Sports
Bobby Jenks, White Sox All-Star Pitcher, World Series Champ, Dead At 44
Former White Sox relief pitcher and World Series champion Bobby Jenks died from stomach cancer on Friday at 44, the team said.
CHICAGO, IL — Bobby Jenks, a former Chicago White Sox All-Star pitcher and World Series champion, died Friday in Portugal after battling stage 4 stomach cancer, the team wrote in a social media post. He was 44.
Jenks is best known for earning the save with a scoreless ninth inning in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros, leading to “a game-ending groundout off the bat of Orlando Palmeiro to end an 88-year championship drought,” according to MLB.com.
“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family,” White Sox chair Jerry Reinsdorf said. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago.”
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Former Chicago White Sox All-Star pitcher and 2005 World Series Champion Bobby Jenks passed away yesterday, July 4, in Sintra, Portugal, where he had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. He was 44 years old. pic.twitter.com/KDb3I0KL66
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 5, 2025
Reinsdorf added, “He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend, and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”
“Bobby you will be missed. Prayers to his family. Huge guy with a huge heart,” his former White Sox teammate A.J. Pierzynski wrote in a social media post.
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Jenks was coming off of his first season as field manager for the Windy City Thunderbolts when he was diagnosed with cancer, Patch previously reported.
See Also:
- New Bobby Jenks-Inspired T-Shirt Brings Back Memorable Era Of 'White Sox Rules'
- Former MLB Player Toby Hall Tapped As ThunderBolts Interim Manager As Bobby Jenks Battles Cancer
He took an indefinite leave of absence in February as he sought treatment in Portugal in the off-season. Bench coach Toby Hall was appointed interim manager of the team.
The California native pitched for the White Sox from 2005 to 2010, earning a 3.40 ERA across 329 relief appearances and 173 saves, MLB.com said. He was an All-Star in 2006 and 2007.
Jenks ended his professional baseball career in 2011, playing in 19 games for the Boston Red Sox.
He went 16-20 with a 3.53 ERA (140 ER in 357 1/3 innings), 173 saves and 351 strikeouts in 348 career games over seven Major League seasons.
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