World Series Championships don’t come around very often, especially in Chicago. That’s true whether you’re a North or Southsider… the only variable being the current level of misery. The Cubs were widely embraced for ending their Billy Goat Curse in 2016. Ownership celebrated by dispatching key stars, and rather invested in brand and renovations. The team is back in contention this year, so who cares about anything else. Less heralded but equally impressive 20 years ago, the White Sox broke their 88-year drought after the Black Sox Scandal. Given that the new drought has parched the faithful for a couple of decades now, the 20th anniversary celebration this weekend at Rate Field will exceed Friday Night Fireworks and multiple exploding scoreboard homeruns – combined. There will be giveaways, a statue-reveal and team recognition for all. Most of the Sox 2005 squad that rolled to an 11-1 playoff record and World Series sweep will be there. Most… not all.
The final bottom of the 9th putout in Houston changed the lives of everyone remotely associated with the White Sox, and the man on the mound was closer Bobby Jenks. Into his arms jumped catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who says he wanted to avoid the big man jumping on him. Joy was instantly uncorked. Sox fans have replayed this moment on their DVRs and in their heads over and again. This weekend, the players will do likewise at the ballpark as World Series glory will be relived. The joy, however, will be bittersweet. Last week, cancer called on number 45 Bobby Jenks at the age of 44.
He was an unlikely hero, but bigger and better in his last inning role than anyone imagined. The team’s third closer that season, Jenks joined the Sox from the Minors right after July 4th. Pitchers fire-balling 100mph were scarce then, and rookies slinging triple digits in the closer role more so. Big and burly seemed cliche, but Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen forever framed Jenks in that picture with his wide and tall hand signals calling to the bullpen in the 8th inning of Game One. Send the big man down here he gestured. Jenks faced four batters, struck out three… 12 of 14 pitches sizzling strikes. The Sox won and the place was electric. We witnessed this theater from Box 152, Section 18 down the leftfield line… Jenks trotting before us to the mound like yesterday… rather than yester-year. Every Sox fan remembers.
Jenks recorded two World Series saves, let one get away, and pitched well in the other game. He would go on to secure more saves, a record or two and multiple contracts. And then life took a turn, and one after another for Bobby Jenks. Surgeries, doctor malpractice, painkiller addiction, family issues… and then cancer. For Jenks, the 2005 World Series may have seemed more than a long 20 years ago, but he was planning to attend with his teammates. They say he was in a better place in recent times… and many will pray that’s eternally true as well. Send the big man up… it’s his time.
