On this date in 1998, the White Sox obtained Paul Konerko from the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Cameron.
To celebrate that sweet deal, here is a look at “PK,” a steady power-hitting first baseman who was the cornerstone of the White Sox in the 2005 championship season and beyond:
*had his No. 14 retired by the White Sox in a ceremony at U.S. Cellular Field on May 23, 2015
*Sox all-time leader with seven postseason homers and 17 postseason RBI
*only Sox player to appear in three postseasons for the club (2000, 2005, 2008)
*made the final putout in Sox clinching wins for Central title and in the ALDS, ALCS and World Series in 2005
*only Sox player with a postseason grand slam (Game 2 2005 World Series)
*grand slam was the first hit in the seventh inning or later that turned a World Series deficit into a lead (Game 2, 2005)
*named MVP of the 2005 American League Championship Series in leading the Sox to their first pennant since 1959
*hit first inning homers in back-to-back games of the 2005 ALCS (Games 3 and 4)
*hit go-ahead homer in Sox clinching Game 3 win of the 2005 ALDS at Boston
*named White Sox captain prior to the 2006 season
*hit .500 (4-for-8) with two doubles and two RBI while representing the White Sox at six All-Star Games
*White Sox all-time leader with 4,010 total bases
*Sox all-time leader with 13 consecutive Opening Day starts at first base
*tied with Robin Ventura for the White Sox lead with 10 grand slams
*set Sox record by recording an extra-base hit in nine consecutive games May 30-June 10, 2011
*White Sox all-time leader with 13 seasons of at least 20 home runs
*became the first Sox player to homer three times in a game at US Cellular Field July 7, 2009
*named AL Comeback Player of the Year for the 2004 White Sox
*tied All-Star record with two doubles while representing the White Sox in the 2002 game at Milwaukee
*joins Al Simmons (1934) as the only American League players with two doubles in an All-Star Game (2002)