to be shared by Reinsdorf was a statue of Buehrle being commissioned in his honor and unveiled on July 11, 2025, before a game against the Guardians. Reinsdorf¡¯s first words to the hurler, according to Buehrle, were, ¡°Before you say no, hear me out.¡±
¡°I look down and it¡¯s Jerry and I¡¯m like, ¡®[Crap], do I really not take this call right now?¡¯¡± an upbeat Buehrle said with a laugh after the statue announcement was made during a 2005 World Series championship panel within SoxFest Live on Friday night at the Ramova Theatre. ¡°I turned everything off, finished cutting grass and went in and called him a little later.
¡°Insane. Unbelievable. Kind of at a loss for words. They retired my number and 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. I really don¡¯t have words for it, but it¡¯s an amazing feeling.¡±
Buehrle¡¯s No. 56 jersey was already retired in 2017, with his son, Braden, singing the national anthem, and his daughter, Brooklyn, throwing out a first pitch. The people operating the scoreboard joked how the velocity on the pitch from Buehrle¡¯s daughter was greater than his velocity during an illustrious 16-year-career.
Yes, high velocity was not Buehrle¡¯s thing. But if you liked the art of pitching and someone who will faithfully work deep into every start, then Buehrle was your man. Buehrle finished with 161 of his 214 career victories over his 12 years with the White Sox. He pitched 16 seasons for three teams, working at least 198 innings, winning double-digit games and making 30 starts in 15 straight seasons. Fourteen of those seasons featured Buehrle going over 200 innings.
Jose Contreras, Freddy Garcia and Hall of Famer Harold Baines -- who was the ¡®05 bench coach -- joined Buehrle on stage for the World Series panel Friday. They spoke of Buehrle starting Game 2 of the World Series at home against Houston and then coming in to save Game 3 in the 14th inning against the Astros -- after he had enjoyed a few in-game adult beverages when told he wouldn¡¯t be needed.
Beers were brought out for the panel as that story was completed. Buehrle shared the wealth by buying a round for everyone in attendance.
¡°It was good to come back and see a couple of guys,¡± said Buehrle of the panel. ¡°It¡¯s probably been 10 or 12 years since I¡¯ve seen some of these guys. I don¡¯t keep in contact with a lot of guys.
¡°Maybe a text here or there around Christmas time. It¡¯s good to see them and some video stuff. It was a long time ago, I can tell you that.¡±
Only Buehrle¡¯s parents, his wife Jamie and his kids knew of the statue, with the left-hander being instructed to keep the surprise on the down low. He will be the 10th player honored and his the ninth statue, joining Nellie Fox/Luis Aparicio, Carlton Fisk, Billy Pierce, Frank Thomas, Baines, Minnie Minoso, Charles Comiskey and Paul Konerko -- Buehrle¡¯s friend and longtime teammate.
Buehrle's statue dedication will be the pregame highlight of a ¡®05 championship reunion weekend. And while Buehrle is not one for big speeches, even though he was always an honest and entertaining quote, he¡¯ll be making one on that weekend.
¡°That was partially in the works when they asked me about it,¡± a smiling Buehrle said. ¡°I threw that out there and said, ¡®Is there a speech attached to it?¡¯ They said, ¡®We¡¯ll work with you.¡¯ I don¡¯t know necessarily about a speech.
¡°I¡¯ll say a few words. I don¡¯t plan on it being very long.¡±