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Paul Henry Konerko (born March 5, 1976 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997-98) and Cincinnati Reds (1998). Recently, Konerko helped the Chicago White Sox win the 2005 World Series.

Contents 1 High School Career 2 Career Statistics 3 Career Overview 4 Postseason 5 Highlights 6 External links

High School Career

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. He also sang in the Konerko Trio along with brothers, Trace & Haus.

Career Statistics

So far in his career, Konerko's numbers are considered fairly impressive. With a .279 batting average, he has hit 210 home runs and 692 RBI's. In 3995 at bats, he has 1115 career hits, 196 doubles and 5 triples. He has 4 stolen bases in 1123 games. He has 692 career RBI's and 580 runs scored.

Career Overview

As a Minor leaguer, Konerko enjoyed some good numbers. On May 13, 1995 with the San Bernardino Spirit, he drove in the only run of a 21-inning game. It was the longest shutout in California League history.

After two incomplete seasons in the Majors, he was traded by the Reds to White Sox for Mike Cameron. After that, his career took off for the most part. Each year, Konerko's statistics have been impressive. In 582 at bats in 2001, Konerko had a total of 164 hits, 35 doubles. He just missed the 100 RBI mark, getting 99, with a career high 35 home runs. His batting average was .282. He had 92 runs scored.

In 2002, his stats improved in some areas, and went downhill in others. In 570 at bats, he had 173 hits and a .304 batting average with 104 RBI's. He had 17 less strikeouts than the year before at 72 and a .359 on base percentage. With those credentials, he made the All-Star team. Areas he was not as good in, included 27 home runs, 81 runs, and 30 doubles.

Postseason

In 2000, with a 95-67 White Sox team, Konerko made his first postseason when they lost to the Seattle Mariners in the 2000 American League Division Series (ALDS). The Mariners swept the series in 3 games, and in 3 games and 9 at bats, he had no hits. He got on base once on a walk.

In 2005, the White Sox faced the Wild Card Boston Red Sox in the 2005 ALDS. The White Sox swept the Red Sox in three games straight and were helped tremendously by Konerko's hitting, which included a home run over Fenway Park's Green Monster in Game 3.

The White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). After going 0 for 4 in the first game and 1 for 4 in the second game, Konerko hit 3 for 4 with three RBIs in the third game of the ALCS against the Angels. Two of the RBIs came from a home run in the first inning. In Game 3, Paul was 1 for 4 with three RBIs on another first inning home run, the second in as many nights. In Game 5, Konerko went 1 for 5 with another RBI. He was named the ALCS MVP on the strength of a .268 batting average, two home runs and seven RBIs. He said, "I think you could split this four ways," referring to his feeling that the MVP should be awarded to the four starting pitchers who pitched four consecutive complete games in the ALCS.

In Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, Konerko hit the first grand slam in White Sox World Series history.

Following the 2005 World Series victory, Konerko handed the ball from the final out in that series to team owner Jerry Reinsdorf at the White Sox' victory parade. Shortly before that, Konerko remarked that "[w]e should do this again next year". Hoping to make that dream a reality, Konerko signed a five-year $60 million deal with the White Sox on November 30th, 2005.

Highlights

• All-star in 2002 and 2005
• 2nd in the league in home runs in 2004 (41)
• In 2004, he came in 6th in RBI's (117) and 16th in MVP Voting
• 2005 American League Championship Series MVP

External links

• Paul Konerko at MLB.com
• Paul Konerko at ESPN.com
• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis

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