Jerry Reinsdorf didn’t wait until Ozzie Guillén’s jersey retirement ceremony to make the case for why No. 13 belongs in White Sox immortality. He put it in writing.
Ahead of the celebration on Friday evening, the White Sox chairman released a statement praising Guillén as “one of a kind” from the moment he arrived in spring training in 1985. Reinsdorf called the retirement “a very fitting honor” for a man who starred as an All-Star and then delivered a World Series title as a manager.
“We celebrate his accomplishments today by forever retiring his number alongside all of the other White Sox greats.”
Reinsdorf’s statement leaned hard into Guillén’s personality as much as his résumé, pointing to the energy and charisma that made him impossible to miss around the organization. He referenced Guillén’s interactions with a security guard in the parking lot, teammates such as Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk and Tom Seaver, one of his players, and fans who hear him on the pregame and postgame shows.
His message also tied Guillén directly to the White Sox’s defining October run.
“His leadership during the 11-1 postseason run by the 2005 World Series champion White Sox will never be forgotten by our fans, and we celebrate today the first Latin American manager who proudly raised the World Series trophy in front of millions of Chicagoans.”
Reinsdorf also revisited the story of how Guillén first came into the organization. He said scout Jerry Krause recommended Guillén to then general manager Roland Hemond, who later joked, “I think we acquired a jockey,” after Guillén reported to spring training. Reinsdorf added that when the team was searching for a manager in 2003, then general manager Ken Williams told him he had found the right man and said, “I’m going to fight you if you don’t let me hire him.”
Reinsdorf said he asked, “Who?” and got the answer, “Ozzie Guillén.”
With No. 13 now retired, Guillén becomes part of a small White Sox circle that includes just 13 players and personnel honored by the franchise, among them Harold Baines, Mark Buehrle, Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas. He is also the first manager in team history to have his number retired.
CHSN will air a special edition of the White Sox pregame show with the ceremony. The game will be shown on FOX and FOX One, with the radio broadcast on ESPN Chicago Radio AM-1000/FM-100.3.
First pitch is set for 5:15 p.m. CT.
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