Following Ozzie Guillen’s celebration, these three former Chicago White Sox players could be next in line to have their numbers retired.
Over the weekend, the Chicago White Sox won a pivotal series against the AL Central rival Cleveland Guardians, including a victory on Saturday night that was preceded by festivities honoring legendary manager Ozzie Guillen.
The former White Sox shortstop, three time MLB All Star, Gold Glove Award winner, Rookie of the Year, and 2005 World Series winning manager had his No. 13 retired by the organization, forever immortalizing him in White Sox history.
The ballpark giveaway included Ozzie Guillen jerseys for fans as part of a day that fully celebrated one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.
From that 2005 World Series championship team, the White Sox have now retired No. 13 for Ozzie Guillen, No. 14 for Paul Konerko, No. 35 for Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, and No. 56 for Mark Buehrle. Guillen became the 13th individual to have his number retired in White Sox history.
But now the question remains: Who's next?
Three players stand out above the rest to me as potential candidates to have their numbers retired by the Chicago White Sox.
Jose Abreu, No. 79
The case for first baseman Jose Abreu is a pretty simple one. He's one of only four players in Chicago White Sox history to win the AL MVP Award. Two of them, Nellie Fox and Frank Thomas, already have their numbers retired.
Abreu was also the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014 and a three time All Star with the White Sox. He hit 30 home runs in a season five different times and drove in at least 100 runs six different times, while leading the American League in RBIs in consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2020. In nine seasons with the franchise, Abreu totaled 1,445 hits, 303 doubles, and 243 home runs.
He's 10th in hits and third in home runs on the franchise's all time leaderboards, and he likely would have accumulated even more impressive numbers had he not started his MLB career at 27 years old in 2014.
Still, Abreu was the face of the White Sox organization for nearly a decade. And he's right in line with Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko among the greatest hitters the franchise has ever seen.
A.J. Pierzynski, No. 12
If the White Sox decide to go back to the well and retire the number of another franchise icon from the 2005 team, A.J. Pierzynski would be a solid option. He played eight seasons for the White Sox, totaling 1,087 hits, 198 doubles, and 118 home runs. He made the AL All Star team in 2006, was a key piece of the 2005 World Series championship run, and even blasted a career high 27 home runs from the catching position at 35 years old in 2012.
Pierzynski's numbers don't necessarily jump off the page as those of a player who ought to have his number retired, but he had an incredibly underrated career that included more than 2,000 hits, primarily from the catching position. Still, it’s hard to ignore what he means to White Sox fans and the ambassador he has become for the organization since his playing career ended.
You can't talk about the 2005 White Sox or that era of White Sox baseball without bringing up A.J. Pierzynski. So if the organization chooses to lean further into honoring that championship team, Pierzynski makes a lot of sense.
Chris Sale, No. 49
There's certainly an argument to be made for left handed pitcher Chris Sale as well. Sale was drafted by the White Sox, made his MLB debut with the White Sox, and earned five All Star selections with the organization. He finished in the top five in AL Cy Young Award voting every year from 2013 through 2016. He also led the American League with 274 strikeouts in 2015, setting the franchise's single season record.
During the seven years he spent in Chicago, Sale was undeniably the White Sox's best player. He accumulated more WAR in that brief period than a legend like Paul Konerko did during his entire White Sox career.
Sale might have won a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He might have won a Cy Young Award with the Atlanta Braves in 2024. But just because he found success with other organizations doesn't mean his tenure with the White Sox isn't worth immortalizing.
Carlton Fisk's No. 72 is retired by the White Sox, despite the fact that he was more decorated and just as successful with the Boston Red Sox earlier in his career. There is precedent here. And with Sale pitching his way toward Cooperstown over the last few seasons, his case to have No. 49 retired has only become stronger.
