August 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nA three-time All-Star, Guillen played his first 13 of 16 major-league seasons with the White Sox. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1985 at age 21, and won a Gold Glove in 1990.<\/p>\n
In 13 seasons as a White Sox player, Guillen batted .265 with 24 home runs, 565 RBIs and 163 stolen bases over 1,743 regular-season games. He concluded his playing career with Baltimore, Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and finished with a .264 average, 28 homers and 619 RBIs when he retired in 2000.<\/p>\n
Guill\u00e9n returned to Chicago to manage the White Sox from 2004 to 2011 and led the White Sox to their last World Series championship in 2005. Over eight seasons, his record was 678-617.<\/p>\n
Guill\u00e9n was introduced in front of the White Sox dugout by A.J Pierzynski and Paul Konerko, stars on the 2005 White Sox team that rolled to an 11-1 record in that postseason. Other former teammates and players were also in attendance, as well as White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been nervous playing baseball,\u201d Guill\u00e9n said. “I\u2019ve never been nervous managing baseball. But today I am very, very nervous because this is a different moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday I\u2019m not here as a manager. Today I\u2019m here as a grateful man given this opportunity.”<\/p>\n
In a statement, Reinsdorf said: \u201cFrom the moment he joined this organization in spring training 1985, Ozzie Guill\u00e9n has been one of a kind.”<\/p>\n
Guill\u00e9n was electric as a player and outspoken, often fiery, as a manager. The Venezuela native never shied away from bluntness \u2014 and profanity \u2014 in assessing players, plays, games or whatever.<\/p>\n
Konerko said Guill\u00e9n was \u201cpassionate\u201d and \u201cnever had trouble telling anyone something that was wrong.”<\/p>\n
Guill\u00e9n also managed the Miami Marlins in 2012 and was fired after one season after his team went 69-93. Not only the record, but backlash caused by Guillen\u2019s awkward praise of former Cuban strongman Fidel Castro contributed to his dismissal in South Florida.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Guill\u00e9n was joined by his wife, Ibis, onstage, with family members including his three sons, seated in front of him. He wore a dark suit with a prominent Venezuelan flag lapel pin.<\/p>\n
Meeting with reporters, Guill\u00e9n called out his Venezuelan heritage and his selection of uniform No. 13 as something linked to the country’s baseball tradition.<\/p>\n
He saluted nine-time All-Star infielder Dave Concepti\u00f3n, who wore No. 13 over 19 seasons with Cincinnati as an inspiration. He called out current Venezuelan outfield Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. for continuing with the tradition of wearing No. 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think 13 belongs to my country,” Guill\u00e9n said. \u201cAnd to me in Venezuela 13 is a lucky number and Americans did not believe what a lucky number that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
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AP MLB: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/mlb<\/a><\/p>\n