Paul Konerko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paul Konerko |
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Konerko with the Chicago White Sox in 2011
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: March 5, 1976 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 8, 1997, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2014, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Hits | 2,340 | ||
| Home runs | 439 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,412 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Paul Henry Konerko (born March 5, 1976) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1997 to 2014. He is best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox.
With the White Sox, Paul Konerko was a six-time American League All-Star. He was also the team captain when they won the 2005 World Series. Before joining the White Sox, Konerko played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. In 2014, he received the special Roberto Clemente Award.
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Early Life and High School Baseball
Paul Konerko was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His parents were Henry and Elena Konerko. He has Polish and Italian family roots.
He went to Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a senior, he was named the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette Player of the Year. He led his team to win a Class 4-A state championship.
In 1994, Konerko hit .558, which was a school record for batting average. He also held school records for doubles and home runs. He was considered the best catcher in the nation during his senior year.
Paul Konerko had planned to play college baseball at Arizona State.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Dodgers and Reds
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Paul Konerko in the first round of the 1994 MLB draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. The Dodgers had been watching him play since he was 13 years old.
In 1995, while playing for the Single-A San Bernardino Spirit, he hit a single that won a 21-inning game. This was the longest shutout game in the history of the California League.
Konerko spent most of the 1997 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes. He had a great year, batting .323 with 37 home runs and 127 runs batted in (RBI). He was named the Dodgers' "Minor League Player of the Year" twice.
On September 8, 1997, Konerko played his first game in the major leagues for the Dodgers. He got his first hit as a pinch hitter against the Florida Marlins. In 1998, he played in 49 games for the Dodgers.
On July 4, 1998, Konerko was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played 26 games for the Reds before being traded again.
Joining the Chicago White Sox
Early Years and World Series Win (1999–2005)
On November 11, 1998, the Reds traded Paul Konerko to the Chicago White Sox. He quickly became a strong hitter for the White Sox. In his first season with them in 1999, he hit .294 with 24 home runs and 81 RBI.
In 2000, Konerko continued to play well, helping the White Sox reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993. They lost to the Seattle Mariners in the 2000 American League Division Series (ALDS).
Konerko kept improving in 2001, hitting 32 home runs. The next year, he reached 100 RBI for the first time. This led to his first All-Star appearance in 2002. He even hit a two-run double in the All-Star Game.
In 2003, Konerko had a thumb injury that limited his playing time. But he bounced back strong in 2004. He hit a career-high 41 home runs and had 117 RBI.
The 2005 season was amazing for Konerko and the White Sox. They stayed in first place all season long, which is very rare. Konerko hit 40 home runs and had 100 RBI. The White Sox won their division.
Konerko played a huge role in the 2005 playoffs. He hit home runs in the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. The White Sox swept the Red Sox and moved on to the ALCS.
In the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Konerko hit two more home runs. He was named the ALCS MVP. He was the first White Sox player ever to win this award.
In Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, Konerko hit a grand slam. This was the first grand slam in White Sox World Series history. It helped the White Sox win the game and sweep the Houston Astros in four games. Konerko caught the final out in every series-clinching game during the playoffs. He set White Sox postseason records with five home runs and 15 RBI.
Team Captain and Milestones (2006–2014)
After winning the World Series, Konerko signed a new five-year contract with the White Sox. He became the main face of the team after Frank Thomas left. In 2006, Konerko batted .313 with 35 home runs and 113 RBI.
In 2008, Konerko injured his thumb again. But he still hit 22 home runs. On September 18, 2008, he hit the last home run by an opposing player at the old Yankee Stadium. The White Sox made the playoffs but lost to the Tampa Bay Rays.
On April 13, 2009, Konerko and Jermaine Dye hit back-to-back home runs. These were the 300th career home runs for both players. This was the first time in MLB history that two players hit their 300th home runs in the same game, back-to-back.
On July 7, 2009, Konerko hit three home runs in one game against the Cleveland Indians. This was a first for him and the only time a White Sox player has done this at U.S. Cellular Field.
In 2010, Konerko was chosen for his fourth All-Star team. He finished the season with 39 home runs, a .312 batting average, and 111 RBI. He was also fifth in the MVP voting, which was his highest finish ever.
On December 8, 2010, Konerko signed another contract with the White Sox. On June 1, 2011, he hit his 377th career home run, passing former White Sox player Carlton Fisk. He continued to break records, passing Harold Baines in home runs and hitting a home run in five straight games.
Konerko made his fifth All-Star team in 2011. On August 23, 2011, he got his 2,000th career hit. He finished the season with 31 home runs and 105 RBI. In 2011, Konerko was also inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame.
On April 25, 2012, Konerko hit his 400th career home run. He became the 48th player in Major League history to reach this milestone. He was named the American League Player of the Week twice in 2012. On July 1, 2012, he was selected for his sixth All-Star Game.
In 2013, Konerko's performance slowed down. He re-signed with the White Sox for one more year in December 2013.
The 2014 season was Konerko's last. Teams around baseball honored him with farewell gifts during road games. On April 23, 2014, he broke Frank Thomas's White Sox record for total bases.
On May 7, 2014, Konerko played his final game against the Chicago Cubs. He had a great game, hitting a three-run double to help the White Sox win. He hit his 439th and final home run on July 4 against the Seattle Mariners.
On September 27, 2014, the White Sox honored Konerko before a game. They revealed a statue of him outside the stadium. Konerko played his final game on September 28, 2014. He left the field to a standing ovation from the fans. When he retired, Konerko was among the top three White Sox players in many hitting categories. He was first in total bases and second in home runs and RBI.
Retirement and Honors
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| Paul Konerko's number 14 was retired by the Chicago White Sox in 2015. |
Paul Konerko retired on September 28, 2014, after 18 years in Major League Baseball. He spent 16 of those years with the White Sox. He was the last player from the 2005 World Series champion team still playing for the White Sox.
On October 24, 2014, Konerko won the Roberto Clemente Award. This award recognizes players who are great on the field and also do a lot of good in their communities. He was the first White Sox player to receive this honor.
On May 23, 2015, the White Sox retired Konerko's number 14. This means no other White Sox player will wear that number again. He was the tenth White Sox player to have his number retired.
In May 2016, Konerko's grand slam from Game 2 of the 2005 World Series was voted the best moment in the history of U.S. Cellular Field. This moment was important because it helped end the White Sox's 88-year wait for a championship.
Career Statistics
In his 18 seasons and 2,349 games, Paul Konerko had a .279 batting average. He recorded 2,340 hits, 410 doubles, 439 home runs, and 1,412 RBI. He also had a .995 fielding percentage as a first baseman.
Hall of Fame Eligibility
In 2020, Paul Konerko was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time. However, he did not receive enough votes to stay on the ballot for future years.
Personal Life
Paul Konerko married Jennifer Wells in 2004. They have two sons, Nicholas and Owen, and a daughter, Amelia.
Konerko is a fan of the band Metallica. His walk-up music when he came to bat was often the song "Harvester of Sorrow" by Metallica.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeouts by batters leaders
