Paul Konerko ties Andre Dawson on all time HR list
By Mike Marteny
Chicago White Sox designated hitter Paul Konerko hit his 438th career home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Kansas City Royal reliever Michael Mariot this afternoon. No, there are not any herioc anecdotes to add to this little footnote of history.
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It was the only run of the game for the Sox as they were dominated by young lefty Danny Duffy in a 9-1 loss at US Cellular Field.
His 438th career home run ties him with Hall of Famer Andre Dawson for 42nd all time on baseball’s most prestigious, if not somewhat tainted, list.
Konerko got his first taste of the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in September of 2007. He did have to wait until June 6th of 1998 for his first career home run. It was in an interleague tilt with the Seattle Mariners off of Bob Wells.
Konerko’s career really took off in 1999 when he was traded by the Reds to the White Sox for Mike Cameron in the offseason. Konerko has 431 of his career home runs in a White Sox uniform.
Konerko had back-to-back 40 homer seasons in 2004 and 2005, and played a big part in bringing a championship back to Chicago in 2005 for the first time since the 1917 White Sox. Konerko hit 265 with five home runs in the postseason that year, including a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series.
Next up for Konerko is Jason Giambi, who sits at 440 career home runs, all alone in 41st place.