CHICAGO — A day before his number gets retired by the White Sox, Mark Buehrle is coming clean about having a few beers before saving Game 3 of the 2005 World Series — a 14-inning game he was confident he wouldn't pitch in.
He wrote in The Players' Tribune: "It was only like three beers ..."
In 2015, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper told Chicago Sports Network that Buehrle had a styrofoam cup in his hand around the seventh inning of Game 3.
"I look in it, there's a beer in there," Cooper said. "It wasn't uncommon for guys on the 2005 staff — the starters when they weren't pitching — to enjoy a cocktail from time to time."
Here's how Buehrle came clean Friday:
First off, no one on the planet would’ve ever guessed that I was going to see the field in Game 3. I had started the previous game of the series and threw 100 pitches in that one. I would’ve bet my house that I wasn’t going to pitch a day and a half later. Anyone would have.
So, that being the case, you better believe that I was gonna do what came natural to me — grab a few beers during the early innings, kick back and enjoy the game like everyone else.
And it was just like one or two beers.
Every time I grabbed one, I’d go over and check in with the coaches.
“Hey, you guys are sure you’re not going to need me, right?”
“No, Mark. You are not pitching today. You just went.”
So I’d hear that and grab a beer.
It was only like three beers….
Max.
Definitely no more than three, though.
I swear.
Here's a look at the end of that game.
Buehrle will be honored Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The game against Oakland starts at 1:10 p.m., but the ceremony begins at 12:15 p.m.
