The former closing of the Chicago White Sox, Bobby Jenks, died at the age of 44 for stomach cancer.
Jenks, who won a World Series Championship with the White Sox in 2005, had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma earlier this year and died Friday in Portugal, announced the white socks in a press release.
“We have lost an iconic White Sox family member today,” said the president of the White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf. “None of us will forget that ninth entry of game 4 in Houston, everything Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire organization of the Sox socks during their time in Chicago. He and his family knew that cancer would be his most difficult battle, and they will miss him as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will always maintain a special place in all our hearts.”
Jenks spoke with Atlético about being diagnosed with stomach cancer in stage 4 earlier this year, which occurred only weeks after his house in southern California burned in the Palisades fire in the Los Angeles area in January.
“I have realized that it could be six months, or it could be three years,” he said. “But I’m ready. And for a long time, I’m going to be fighting here.”
He made his MLB debut with the white socks during the notable 2005 season, with six salvages and an effectiveness of 2.75 during the regular season. He was especially critical in the playoffs, accumulating four more salvages and closing the final game of the World Series, which gave the team his first title in 88 years.
Jenks had 173 salvages for six seasons with the white socks.
California’s native launched the 2011 MLB season with Boston’s red socks.
Jenks is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, his two children, Zeno and Kate, and their four children of a previous marriage, Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson, according to the white socks.
