Paul Konerko
Paul Henry Konerko (/kəˈnɛərkoʊ/ kə-NAIR-koh; born March 5, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1997 to 2014, most prominently as a member of the Chicago White Sox, where he was a six-time American League All-Star and team captain for the 2005 World Series winning team. Konerko began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. In 2014, Konerko was named the recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
Paul Konerko
.279
2,340
439
1,412
High school career[edit]
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Henry[1] ("Hank") and Elena Konerko, Konerko is of Polish and Italian descent.[2] At Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Konerko was named the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette Player of the Year as a senior, after leading his team to a Class 4-A state championship. Konerko hit .558 in 1994, the school season record until Ike Davis, who later became a Major League first baseman, hit .559 in 2003. Konerko also held the school season record in doubles, with 18, until Davis hit 23 doubles in 2003. He also held the school career record in doubles (44), until Davis passed him with 48 doubles.[3] As of 2014, he was the school's all-time leader in home runs and RBI.[4] Konerko was ranked the #1 catcher in the nation during his senior year in high school.[5]
He signed a letter of intent to play college baseball at Arizona State.[1]
Professional career[edit]
Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds[edit]
Konerko was drafted in the first round (13th overall) of the 1994 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.[1] Konerko had been on the radar of Eddie Bane, the special assistant to Dodgers general manager Fred Claire, since he was 13 years old.[4]
On May 13, 1995, with the Single-A San Bernardino Spirit, he drove in the only run of a 21-inning game. It was the longest shutout in California League history.[6]
Konerko played for the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes for the majority of the 1997 season, batting .323 with 37 home runs and 127 RBI in 130 games.[7] He is one of four Dodgers position players to have been twice selected for the Dodgers organization's "Minor League Player of the Year" award, along with Billy Ashley, Joc Pederson, and Gavin Lux.[8]
On September 8, 1997, Konerko made his major league debut with the Dodgers against the Florida Marlins as a pinch hitter, hitting a single off Marlins pitcher Dennis Cook for his first career hit.[9] He would finish with one hits in six at-bats with a walk in six major league games with the Dodgers to close out the season.[10] In 1998, Konerko played in 49 games with the Dodgers, batting .215 with four home runs and 16 RBI.[10]
On July 4, 1998, Konerko was traded along with left-handed pitcher Dennys Reyes to the Cincinnati Reds for All-Star closer Jeff Shaw.[11] Konerko played 26 games with the Reds, batting .219 with three home runs and 13 RBI.[10]
Career statistics[edit]
In 2,349 games over 18 seasons, Konerko posted a .283 batting average (2,340-for-8,393) with 1,162 runs, 410 doubles, 439 home runs, 1412 RBI, 921 bases on balls, .354 on-base percentage and .486 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .995 fielding percentage as a first baseman.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Konerko married Jennifer Wells in 2004. They have two sons and a daughter: Nicholas, Owen, and Amelia.[61]
A fan of the band Metallica, Konerko's walk-up music throughout most of his tenure with the White Sox was the song "Harvester of Sorrow" from Metallica's 1988 album ...And Justice For All. The song became synonymous with Konerko in Chicago and his looming presence at the plate.[62]