Chicago White Sox Will Retire Mark Buehrle's Number

CHICAGO, IL - Not too many baseball pitchers have tossed a perfect game, separate no-hitter, a complete game in the playoffs, and earned both a start and a save in the World Series.

Actually, there's only one pitcher who can say they've done all that. It's Mark Buehrle, and on Thursday the Chicago White Sox announced they will retire his number.

Buehrle, who wore No. 56 for the team from 2000-2011 and became a magnet for memorable moments in the process, will have his number retired during a special pre-game ceremony on June 24 when the White Sox host the Oakland Athletics. All fans who attend the game, which starts at 1:10 p.m., will receive a commemorative pin marking their attendance on what the team is calling "Mark Buehrle Day."

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Buehrle's 12 seasons with the White Sox were marked with some of the most memorable moments in team history. On July 23, 2009, he threw the second perfect game in team history by quickly turning away 27 Tampa Bay Rays hitters. Two seasons earlier, he threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.

Buehrle was a member of the 2005 World Series champion White Sox. His complete game in a Game 2 American League Championship Series victory over the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim was the first of four consecutive complete games notched by the team's pitchers. In the World Series, he received a no-decision in a Game 2 win over the Houston Astros and earned the save in the 14th inning of a Game 3 victory.

Years later, in a rare plate appearance when the team played at Milwaukee, he hit a home run.

“Mark Buehrle is one of the most accomplished pitchers in franchise history,” White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Mark carried himself with class and professionalism throughout his career, and his popularity with staff, teammates and Sox fans is very well deserved."

Fans remember Buehrle for his quick pitching style. He averaged just 15 seconds between pitches, so games generally ended earlier when he was on the mound.

It's also his glove that fans remember, best displayed by this back-handed play on Opening Day in 2010.

In addition to winning three Gold Gloves, Buehrle was a four-time American League All-Star. During his career with the White Sox, Buehrle went 161-119 (.575) with a 3.83 ERA (1,053 ER/2,476.2 IP), 27 complete games, eight shutouts and 1,396 strikeouts over 390 appearances (365 starts).

In 2007, when his contract with the White Sox was about to expire and rumors spread that he may be traded to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, fans at then-U.S. Cellular Field would chant "RE-SIGN BUEHRLE" during a stretch of home games in June. He was resigned and went on to play four more years with the team before ending his career with stops in Miami and Toronto.

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He ranks in the top ten in team history in strikeouts, starts, quality starts, wins, strikeout-to-walk ratio, innings pitched and games pitched.

Here's a look at all 27 outs of his 2009 gem.

Photo by Tim Moran / Mark Buehrle talks with White Sox Pitching Coach Don Cooper while warming up before a game against the Angels in 2011.