Mark Buehrle Honored With Statue During Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Reunion

The five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner doesn’t miss baseball, either. He knew he was done, and he’s been content ever since. Most of his viewership nowadays is with fantasy baseball in mind. That doesn’t mean Buehrle took Friday’s ceremony lightly.

“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,” Buehrle said. “I can't think of the right words to say to show my gratitude and thankfulness for this honor. It's amazing."

Thousands of White Sox fans chanted his name during the ceremony, while he was surrounded by his family and teammates. But when asked why he resonates so well with the fan base, he said it’s not something he thinks about.

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

The statue stands on the right field concourse at Rate Field and models Buehrle throwing a pitch that led to the final out in Game 3 of the World Series. The left-hander also made three starts during the 2005 playoff run, including a complete game in the ALCS, and the White Sox every game in which he pitched.

Though the statue features Buehrle alone, he made sure it was from a moment that represented the team’s historic achievement. 

“I think that signifies or kind of shows, the World Series, that’s one thing that, yes, all the individual stuff is awesome," Buehrle said. "But the whole goal is to bring a World Series to the team you’re playing [for], the city you’re at, and that’s what we accomplished.”