Entertainment

World Series Hero Dies At 44 After Cancer Battle

Published

6 days ago

July 6, 2025

Bobby Jenks, a former All-Star closer for the Chicago White Sox, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 44.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “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. 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.”

Jenks was battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, according to a statement from Major League Baseball. He had been living in Portugal in order to be closer to his wife’s family.

Jenks was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2000 MLB Draft. A hard-throwing right-hander, Jenks was viewed as a promising prospect with the organization, though he was ultimately designated for assignment after battling injuries for several years.

Jenks during his time with the Boston Red Sox

In December 2004, he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox and assigned to the team’s AA affiliate to start the 2005 season. After getting off to a solid minor league campaign, he was called up to the big league club midway through the season and immediately became an asset to the playoff hopeful team.

In the 2005 World Series, Jenks pitched in all four games and recorded two saves. He will forever hold the distinction of recording the final out in the club’s game four, series-clinching win over the Houston Astros.

After etching himself into the baseball history books, Jenks was selected to his first All-Star game in 2006, finishing the campaign with 41 of 45 save attempts converted. He was once again selected to the All-Star game in 2006 and stayed with the White Sox through 2010, playing parts of six seasons with the club.

At the time of his death, Jenks has the second most saves in White Sox history with 173, trailing only Bobby Thigpen, who saved 201 games during his time in Chicago’s South Side.

Following his White Sox tenure, Jenks signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, though he only played one season before injuries remerged.

After retiring from the league, the World Series hero served as the pitching coach for Grand Junction Rockies of the MLB Partner Pioneer League. He later served as the team’s manager, and also spent time as a pitching coach in the Frontier League.

He is survived by his wife, Eleni, and six children.