Bobby Jenks Was the Final Piece of the Puzzle for the 2005 Chicago White Sox

Former MLB closer Bobby Jenks passed away of stomach cancer yesterday in Portugal at the age of 44. 

Jenks will always be fondly remembered on the South Side of Chicago for being the final piece of the puzzle for the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox. It is worth remembering that Dustin Hermanson had been the team's closer for the most of that season when a back injury put him on the shelf. Jenks, a 24-year-old rookie, stepped into the breach earning six saves in the final month of the season. Jenks would earn two saves in the ALDS sweep of the Boston Red Sox and two saves in the World Series sweep of the Houston Astros (then a National League team). It was the first World Series title for the Chisox since 1917. 

In 2006 and 2007, Jenks saved 41 and 40 games, respectively, earning back-to-back AL All-Star Team selections. During the 2007 season, Jenks retired 41 consecutive batters tying a MLB record held by San Francisco Giants pitcher Jim Barr during the 1972 season. His White Sox teammate Mark Buehrle would break the record in 2009 by retiring 45 consecutive batters. 

Jenks remained in the closer role with the Chisox through the 2010 season. He would sign as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2011 season but injuries rendered him ineffective. A botched surgery on his back following the 2011 season prematurely ended his MLB career at the age of 30 and would subsequently result in litigation against the doctor who performed the surgery and Massachusetts General Hospital which was settled out of court in 2019. Over 7 MLB seasons, Jenks recorded 173 career saves (all with the White Sox). 

Life after baseball proved difficult for Jenks who developed an addiction to alcohol and pain medication following the botched surgery. Then came this year. First, he lost his home during the Pacific Palisades fires in California and then his terminal cancer diagnosis.

It is heartbreaking that Jenks suffered so greatly for such a long period of time. One can only hope he is at peace. For all of his pain, no one can take away the role he played in the Chicago White Sox World Series triumph 20 years ago. R.I.P.