20 reasons why Mark Buehrle had the perfect baseball career

As a kid, I envied the life of the superstar athletes, but as an adult — after witnessing superstars like Michael Jordan up close, Aaron Rodgers from close proximity and Barry Bonds from far away — I envied the career of Mark Buehrle (and Paul Konerko for that matter) most of all.

Buehrle probably isn't a Hall of Famer, but every time he doesn't make it, it's a reminder that he still had a career that some Hall of Famers might envy — a solid, lengthy injury-free career of consistent success, indelible moments, a World Series ring, Gold Gloves, generational wealth and — perhaps most of all — the admiration of teammates, competitors, fans, media members and just about anyone who knew him for being a good guy every single step of the way.

The list of reasons why Buehrle's career was so enviable is much longer than that, and one always leads to another. Eventually — after one of those recent Hall of Fame votes — I compiled a list of 20 reasons why Mark Buehrle had the perfect baseball career. And every time I publish it on Twitter, Sox fans keep coming up with more.

In fact, one of Buehrle's best accomplishments that didn't make the list came up this week when former teammate Bobby Jenks passed away — In 2009, Buehrle not only pitched a perfect game, but set a major-league record by retiring 45 consecutive batters (breaking the mark set by the Giants' Jim Barr in 1971 and tied by Jenks in 2007 (Fun Fact: Jenks actually got 42 outs in his streak — he earned a three-out save by facing just two batters when he relieved Matt Thornton against the tigers and got Mike Rabelo to hit into a game-ending, line-drive double play).

And whether Buehrle ever makes the Hall of Fame, he will live forever as one of the greatest White Sox players of all-time after the Sox unveiled a statue of Buehrle at Rate Field on Friday between games of a double-header. As humble and unassuming as he is, it's clear that while Buehrle is uncomfortable with fame, he appreciates and enjoys recognition. He doesn't want to be forgotten. And he won't be.

So here, again but not for the last time, is the list of 20 reasons why Mark Buehrle had the perfect baseball career (feel free to add to the list):