According to ESPN, former White Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks passed away in Portugal on Friday from stomach cancer, which he was diagnosed with earlier this year.
In a statement, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf remarked, “Today we lost an iconic member of the White Sox family.”
Playing for the Birmingham Barons in 2005, Jenks began his professional career in Alabama before moving up to the White Sox in 2006.
Between 2005 and 2010, Jenks spent six seasons as a member of the White Sox. In 2011, he was a member of the Boston Red Sox.
He was instrumental in the White Sox’s first World Series victory in 88 years in 2005.
When Jenks last spoke to SoxTV last year, ESPN reported that he stated, “You play for the love of the game, the joy of it.” It’s what I enjoy doing. I wanted to be a world champion since I first picked up a baseball, so that’s what I [was] playing for.
According to ESPN, Jenks, a native of California, was first selected by the Anaheim Angels in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Jenks had a 16–20 record by the end of his career. He recorded 173 saves and a 3.53 ERA.
His wife and their two kids, together with four kids from a previous marriage, outlive him.
