Ozzie Guillen’s legacy as a member of White Sox history is officially secure.
On Friday, the franchise surprised Guillen with the announcement that his No. 13 jersey would be retired. He immediately broke down in tears and embraced his wife, who joined him on the team’s broadcast set. It was an incredible moment.
Video is below.
Ozzie Guillen tears up while learning the Chicago White Sox will retire his number later this season pic.twitter.com/bBU1FP5zkN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 3, 2026
A personal favorite part of this exchange is Guillen saying, “Another bobblehead?” before he realized what was happening. He will be the first former White Sox manager to have his number retired.
The 62-year-old has been a mainstay with the White Sox since he broke into the big leagues with the club in 1985.
He was originally signed as a free agent by the Padres in 1980, but was traded to Chicago along with Tim Lollar, Bill Long and Luis Salazar in a deal for former AL Cy Young winner LaMarr Hoyt in December 1984.
Guillen played for the White Sox for 13 seasons from 1985 until ‘97. He was named AL Rookie of the Year in ‘85, won a Gold Glove at shortstop in ‘90 and was a three-time All-Star (‘88, ‘90, ‘91). In his 13 seasons with the team, he slashed .265/.286/.339 with 1,608 hits, 240 doubles, 68 triples and 24 home runs. He produced 19.6 bWAR in that time.
After retiring following the 2000 season with the then-Devil Rays, Guillen became a coach, first with the Expos in ‘01, then with the then-Florida Marlins in ‘02 and ‘03. He helped the Marlins win the ‘03 World Series, and was hired as the White Sox manager soon after.
In 2005, his second season leading the South Siders, the team won its first World Series since 1917 with a four-game sweep over the Astros. He remained in the position until late in the ’11 season when a contract dispute ended the partnership. He managed the Marlins for one season in ‘12 but was fired at the end of the campaign with three years left on his deal after the team went 69-93.
In eight seasons managing the White Sox, Guillen compiled a regular-season record of 678-617 (.524), and a postseason mark of 12-4 (.750). He also racked up 27 ejections.
Guillen joined ESPN Deportes as a color analyst in 2013 and began working as an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago in 2017. He has been with Chicago Sports Network since last season.
This was a really great moment for Guillen and the White Sox. He has been an integral part of the team’s recent history. He’s not only a colorful character with a big personality, he is a former All-Star who led the franchise to its only World Series title in the last 100-plus years.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ozzie Guillen Breaks Down in Tears As White Sox Announce Jersey Retirement.
