Ozzie next? Guillen wants his number retired under one condition

CHICAGO (WGN) — Mark Buehrle joined Paul Konerko Friday as members of the 2005 World Series Champion White Sox immortalized in bronze, but according to at least two others on the ’05 team, there should be a third who at least gets his number retired.

That man is Ozzie Guillen.

“Retired numbers, me. It’s me. By the way, I’m gonna say that live in front of all you guys. I don’t want Jerry dead for someone to retire my number,” Guillen said Friday night. “And I no want or I don’t like [if] I’ll be dead today, retire my number. If that day, they retire my number, I have surprise for you guys. My family don’t show up.”

In the eyes of Guillen, he wants both himself and team owner Jerry Reinsdorf to still be around if the team decides to retire his No. 13.

“I say when I die, nothing happened anymore. But I want to feel that way when I got my four grandkids,” Guillen said. “[I want them] to feel who grandpa was, because my son know who I was, my grandkids, they don’t know who I was. I don’t expect the statues, but [do] I expect my number retired? Yes, because I think I do a lot of things for this organization to deserve and earn that.”

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was among those gathered for the festivities planned ahead of Mark Buehrle’s statue reveal in between Saturday’s twin bill. He said all of the pomp and circumstance for Buehrle, who was as much of a bulldog on the field as he was reserved off it, was well deserved.

But he also said it’s time for his manager to get some shine for what he’s done for the club.

“Mark’s obviously one of our favorites—everyone’s favorite. He looks great. I haven’t seen him for a while. I’ve talked to him a little bit here and there,” Pierzynski said. “He kind of goes into hiding at times. Most times, you text him and you won’t hear back from him. ‘Where were you?’ ‘I was camping for four days.’ Oh, okay. But no, he’s great.

“I’m happy for him to get his statue tonight. It’s well deserved. We got to get Ozzie next, is my thing. But I’m happy for Mark and I want Mark to enjoy this with his family.”

As a player, Guillen was a Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star and Gold Glove-winning shortstop for the South Siders for 13 seasons from 1985 to 1997, but where he left his mark most, was as the team’s manager years later.

From 2004 to 2011, Guillen amassed a 678-617 record as the White Sox’s skipper, which included the South Siders taking home that 2005 World Series Championship against the Houston Astros.

Guillen was named American League Manager of the Year for leading the White Sox to their first World Series title in 88 years that season, but he’s just as well known for his personality and antics off the field that came to characterize the South Side teams he was in charge of.

Guillen made sure there was never a dull moment around the team. Whether it was facing off against umpire Joe West, back-and-forth tirades with Jay Mariotti, taking shots at Cubs fans and Wrigley Field, or just telling the entire City of Chicago and its media landscape to kick rocks, Ozzie was always Ozzie.

And in the eyes of Guillen and his catcher, that’s enough for him to be immortalized on the walls of Rate Field, or with a statue somewhere along the outfield concourse.

So long as Reinsdorf is still around to make it happen, that is.