Konerko proud to call White Sox his team
He has four games left in a White Sox uniform before heading into retirement, and Paul Konerko is going to be fondly remembered for many things.
There is the production, of course.
In 16 seasons with the Sox, Konerko is the franchise leader with 4,010 total bases. He ranks second to Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in home runs (432) and RBI (1,383) and second to Hall of Famer Luke Appling in games played (2,265).
There is the leadership.
Former manager Ozzie Guillen named Konerko captain in 2006, one season after he helped the White Sox win the World Series.
While he's never been the most vocal player in the clubhouse, Konerko always has taken immense pride in preparing for and playing the game the right way.
In his own way, the 38-year-old first baseman/designated hitter has made sure his teammates followed suit.
There is the media.
When he was acquired from the Reds before the 1999 season in a trade for Mike Cameron, Konerko generally interacted with four newspaper beat writers on the road along with the occasional TV or radio reporter at home.
Much has changed over the past two decades with the Internet explosion and additional radio and TV outlets vying for his time.
Through it all, Konerko has given standup answers at every turn, often laced with interesting insight and dry humor.
There is a lot to look back on when it comes to his long, successful run with the Sox.
As he prepares to exit the game, Konerko is most proud of basically spending his entire career with one team. He was drafted by the Dodgers on the first round in 1994, but Konerko only played 55 games with Los Angeles.
And after being traded to Cincinnati, he only played 26 games with the Reds.
“When I think about my own personal career now, when it comes to statistics or numbers or any of that kind of stuff, you can look at this guy and look at that guy,” Konerko said. “You can find some things you did better than somebody else, you can find things other guys did better than you.
“For me, if being in one place for 16 straight years is a stat, I'm most proud of that stat.”
Konerko could have left the White Sox via free agency after the 2005 season, and the Baltimore Orioles made an offer for $65 million over five seasons. Konerko took $60 million over five and returned to the Sox.
He also could have left as a free agent following the 2010 season, but Konerko again left better outside offers on the table and came back to the South Side.
Now, after Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals, it will all be over.
Odds are, Konerko is going to miss being a baseball player. But he is looking forward to spending quality time with his wife, Jennifer, his sons Nicholas and Owen and his daughter Amelia.
“This is what I've done, but I don't think it's who I am,” Konerko said. “I want to go home and do other things. First of all, I have three young kids. There are a lot of things this game has given me, given everybody in here.
“This game gives you a lot, but it also takes a lot you can't get back. And you're the focus of attention basically, for all the years you've been playing, going back to high school.
“When this is over, it's time to try to switch that up. I think it's healthy to go back and say, ‘Baseball doesn't exist for me anymore at this point.' Get away from it. You've got to let go of it. I've pretty much ate, slept and drank baseball, even in the off-season, basically since the middle of high school. There's really been no letup for 20-something years.
“You just run as hard as you can, for as long as you can, and then you know, that's that. I think you let go of it all, and maybe there will be a reconnection at some point. Honestly, when I walk out of here, I don't have a certain plan.”
The White Sox will honor Konerko with a ceremony before Saturday night's game against the Royals, and Jim Thome, Joe Crede and Scott Podsednik are among his former teammates scheduled to be at U.S. Cellular Field.
“Obviously, I know what he means to the White Sox organization and the city,” said Adam Dunn, Konerko's teammate from 2011 until Aug. 31, when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. “But people need to take a really good look at his career.
“His numbers are incredible, and for him to be the guy he is and to have those numbers … I know what he means to me, and probably what he means to me is half of what he means to the organization and the city.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com