José Valentín returned to Rate Field before Friday's game against the New York Yankees and said he felt like a little kid. He left Chicago after the 2004 season as a player and previously returned in 2014 as a first-base coach with the Padres; this was his first time back on the field since then. Valentín highlighted five productive seasons in Chicago from 2000-04, including a career-high 30 home runs in 2004 and at least 25 homers in each of the prior four seasons. He recalled a walk-off solo homer on June 27, 2003, and hitting for the cycle against Baltimore. Joining the White Sox ended an eight-season playoff drought he experienced with Milwaukee.
I left Chicago after the 2004 season as a player and then I came back here, I think it was in '14 when I was the first-base coach with the Padres. Today is the first time [since] that I put my feet on this field. A lot of good memories, friends, the fans, I think it was the best five years of my career here in Chicago. Happy to be back here on this field and looking forward to seeing some old friends.
One long ball he recalled with a smile was his walk-off solo home run off Antonio Alfonseca on June 27, 2003 against the Chicago Cubs. "It was one of the biggest home runs in my career," Valentín said. "The one I'll never forget [was] when I hit for the cycle here against Baltimore. That was something that's not easy to do as a player. A lot of good memories in this field in Chicago the five years."
Valentín reflects fondly on his run with the White Sox from 2000-04, as it came with some of the most individual and team success of his 16-year MLB career. He slugged a career-high 30 home runs in 2004 and hit at least 25 in each of the previous four seasons, representing his five most productive seasons from a home run standpoint.
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