Tim Anderson is stepping away from baseball, and the White Sox are making sure the South Side remembers him the right way.
Anderson announced his retirement Monday during a Zoom call with reporters, and the team confirmed the news on social media shortly after. The White Sox also said they will honor the former shortstop with a special pregame ceremony on Thursday, September 17, before first pitch against Detroit. For that game only, Chicago will bring back the Nike City Connect “Southside” uniforms that became tied to Anderson and the 2021 AL Central Division-winning club.
“Many White Sox fans still name Tim Anderson as one of their favorite players, because he was one of the most dynamic and exciting players to watch,” said White Sox Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Brooks Boyer. “His hustle, energy and swagger helped define the ‘Southside’ mentality and style. It seemed fitting that we bring back an iconic look that represents grit and resilience to celebrate the one and only TA.”
Anderson’s run with the organization started when the White Sox took him 17th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft. He spent eight seasons in Chicago from 2016-23 and played 895 career MLB games, finishing with a .282/.312/.422 line, 98 home runs, 338 RBI and 117 stolen bases.
His peak years left a real mark on the franchise. Anderson became the first player in White Sox history to finish in the AL’s top five in batting average three straight seasons from 2019-21.
He won the 2019 batting title with a .335 average, then helped the Sox reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021. He was also named an All-Star in 2021 and 2022.
One moment still stands above the rest for a lot of White Sox fans: the 2021 Field of Dreams game. On August 12, 2021, Anderson sent a walk-off two-run homer into the cornfields to give Chicago a 9-8 win over the Yankees in MLB’s first version of the game.
His impact went beyond the box score, too. Anderson and his wife, Bria, founded Anderson’s League of Leaders, a community outreach program for children affected by violence. After his close friend Branden Moss was killed, they created a scholarship in his name for young people affected by gun violence.
The couple also backed youth opportunities for young people of color through the White Sox Amateur City Elite program, Wear Orange gun violence awareness efforts, annual immersion trips for ACE players and back-to-school events that provided local kids with haircuts and school supplies.
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