Name: Jamie Burke
Rank: 382
Position: C
Years With White Sox: 2002-2005
Jamie Burke appeared in only 64 games with the White Sox spread over three seasons, including just one during the 2005 season, but an argument can be made that he played a large role in bringing a World Series title to the south side.
Burke was acquired as a free agent following the 2002 season, and he was brought up for a brief cup of coffee in 2003, hitting .375 in only 6 games.
In 2004, Burke spent more time with the big league club, appearing in 57 games and hitting a respectable .333 in 133 at bats. His defining moment, however, came behind the plate. In September, the White Sox and the Twins were locked in a tight race for the AL Central crown when the Twins came to town for a three game series. Late in the game, Burke was bowled over by Torii Hunter, enraging the crowd and giving the Twins a win in game one of the pivotal series. Later in the series, Carlos Lee had an opportunity to give the Twins some payback going in to second base on a double play attempt. Rather than go in hard, Lee pulled up, infuriating rookie manager Ozzie Guillen and, rumor has it, leading to the off-season trade that sent Scott Podsednik to the Sox and freed up the money to allow for the signing of AJ Pierzynski. And that is how Jamie Burke played a pivotal role in the 2005 World Championship.
Burke himself appeared in only 1 game for the eventual world champs and was granted free agency following the season.
Burke’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: