Personal: Wife Jennifer

July 20, 1998l hitting a homer

September 24, 2006; blasting a homer

While Paul Konerko may have become a star the last few years with his ability to drive in runs and blast baseballs into the stands he remains one of baseball’s quieter players and stays adamantly involved in the community.

Paul graduated in 1994 from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Where he was named the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette Player of the Year after leading his team to Class 5-A baseball championship in 1994.

In the longest shutout in California League history on May 13, 1995 Konerko’s hit in the 21^st inning gives San Bernardino 1-0 victory over San Jose.

Konerko arrives in Los Angeles (1997-1998)

On September 2, 1997 the Dodgers purchased Konerko’s contract from AAA Albuquerque. His first at bat would have to wait until the 8th but when he stepped into the box he connected with a pinch-hit singe off of Marlin reliever Dennis Cook. Paul made his first start on September 28 as the Dodgers played in Colorado. Paulie would go 0-3 collecting a walk as he played third base. Paul was named the 1997 Minor League Player of the Year. The Dodgers were going to expect big things from him in 1998.

In Seattle on June 6 Paul hit his first career homer off of Bob Wells of the Seattle Mariners. As the season stretched on the Dodgers became frustrated with Konerko’s progress. The club began wondering if the youngster would ever be able to fill the shoes of Eric Karros. Then on July 4 the Dodgers traded the highly regarded Konerko and reliever Dennis Reyes to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Jeff Shaw. Between the two teams Paul would play 30 games at first base, 20 at third, and 18 in the outfield.

From Blue to Reds (1998)

Konerko’s time with the Reds would be short though. On November 11, 1998 he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Mike Cameron. (Fun Fact: In early 2000 Cameron would be traded to Seattle as the centerpiece of the Reds trade for Ken Griffey Jr.)

Konerko becomes a White Sox (1999-Present)

With the White Sox in 1999, Ponko appeared in a career high 142 games in his first full season in the majors. While he may of started the season off with a homer on opening day, He was especially torrid in the second half. During the second half he compiled a .320 average 16 HR and 55 RBI over his last 83 games. His first career grand slam came against the Orioles on June 17 and he would homer in three consecutive games against Anaheim. (August 16-18) His first four hit game came July 21 in Minnesota including a game winning home run. On September 10 he would steal his first career base also against the Twins. When the season ended Konerko had played the majority of the time at first base, pushing White Sox legend Frank Thomas into the DH role. During his free time he would appear at the Juvenile Court of Cook County and the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

The White Sox had hoped to move Konerko to third base for the 2000 season. While Konerko was vastly inexperienced at the position he worked hard at in spring training. It wasn’t long before he found himself playing first base and batting as the designated hitter. While his homerun total dropped to 21 in 2000, his RBI output increased. Never known for his speed he hit an inside-the-park home run May 11 while playing at Tampa. Konerko one was one of six White Sox with 20 homers and 90 RBIs. As was the case in 1999, Konerko had another strong second half which included a career high 13-game hit streak from July 2-20. During the span he also recorded an RBI from July 2-16 (nine straight games). Konerko even managed to have his first career ejection against Anaheim on July 29 for arguing balls and strikes. Paul matched his career high of four hits when he connected for four against Seattle on September 9. He would set a career high with five RBI’s in Detroit (September 20) In the ALDS he was a disappointing 0-9 against Seattle as the Sox were bounced from the playoffs. Paul was even voted one of Chicago’s “25 Most Eligible Bachelors” by Chicago Magazine in 2000.

Paul’s 2001 season was quite a break out for him. He set c career highs in home runs (32), RBI (99), total bases (295) and runs scored (92) FSN Chicago named him White Sox player of the Year. If Konerko had a good game the Sox were going to win in 2001. They were 19-3 when he drove in more than one run. He set a career-best 14-game hitting streak from 4/17-5/2 and matched his career high of four hits on August 28 in Detroit. By seasons end his defense had improved as well. He appeared in 144 games at first base and committed eight errors…fielding percentage of .994 was fourth among AL first basemen…was second in the league in total chances (1,374) and third in double plays (120). Paul even served meals to local children through the Greater Chicago Food Depository, joined Secretary of State Jesse White in promoting the need for organ donors, hosted a wish child from Starlight Children’s Foundation at Comiskey Park and visited Comiskey Park’s neighbors at Wentworth Gardens during the building of two Tot Lot playgrounds

After coming so close to 100 RBIs the past two seasons Konerko finally broke through with 104 in 2002. His season was well rewarded as he even was selected to the All Star team. Participating in the homerun derby Konerko finished third with 12 home runs. During the All Star in Milwaukee game he’d go 2-2 with two doubles and two RBI. Paul would be bothered by a sore foot that resulted in him posting .270 average 7 home runs and 33 RBI during the seasons second half. Paul would against victimize Anaheim for four hits on August 7, marking the eighth time in his career he had collected four hits in a game. Taking time away from his big season Paulie also recorded a message for overseas U.S. troops through “Give Thanks America”

In 2003 Paul would struggle largely in the first half. Despite a respectable second half Konerko’s 2003 season seems a disappointing when placed next to his last three seasons. It marked the first time Konerko’s OBP would be below .349 and the first time his slugging pct would be below .480 while a member of the White Sox. His RBI total reached only 65 and he failed to score 50 runs for the first time since joining the Sox. On the positive side his defense was peaking. He led AL first basemen with a career high .998 fielding percentage after making just 2 errors in 972 chances. Even after a bad 2003 season Konerko wasn’t about to be stopped. While in 2003 he appeared in an ESPN commercial with Tim Hudson, he also had a bigger impact on the Chicago community.. He was selected as the 2003 White Sox nominee for the MLBPA’s Man of the Year Award. And served as the spokesperson for the 2003 John Hancock(r) All-Star FanFest during All-Star Game festivities in Chicago. Not stopping there Konerko also taped a Public Service Announcement for local firefighters to support fire safety and visited the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital.

He responded blasting 41 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .894 OPS. All career highs. Those stats alone made him The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year. With the 41 homers he became just the third player in the history of the White Sox to have 40 or more home runs in a season. (Frank Thomas and Albert Belle are the others) He notched five multi-homer games in 2004 and set a career high with 301 total bases. His 150th career home run came on July 6 against Anaheim and on August 3 in Kansas City he knocked his eight career grand slam. Konerko also attended the ground breaking of the White Sox Ball field Complex and the Special Olympics opening ceremony.

Being Captain on a World Series Team

With 40 home runs during the regular season, Konerko reached 100 RBI for the second consecutive season. He was se;lected to the All Star team for the second time. Paul batted .249 (77-309) with 20 home runs and 55 RBI prior to the All-Star Break and .323 (86-266) with 20 homers and 45 RBI after the Midsummer Classic His 81 walks, 158 games, .375 OBP all were career highs. While White Sox fans still talked of Paul’s slow speed he grounded into just nine double plays after totaling 51 in the previous two campaigns

Paulie hit his 200th career homer and 30th of the season on 8/13 at Boston.

When the White Sox appered to be in trouble late in the season it was Konerko who responded with a .481 batting average and a .852 slugging percentage over the last nine games of the season. He hit home runs in four consecutive games during September.

Konerko played in all 12 playoff games for the White Sox hitting .265 with five homers and 15 RBI. Konerko was named ALDS MVP after hitting .286 with two homers and seven RBI. Two days after the ALCS his first child, Nicholas, was born. Paulie hit a grandslam off Astros reliever Chad Qualls in the seventh inning of game two of th World Series.He recorded the final putout in each game of the White Sox World Series win. At the White Sox World Series parade on October 28 Konerko gave owner Jerry Reinsdorf the ball from the final out of Game 4.

There was much made about the White Sox electing the soft spoken Konerko team captain. Konerko acknowledged the setiment but elected not to wear the letter “C” on his uniform. He later signed a 5 year deal to remain with the White Sox.

The White Sox traded for a middle of the order help for Konerko and did so with the aquisition of Jim Thome. The two combined with Jermaine Dye to make the White Sox middle of the order as strong as any. Konerko responded by posting the highest OPS of his career(.932) while just missing his career best in RBI by four finishing with 113.

In 2007 Paul extended his streak of consecutive 30 homer seasons to four.