Mark My Word

What a season it was for Mark Buehrle.  Consistently the ace of the White Sox, the season started well enough.  By season's end, he was achieved accomplishments that he likely had hoped for but didn't expect to.

It started on June 14th in a game again the Brewers in Miller Park.  Buehrle received a no decision on the mound but it was at the plate he made news that game.  In the third inning, he hit the first home run of his career.

On July 14th, he was the lone White Sox player in the All Star game in St. Louis.  This was the fourth appearance of his career.

Going strong for the rest of June and July, Buehrle threw the second no-hitter and first perfect game of his career against the Tampa Rays.  This was the 18th perfect game in baseball history.  He followed that with another perfect five innings against the Twins in the Metrodome, setting a major league record 45 straight hitters retired. 

Buehrle led all American League pitchers in 2009 with eight pickoffs, 55 total chances and 41 assists and tied for the AL lead by assisting with five double plays while committing just one error.

Earlier in the off season, Buehrle won the 2009 Fielding Bible Award, given to just one player at each position in either league.  The award is voted on by a panel of 10 experts and takes into account a pitcher's ability to field his position as well as hold base runners.

While the team faltered and fell out of the playoff race towards the end of the season, the individual accolades for Mark Buehrle came to a peak as he was awarded a Gold Glove for the first time in his career.  He joins Jim Kaat in becoming the second White Sox pitcher to win the award and the first White Sox to win since Robin Ventura in 1998.

Congrats to Mark Buehrle on another great achievement in a storied career.  May it bring you a well deserved stop at Cooperstown in the end.