Bobby Jenks, Former White Sox Star and Two-Time All-Star, Dies at 44
Bobby Jenks, a dominant closer and two-time All-Star who helped lead the Chicago White Sox to a historic World Series title in 2005, has died at the age of 44, the team announced Friday. He passed away in Sintra, Portugal.
Jenks had been diagnosed earlier this year with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. He relocated to Portugal in 2023 and was later diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, which led to blood clots in his lungs and ultimately to the cancer diagnosis.
“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning in Houston during Game 4 of the 2005 World Series, all that Bobby contributed to that championship run, and the impact he had on our organization. He will be deeply missed as a husband, father, friend, and teammate.”
Jenks spent six seasons with the White Sox from 2005 to 2010, later appearing in 19 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2011. Over his MLB career, he compiled a 16–20 record with a 3.53 ERA and recorded 173 saves. He played a pivotal role in the 2005 postseason, appearing in six games and recording two crucial saves — including the series-clincher in Game 4 of the World Series against the Houston Astros. That postseason, Chicago went 11–1, ending an 88-year championship drought.
In 2006 and 2007, Jenks notched 41 and 40 saves, respectively, and famously retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, tying an MLB record for a reliever. His commanding presence on the mound was a hallmark of the team’s success, with then-manager Ozzie Guillén famously summoning him from the bullpen with an arms-wide gesture to call in the 6-foot-4, 275-pound pitcher.
“Everyone remembers the moment I called for the big fella in the World Series,” Guillen said in a statement. “The 2005 reunion will now be a time not just to celebrate a championship, but to honor Bobby’s memory and all he meant to us.”
In his final interview with SoxTV last year, Jenks reflected on his career: “You play for the love of the game, the joy of it. I was playing to be a world champion, and that’s what I wanted from the time I picked up a baseball.”
Originally from Mission Hills, California, Jenks was drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the then-Anaheim Angels. His power pitching and competitive spirit quickly earned him a reputation as one of the game’s elite closers during his prime.
A moment of silence was held in Jenks’ honor before Saturday night’s game between the White Sox and the Colorado Rockies, a game Chicago went on to win 10–3.
Jenks is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, and their two children, Zeno and Kate, as well as four children from a previous marriage: Cuma, Nolan, Rylan, and Jackson.
