56 fast facts on former Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle returns to the South Side on Saturday, and the Chicago White Sox are retiring the starting pitcher's uniform No. 56.

If Buehrle has any say, it's going to be a quick ceremony. A workhorse starter for the Sox from 2001-11, Buehrle might be best known for his rapid pace on the mound.

In advance of the lovable lefty becoming the 11th White Sox player to have his number retired, here are 56 Buehrle facts to digest:

1. Cut from his high school team, Francis Howell North in St. Charles, Mo., as a freshman and sophomore.

2. Drafted by White Sox in 1998 on the 38th round out of Jefferson (Mo.) Junior College.

3. Debuted with the Sox on July 16, 2000. Relieved James Baldwin and allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk in 1 inning.

4. Made his first start for White Sox on July 19, 2000. Allowed 2 runs in 7 innings to earn his first major-league win.

5. Made 1 relief appearance in the Sox's 2000 playoff appearance vs. Seattle.

6. Joined the team's rotation full-time in 2001 and was 16-8 while ranking fourth in American League with a 3.29 ERA.

7. Led the AL with a 1.066 WHIP in 2001.

8. In 2002, won a career-high 19 games.

9. Played on the major-league all-star team in Japan at the end of the 2002 season.

10. In 2003, made 33 starts that averaged 2 hours, 33 minutes per game. Three starts were played in under 2 hours.

11. Led the AL with 245 ⅓ innings pitched in 2004, the most by a Sox starter since Wilbur Wood's 359 ⅓ in 1973.

12. Made his second All-Star Game appearance in 2005, pitching 2 scoreless innings and was AL's winning pitcher.

13. Posted a career-best 3.12 ERA to help the 2005 White Sox to their first World Series championship in 88 years.

14. Led the AL with 236 ⅔ innings pitched in 2005.

15. Was fifth in AL Cy Young voting in 2005, the highest finish of his career.

16. Pitched in 4 postseason games (3 starts) in '05 and was 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA and 1 save.

17. Pitched the first of four straight complete games by Sox starters in ALCS vs. Angels.

18. Recorded a save in Game 3 of the World Series, a 7-5 win at Houston that ran 14 innings.

19. In 2006, became the first pitcher to be on the mound for two triple plays in a season since Washington's Bruce Howard in 1968.

20. On April 18, 2007, pitched a no-hitter vs. the Rangers, the 16th in White Sox history.

21. On July 8 of 2007, signed a four-year, $56 million contract extension with the Sox.

22. Led the AL with 24 quality starts in 2008.

23. Made 1 start in 2008 ALDS, losing Game 2 vs. Rays.

24. Pitched the 18th perfect game in major-league history on July 23, 2009, vs. the Rays.

25. The perfect game was one of three in White Sox history, after Charles Robertson (1922) and before Philip Humber (2012).

26. Appeared on "Late Show With David Lettermen" four days after his perfect game.

27. Won first of four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in '09.

28. Hit his only home run on June 14, 2009, at Milwaukee.

29. In 2010, led the majors with 11 pickoffs while winning his second straight Gold Glove.

30. On April 5, 2010, made an incredible defensive play, flipping a ball between his legs to first baseman Paul Konerko for a putout.

31. Pitched his final season for the Sox in 2011, going 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA.

32. Recorded at least 10 wins, 30 starts and 200 innings for 11th straight seasons.

33. His ninth Opening Day start in '11 set franchise record.

34. In 2011, allowed 3 runs or less in 18 straight starts, a franchise record.

35. Ranks sixth in White Sox history with 161 wins.

36. Is seventh in Sox history with 2,476 ⅔ innings pitched.

37. Ranks fourth in franchise history with 231 quality starts.

38. Was four-time all-star with White Sox.

39. Is one of only two Sox pitchers (Doc White 1903-13) to win at least 10 games in 10 straight seasons.

40. After the 2011 season, the 32-year-old Buehrle followed former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to Miami, signing a four-year, $58 million contract.

41. In his only season with Miami, pitched at least 200 innings and allowed fewer than 61 walks for the 12th straight year. Per Elias, Cy Young was the only other pitcher in history to accomplish the feat.

42. In November 2012, he was sent to the Blue Jays in a 12-player trade.

43. Went 12-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 2013, his first season with Toronto, pitching at least 200 innings for the 13th straight year.

44. Posted a 3.39 ERA for Jays in 2014, ranking 16th in the AL.

45. Made fifth and final All-Star Game appearance in '14.

46. On April 10, 2015, beat Orioles for 200th career win.

47. Ended the 2015 season with 198.2 innings, snapping his streak of 200 or more innings pitched at 14 years.

48. Pitching on one day's rest, lasted just two-thirds of an inning in the final start, the shortest outing of his career.

49. In 16-year career with Sox, Marlins and Jays, pitched in 518 games (493 starts) and never went on disabled list.

50. Made 4 starts vs. Sox for Toronto (1-2 with a 2.28 ERA).

51. In his final start vs. White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, opposed Chris Sale on July 6, 2015, and lost 4-2.

52. Pitched 33 complete games during his career.

53. Pitched 10 complete game shutouts.

54. In 15 full seasons as a starter, won at least 10 games every year.

55. According to Baseball Reference, ranks 62nd all-time with 59.2 career WAR.

56. Retired with 214-160 record and 3.81 ERA.

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Mark Buehrle Day

The White Sox are retiring pitcher Mark Buehrle's uniform No. 56 Saturday before playing the Oakland A's at 1:10 p.m.

Here is some fan information:

• Parking lots open 10:10 a.m.

• Gates at Guaranteed Rate Field open at 11:10 a.m.

• Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 12:15 p.m. for the pregame ceremony.

• All fans receive a commemorative No. 56 lapel pin.

• Ken "Hawk" Harrelson will emcee the ceremony.

• Frank Thomas, Joe Crede, Jon Garland, Scott Podsednik and John Danks are among Buehrle's former teammates scheduled to attend.

• Buehrle's son Braden will perform the national anthem.