Mark Buehrle is already a legend among White Sox fans. His No. 56 proudly overlooks the stadium on 35th in Shields, a tribute to one of the franchise’s most beloved players. Soon, fans entering the ballpark will be greeted by another homage—a statue honoring Buehrle, set to be unveiled on July 11.
The announcement was made during the team’s SoxFest Live fan convention in an effort to build excitement for a fan base reeling from a historic 121-loss season. It’s a fitting tribute to a player who epitomized everything fans loved about the White Sox. Buehrle, always the fan favorite, added to his legacy at the event by buying a round of beers for the crowd at the Ramova Theatre— noting that team owner Jerry Reinsdorf helped cover the tab.
Bringing the World Series champion back is a smart move by the White Sox. Buehrle certainly deserves the honor and the best way to garner excitement from a disgruntled fan base is by bringing back fan favorites.
His exclusion from this year’s Hall of Fame class sparked plenty of debates about his career numbers, but there is no denying his mark on Chicago sports lore. Buehrle’s impact went beyond the box score. Whether it was sliding across a rain-soaked tarp, cracking jokes during a perfect game, or famously admitting to drinking “three beers max” before coming out of the bullpen in Game 3 of the World Series, Buehrle’s everyman charm made him easy to root for. Yet, when it came time to compete, he delivered.
Sliding across a rain-soaked tarp, chatting to teammates in the middle of a perfect game, admitting to drinking “three beers max” before coming out of the bullpen in Game 3 of the World Series, or surprising everyone by hitting a home run in Milwaukee, Buehrle was an easy guy to root for because he never took himself too seriously. But when it came time to win he was up for the task.
A four-time Gold Glove winner, five-time All-Star, and the epitome of durability, Buehrle logged 14 consecutive seasons with 200-plus innings pitched. He was a cornerstone of the 2005 White Sox team that ended the franchise’s 88-year championship drought, throwing a complete-game shutout against the Angels in the ALCS and earning a save in the 14th inning of the World Series.
Despite being a 38th-round draft pick, Buehrle’s style of pitching made him a must-watch every fifth day. He worked quickly—no nonsense, no wasted time. His games often finished in under three hours, a rarity in modern baseball. Without overwhelming velocity or a devastating strikeout pitch, Buehrle relied on precision, painting corners and mixing speeds to keep hitters guessing.
His style wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. Buehrle won 214 games, ranked 65th all-time in WAR for pitchers, and consistently demonstrated his athleticism, highlighted by his iconic between-the-legs glove flip on Opening Day 2011.
Regardless of the team’s record, White Sox fans are going to attend an event honoring Buehlre. While they are visiting the ballpark, perhaps some of the young talent in the pipeline can convince them to stick around a bit longer.
