JockBio: Mark Buehrle Facts

JockBio Vital Stats
• Chicago White Sox	• Pitcher	• #56
• Height: 6' 2"	• Weight: 230	• Born: 3/23/79

During the 1999 Junior College playoffs, Mark faced Albert Pujols of Maple Woods College. Pujols drove a two-run homer the other way, but Jefferson won the game.
Mark was issued number 56 when he was a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2000. He decided to keep the number. He had worn 39 in high school and college, because it was Todd Worrell's number.
Mark was named Southern League Pitcher of the Year in 2000.
Mark would have been the hands-down pick for Rookie of the Year in 2001, but he had pitched one too many innings for Chicago the year before.
Mark would have won 20 games in 2002, but a two-out error in his final start cost him the decision.
Mark learned how good Hideki Matsui was before any other pitcher in the A.L. During a postseason tour of Japan in 2002, Matsui lined a ball off his pitching shoulder.
In a 2004 game against the Cleveland Indians, Mark pitched a two-hitter with two double plays, facing the minimum 27 batters.
In 2004, Mark became the first White Sox pitcher to lead the league in innings pitched since Wilbur Wood in 1973.
Mark's streak of 49 straight six-inning starts, which ended in 2005, was the longest since Steve Carlton's 69 from 1979 to 1982.
In 2005, Mark accused the Texas Rangers of stealing his signs and flashing his pitches on the scoreboard.
In 2006, Mark became the first pitcher in team history to make 30-plus starts in six straight seasons.
Mark led the A.L. with 10 pickoffs in 2006. Opponents stole just four bases in 11 attempts against him.
Mark’s 2007 no-hitter was the first one for a White Sox pitcher at home since Joel Horlen did the same 40 years earlier.
In 2009, Mark became just the sixth pitcher to throw a no-hitter and also a perfect game. The other five are Randy Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Jim Bunning, Addie Joss and Cy Young—all in (or on their way to) the Hall of Fame.
Mark retired the first 17 batters he faced in the start following his perfect game. Including one batter before the perfect game, Mark set a new record of 45 straight hitters retired. Teammate Bobby Jenks and Jim Barr had previously shared the record.
In 2009, Mark slugged his first homer. It came off Braden Looper of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The plate umpire for both of Mark’s no-hitters was Eric Cooper. Like Mark, Cooper also wears number 56.
The State of Illinois proclaimed July 30, 2009 Mark Buehrle Day.
Mark says if there's one old-timer he could watch in person, it would be Babe Ruth.
Mark was an excellent soccer player. He made All-State as a senior in high school.
Mark's favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption.
In 2005, Mark became engaged to Jamie Streck. An avid hunter, he proposed to her in a tree stand. The two had gone to the same high school, but Mark says that he was small and always getting stuffed into lockers, so she probably didn't notice him.
When asked what she was doing during the 9th inning of her husband’s perfect game, Jamie answered, “Trying not to throw up.”
Mark's high school coach claims he was cut as a freshman and sophomore by new assistant coaches.
Mark's nickname is “Chinstrap.”

Hideki Matsui,
2003 New York Post

Steve Carlton, 1979 Hostess

Wilbur Wood, 1968 Topps

Addie Joss, 1973 TCMA