Chicago White Sox Send Emotional Message After Former MLB All-Star Passes Away

Late Friday night, the Chicago White Sox organization released a brief but devastating statement: Bobby Jenks, their former All‑Star closer and key figure of the 2005 World Series championship team, passed away in Sintra, Portugal, after a hard‑fought battle with cancer.

Jenks broke into the majors just days before the midpoint of the 2005 season, debuting on July 6 with the White Sox.

That autumn, he emerged as a late‑season hero, saving two games and pitching two scoreless innings in the World Series to help secure Chicago’s first championship since 1917.

Over six seasons in Chicago, Jenks was a two-time MLB All-Star in 2006 and 2007, saving 81 games across those two seasons, and retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, tying an all-time reliever mark. 

He played one more season with the Boston Red Sox before retiring, finishing his career with 173 saves, a 16-20 record, 3.53 ERA and 334 strikeouts over 348 games. 

On Saturday, the White Sox shared a brief video of Jenky with the message, "Bobby will forever hold a special place in all our hearts ."