RIP Bobby Jenks - Gone Too Soon at 44
This one hits different. Bobby Jenks passed away yesterday at just 44 years old after battling adenocarcinoma, and I’m still processing it. For those of us who lived through that magical 2005 White Sox season, Bobby wasn’t just a closer - he was the guy who made us believe that anything was possible when he walked to that mound.
I keep thinking about Ozzie Guillen’s signature move, throwing his arms wide open to call for the big fella from the bullpen, and how Bobby would lumber out there at 6’4" and 275 pounds looking like he belonged in a heavyweight boxing ring rather than a baseball diamond. But then he’d rear back and throw that fastball past major league hitters like they were still in Little League, and you’d remember why he was one of the most dominant closers in baseball during his prime.
The 2005 World Series feels like a lifetime ago now, but Bobby’s performance in that postseason was absolutely legendary. He got the save in Game 3 of the ALDS against Boston when we were all still wondering if this team could actually break the curse, and then he closed out Game 4 of the World Series against Houston when we finally knew we were champions. That ninth inning in Houston will forever be etched in White Sox history, and Bobby was right there in the center of it all, pumping strikes past Astros hitters while an entire city held its breath.
What makes this even more heartbreaking is that Bobby was supposed to be at the 20th anniversary reunion for that championship team, just weeks away from celebrating with all his old teammates and reliving those incredible memories. Instead, his former teammates will be gathering to honor his memory and share stories about a guy who Paul Konerko said was “embarrassing good hitters right away” with that devastating stuff.
Beyond the statistics and the saves and the All-Star appearances, Bobby represented something special about that 2005 team - they were a bunch of guys who played with heart and passion and refused to let anyone tell them they couldn’t win it all. In his last interview, Bobby talked about playing for the love of the game and wanting to be a world champion from the time he picked up a baseball, and that’s exactly what he accomplished in the most memorable way possible.
Cancer took Bobby far too young, leaving behind his wife Eleni and six children who won’t get nearly enough time with their father. The White Sox organization, his teammates, and fans across baseball are all mourning someone who gave us some of the greatest moments in franchise history and embodied what it means to be a champion.
Rest in peace, Bobby. Thank you for that incredible 2005 run and for showing us what it looks like when someone achieves their childhood dream on the biggest stage possible. You’ll forever hold a special place in White Sox history and in the hearts of everyone who watched you dominate in those crucial moments when it mattered most.
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