Mark Buehrle was on his lawn mower at home in Missouri, cutting grass this past summer, when he felt his phone beeping.
The incoming call was from White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and the news to be shared by Reinsdorf was a statue of Buehrle being commissioned in his honor and unveiled on July 11, 2025, before a game against the Guardians. Reinsdorf’s first words to the hurler, according to Buehrle, were, “Before you say no, hear me out.”
“Insane. Unbelievable,” said Buehrle. “Kind of at a loss for words. They retired my number and it’s an incredible honor. To put a statue up of me, out there, forever. I guess the number could be unretired and get taken out and put it back into play. But the statue, unless someone tears it down or does something to it, it’s always going to be there. I really don’t have words for it, but it’s an amazing feeling.”
Buehrle’s No. 56 jersey was already retired in 2017, with his son, Braden, singing the national anthem, and his daughter, Brooklyn, throwing out a first pitch.
Buehrle finished with 161 of his 214 career victories over his 12 years with the White Sox. He pitched 16 seasons for three teams, working at least 198 innings, winning double-digit games and making 30 starts in 15 straight seasons. Fourteen of those seasons featured Buehrle going over 200 innings.
Only Buehrle’s parents, his wife Jamie and his kids knew of the statue, with the left-hander being instructed to keep the surprise on the down low. He will be the 10th player honored and his the ninth statue, joining Nellie Fox/Luis Aparicio, Carlton Fisk, Billy Pierce, Frank Thomas, Baines, Minnie Minoso, Charles Comiskey and Paul Konerko — Buehrle’s friend and longtime teammate.
Buehrle’s statue dedication will be the pregame highlight of a ‘05 championship reunion weekend. And while Buehrle is not one for big speeches, even though he was always an honest and entertaining quote, he’ll be making one on that weekend.
“That was partially in the works when they asked me about it,” a smiling Buehrle said. “I threw that out there and said, ‘Is there a speech attached to it?’ They said, ‘We’ll work with you.’ I don’t know necessarily about a speech.
“I’ll say a few words. I don’t plan on it being very long.”
