Former Chicago White Sox All-Star pitcher Bobby Jenks, who helped the club to a World Series title in 2005, died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, where he had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, the Sox announced Saturday.
He was 44 years old.
“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate.
“He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”
Jenks pitched six major-league seasons with the Sox (2005-10), going 14-18 with a 3.40 ERA, 173 saves and 334 strikeouts in 329 relief appearances. He ranks among franchise relief leaders in saves (second), appearances (sixth) and strikeouts (seventh). He received All-Star recognition in 2006 and 2007.
Jenks appeared in six games during the Sox 2005 postseason, earning saves in series-clinching wins in Game 3 of the ALDS at Boston and Game 4 of the World Series at Houston.
Overall, Jenks had a 3.53 ERA, 173 saves and 351 strikeouts in 348 career games during part of seven seasons with the White Sox and Red Sox (2011).