White Sox unveil Buehrle statue to kick off '05 reunion celebrations

CHICAGO -- There are countless things Mark Buehrle would rather do than speak in front of a large crowd.

He didn’t list off those preferences Friday, after his statue was unveiled on the right-field concourse at Rate Field. But judging by how he felt before this event, the list would include pretty much anything else for one of the best pitchers in White Sox history.

“I was as nervous as can be all day today,” Buehrle told the media after the unveiling. “Got three hours of sleep last night, all day today I was sick to my stomach.

“This stuff, all these cameras and mics and people, this is not my comfortable zone. I was definitely not comfortable out there.”

And yet, Buehrle’s speech was poignant and humorous, and he showed the same sort of style during that eight-minute media session. Buehrle might not like the discourse, but he’s very good at it -- much like most things he did on the field throughout his 16-year-career and 12 with the White Sox.

Friday’s unveiling of the Buehrle statue, sculpted by Lou Cella, marked the beginning of the 20-year-reunion weekend for the 2005 World Series champions. Buehrle quipped many of his friends and former teammates wouldn’t have made the trip to Chicago solely for his statue.

“They’re only here because of tomorrow,” said a smiling Buehrle. “It’s awesome to see them, joking around. I remember playing here not too long ago and looking up and seeing older teams that come in, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, these guys are old, fat and gray.’

“Now it’s, ‘Holy crap, that’s us. That’s me out there doing the same thing I was calling other guys out on.’ I haven’t talked to them very often. Catching up with them and seeing how everybody’s doing, it’s awesome.”

The statue depicts Buehrle in his throwing motion, based upon the final pitch of Game 3 in the eventual World Series sweep in Houston. Buehrle threw 100 pitches over seven innings during the Game 2 walk-off victory, and when told he wouldn’t be needed the ensuing night unless the game went 13 or 14 innings, Buehrle partook in a few adult beverages during the contest.

Well, Game 3 lasted 14 innings, and Buehrle was called upon to successfully get the final out. It’s another example of the connection between Buehrle and the gritty blue collar South Side fan base.

“Honestly, when people are saying, ‘You're worthy of this, you earned it,’ like, I didn't earn it,” Buehrle said. “You don't go out there and play to earn a number retirement, a statue. You go out there and just play to try to win the game.

“Maybe that's why because I just left it all out there. I had fun, sliding on the tarp. In between my starts, I had to have fun because it got boring out there sitting on the bench for four hours."

Buehrle was joined by his wife, Jamie, his son, Braden, his daughter, Brooklyn, and his parents, Pat and John. They all helped take the cloth covering off the statue, followed by Brooklyn throwing out a first pitch to her dad and Braden singing the national anthem.

The kids did the same in 2017 when Buehrle’s No. 56 jersey was retired. His teammates stood by as well.

“Here’s the thing about Buehrle,” said A.J. Pierzynski, the catcher on that ‘05 team. “He took the ball every fifth day. He pitched hurt, not hurt, every fifth day. He’s like, ‘I’m pitching.’

“Great guy in the clubhouse. Good interview. People look at him, and he looks like an everyday person, and that’s what White Sox fans look at, ‘That could be me,’ even though they weren’t left-handed or couldn’t throw 82 mph.”

Pierzynski added how the White Sox fan base is a hard-working group, so Buehrle’s everyman persona perfectly fit. During his post-unveiling speech, Buehrle first mentioned Bobby Jenks, who passed away on July 4 after battling Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. He thanked his family, thanked his teammates, thanked the sculptor and thanked White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for making these moments happen.

“I can’t thank you guys enough,” said Buehrle in closing to the fans. “Love you, Chicago.”

Simple, to the point, from the heart and got the job done. But Buehrle appears done with the public speeches.

“That’s what I told [Jerry],” said Buehrle with a laugh. “I had the retirement speech, now this speech. It's like, no more speeches. I got them all out of the way.

“I'm not disqualifying how much of an honor it is for me and my family, just to see that being out there forever. Like I said, I can't wrap my head around it. I can't think of the right words to say to show my gratitude and thankfulness for this honor. It's amazing."