{"id":66495,"date":"2025-07-06T08:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T08:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66495"},"modified":"2025-07-06T08:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T08:43:15","slug":"white-sox-react-with-sadness-share-memories-after-passing-of-ex-closer-bobby-jenks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66495","title":{"rendered":"White Sox React With Sadness, Share Memories After Passing of Ex-Closer Bobby Jenks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Condolences poured in from the Chicago White Sox family and beyond on Saturday as the team shared the news of the death of Bobby Jenks, their former All-Star closer and member of the 2005 World Series-winning team.<\/p>\n

He died on Friday in Portugal, where he had been living with his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, and their two children. He was 44, and his cause of death was a rare stomach cancer. He had four other children from his previous marriage.<\/p>\n

Jenks joined the White Sox at age 24, called up from Double-A Birmingham where he had 19 saves in 32 appearances. That debut came 20 years ago this week — July 6, 2005.<\/p>\n

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Bobby will forever hold a special place in all our hearts \ud83e\udd0d pic.twitter.com\/CLNi7g0Tzh<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 5, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Ozzie Guillen, the manager of that team, and AJ Pierzynski, the catcher, shared their memories of Jenks on the White Sox pregame show, “Sox Countdown Live,” on Saturday before the team played the Colorado Rockies.<\/p>\n

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\u2014 White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) July 6, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

“When I heard the news this morning, it was like wow,” Guillen said. “Everything went through my mind, from the first day I met him to the last out (of the World Series) to the last time I played golf with him last year.”<\/p>\n

And even though those close to Jenks knew there was no cure for his form of cancer, Guillen said the news was difficult to hear.<\/p>\n

“You know, it still hits you hard. Most of the players I\u2019m taking to now, they are like crushed.”<\/p>\n

Among them was Pierzynski.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s hard to fathom that we\u2019re not going to see him next week. It\u2019s devastating. Honestly, it\u2019s devasting news.” said Pierzynski, who was on the receiving end of many 100 mph pitches from the closer.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a sad day for the White Sox family amd more importantly for his family. … Everyone knew this was kind of happening. But when it hits you, it hits you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenks was known as a prankster in the clubhouse, and Guillen said the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder was a gentle giant. He didn’t possess the nasty snarl of a typical closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had an unbelievable heart. To me he was just a big baby boy,” Guillen said.<\/p>\n

Teammates and others rememberedJenks on social media.<\/p>\n

“Rip Big Bobby Jenks! So sad to hear this news, unreal,” Hall of Fame member Frank Thomas posted to X. “Your presence and confidence was unmatched in that 2005 Clubhouse. You were a young player that competed at the highest level. Unfazed by the Big moments. God Bless your family! “<\/p>\n

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Rip Big Bobby Jenks! So sad to hear this news, unreal. Your presence and confidence was unmatched in that 2005 Clubhouse. You were a young player that competed at the highest level. Unfazed by the Big moments. God Bless your family! \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe#GoneToSoon<\/p>\n

\u2014 Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) July 5, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

A White Sox fan, Chance the Rapper, shared his thoughts, too. He was born and raised in Chicago.<\/p>\n

“Heartbreaking hearing of the passing of Bobby Jenks,” he posted to X. “I watched him as a kid had his jersey and every thing. God bless him and his family this is so sad #legend.”<\/p>\n

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Heartbreaking hearing of the passing of Bobby Jenks. I watched him as a kid had his jersey and every thing. God bless him and his family this is so sad #legend<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 5, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Jenks pitched for the White Sox from 2005 to 2010 and played his final season in 2011 with the Red Sox. A two-time All-Star, he saved 173 games for Chicago, including four games in the 2005 postseason.<\/p>\n

The World Series anniversary celebration will consist of a weekend of activities July 11-13 at Rate Field when the White Sox face the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Condolences poured in from the Chicago White Sox family and beyond on Saturday as the team shared the news of the death of Bobby Jenks, their former All-Star cl<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":66496,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nWhite Sox React With Sadness, Share Memories After Passing of Ex-Closer Bobby Jenks - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66495\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"White Sox React With Sadness, Share Memories After Passing of Ex-Closer Bobby Jenks - 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