Mark Alan Buehrle (; born March 23, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Chicago White Sox, playing twelve seasons for the team and winning the World Series with them in 2005. Buehrle also pitched for the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays.
Buehrle pitched a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18, 2007, surrendering just one walk to Sammy Sosa who was then picked off at first base. Two seasons later, Buehrle pitched the 18th perfect game in baseball history, against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23, 2009.
In White Sox pitching history, Buehrle is fifth all-time in strikeouts, sixth in games started, and eighth in wins and innings pitched. In the entirety of his career, he was 2nd in wins for all pitchers who played from 2000 to 2015.
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High school, college and the minor leagues
Buehrle was born in St. Charles, Missouri, and attended Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. In his sophomore year, Buehrle was cut from the school's baseball team.
After high school, Buehrle attended Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. He was later selected in the 38th round of the 1998 draft by the Chicago White Sox organization.
Buehrle began his professional career in 1999 with the White Sox' Single-A Burlington Bees. He went 7–4 with three saves and a 4.10 ERA in 20 games (14 starts), including a complete-game shutout. Buehrle followed this up with an excellent year in 2000, going 8–4 with a 2.28 ERA in 16 starts for the Double-A affiliate Birmingham Barons in Hoover, Alabama, giving up only 17 walks in 119 innings. He would be named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher that season and was the winning pitcher in the Futures Game, then rated as the No. 8 prospect in the White Sox organization.
Buehrle made a total of 36 appearances in the minor leagues before joining the White Sox roster.
Major League career
Chicago White Sox (2000-2011)
Buehrle made his major league debut on July 16, 2000, pitching one inning of relief against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowing a run. Three days later he started against Minnesota, allowing six hits and two runs in seven innings while earning a win.
In 2001, Buehrle's first year as a major league starter, he went 16–8 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts. He threw 24+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings from May 26 to June 7, the most by a White Sox pitcher since Tommy John threw 25 scoreless innings in 1967. Buehrle recorded his first complete game on May 26 against the Detroit Tigers and later pitched two consecutive complete games on August 3 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (a one-hitter) and on August 8 against the Anaheim Angels.
In 2002, Buehrle posted a 19–12 record in 34 starts and ranked among the American League leaders in innings pitched (second, 239), games started (tied for second, 34), complete games (tied for second, 5), shutouts (tied for second, 2), wins (tied for fourth, 19) and quality starts (tied for fifth, 23). Buehrle pitched at least six innings 30 times and at least eight innings nine times. FOX Sports Net Chicago honored him as the White Sox Player of the Year. He was selected as a member of the Major League All-Star Team that played in Japan in November. In his one start, he allowed four runs on five hits over three innings, before leaving with a bruised left shoulder sustained when he was hit with a line drive off the bat of Hideki Matsui.
Buehrle set a career high with 35 starts in 2003, posting a 14–14 record with a 4.14 ERA. He ranked among the American League leaders in starts (tied second), quality starts (third, 24) and innings pitched (fifth).
In 2004, Buehrle led the American League in innings pitched with 245+1⁄3, in games started with 35, and in complete games with five. He ranked among the AL leaders in quality starts (third, 23), walks per nine innings (fifth, 1.87), wins (tied sixth, 16), strikeout to-walk ratio (seventh, 3.24), ERA (eighth, 3.89) and strikeouts (ninth, 165). Buehrle lasted at least six innings in each of his last 28 starts. On July 21 in Cleveland, he faced the minimum 27 batters in a two-hit shutout of the Indians.
In 2005, Buehrle began the season with a 10–3 record, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. On April 16, he finished a game against the Seattle Mariners in only 1 hour and 39 minutes, giving up only one run and three hits (all to Ichiro Suzuki), and backed by only two White Sox runs, both homers by Paul Konerko. In the game, he threw just 106 pitches. Subtracting the time spent between innings, the game took only 63+1⁄2 minutes to play. Buehrle was selected to the American League All-Star Team, and was named the starting pitcher after Roy Halladay could not to play due to a broken leg. He pitched two innings, allowing no runs and striking out three batters while earning a win. Buehrle's streak of 49 consecutive starts of six or more innings ended on August 1, 2005, after he was ejected for hitting Baltimore Orioles outfielder B. J. Surhoff. During the White Sox playoff run, Buehrle pitched a complete game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game 2 of the ALCS, the first of four consecutive complete games for White Sox starters. On October 25, 2005, Buehrle became the first pitcher in World Series history to start and save consecutive games, earning a no-decision in Game 2 and his first career save in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series, which the Sox swept from the Houston Astros, winning their first world championship since 1917.
Miami Marlins (2012)
On December 7, 2011, Buehrle agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract with the Miami Marlins. In his debut with the Marlins, Buehrle recorded a loss, giving up two earned runs, in six innings pitched against the Cincinnati Reds. On May 5, Buehrle threw a complete game against the San Diego Padres. The Marlins won that game 4–1. Buehrle won his fourth straight Fielding Bible Award in 2012.
In his one season with the Marlins, Buehrle pitched to a 13–13 record with a 3.74 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 31 starts for a team that finished 69–93. It was the first time since 2002 that Buehrle averaged less than one hit allowed per inning.
Toronto Blue Jays (2013–2015)
On November 19, 2012, Buehrle was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Josh Johnson, José Reyes, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio, in exchange for Jeff Mathis, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Álvarez, Yunel Escobar, Jake Marisnick, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino. On February 5, 2013, manager John Gibbons named Buehrle the number 3 starter for the 2013 season. Buehrle pitched his first complete game and shutout as a Blue Jay on July 25 against the Houston Astros, and surrendered just two hits and two walks while striking out nine. The win broke a season-long seven game losing streak for the Blue Jays.
On August 25, Buehrle won for the tenth time in 2013, defeating the Houston Astros 2–1. In winning the game, he extended his streak of seasons with at least 10 wins to 13, and also ended a seven-game losing streak for the second time in 2013. Buehrle surpassed 200 innings for the 2013 season in a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 21, his 13th consecutive season with at least 200 innings pitched. He would finish the 2013 season with a record of 12–10, a 4.15 ERA, and 139 strikeouts over 2032⁄3 innings pitched in 33 starts. On October 25, Buehrle was announced as a finalist for the AL Pitcher's Gold Glove, along with teammate R. A. Dickey and Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister; however, he would finish second to Dickey in voting.
Buehrle won his first four starts of the 2014 season, and put up an ERA of 0.69. On May 1, he and teammate Melky Cabrera were named the co-winners of the Honda Player of the Month Award for April. In a 10–0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on May 7, Buehrle earned his sixth win of the season, and became the first pitcher to do so in the 2014 season. In his following start on May 12, Buehrle retained his wins lead, earning his 7th win of the season by beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 7–3. After taking a no-decision against the Texas Rangers on May 17, Buehrle earned his league-leading eighth win on May 22. He pitched seven innings and yielded only two runs to the Boston Red Sox, and in becoming the majors' first eight-game winner in 2014, gave the Jays a three-game sweep at Fenway Park and a 5–1 road trip. On May 27, Buehrle retained his lead in wins, earning his ninth of the season and extended the Blue Jays winning streak to eight games.
On June 1, Buehrle became the first starter to reach double digits in wins, taking his 10th game of the season 4–0 over the Kansas City Royals. His production would drop off considerably from that point onward, posting a record of 2–9 in the 19 starts between June 7 and September 19. On September 24, making his final start of the season, Buehrle surpassed the 200 innings pitched mark for the 14th consecutive season. He would earn the win 1–0 over the Seattle Mariners.
Honors
Buehrle's number 56 was retired by the Chicago White Sox on June 24, 2017. Buehrle first became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021 and received more votes than anyone else making their first appearance on the ballot that year, with 11%. However, he fell to 5.8% in 2022, barely enough to remain on the ballot for another year. In 2023, he rose back up to 10.8%. In 2024, in his 4th ballot, he fell to 8.3%.
Pitching style
Buehrle threw a fastball, curveball, changeup, slider, and cut fastball. He was a command pitcher, relying more on finesse and accuracy than velocity. He was also known for being a contact pitcher, rather than striking out multiple batters. Buehrle often forced line outs, ground outs, and fly outs, with occasional strikeouts. He was considered an efficient pitcher, pitching quickly and keeping his pitch count low. In 2014, Buehrle averaged 15.8 seconds between pitches, 2.1 seconds quicker than the next fastest pitcher.
Personal life
Buehrle and his wife Jamie have two children: a son (born July 26, 2007) and a daughter (born March 3, 2009). They live on a ranch in Missouri. Buehrle grew up following the St. Louis Cardinals. On December 5, 2009, Buehrle attended an Albert Pujols charity fundraiser. He, along with Tony La Russa, bid and won an opportunity to manage the Cardinals for a day at 2010 spring training. Buehrle then gave the prize to Mickey Cunningham, a girl with Down syndrome.
Buehrle's wife Jamie had Orange County Choppers make a surprise motorcycle for him to celebrate his perfect game.
Buehrle and his wife are known animal rights activists, owning four dogs, and have gone on record for criticizing NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of running a dog fighting ring. Buehrle generated controversy when he said he had, at points during the 2010 season, hoped the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback would get injured. When he was traded to Toronto, he had to leave his pit bull, Slater, behind with his family due to Ontario's ban on the breed.