Chicago White Sox Mark Buerhrle’s Monster Ford F650, Mean Mustang and Bad BMW 760
Pitcher Mark Buerhrle takes the mound tonight for the Chicago White Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays in pursuit of the pennant.
The season post-season performer has a cool, efficient left handed fastball. Since the game is in Tampa, Buerhle won’t be able to drive his prized possession — a Ford F650 — to the game, listening to loud music. “If I’m pitching I jam out to music,” he explains.
His big rig has earned him a reputation among his teammates “The Ford F650 is an 18 wheeler with 44 inch tires,” he boasts. ” I’ve always liked trucks, I’m a hunter and outdoorsy guy. I had an F250 that had big tires.” When he saw a photo of the F650 he was ready to upgrade, and he spoke constantly about the truck in the lockerroom until it was delivered this year. “I was talking about it all last season. They all think I’m nuts.”
His driving habits reflect hi Missouri beginnings. “It’s crazy big. I can drive in the off season in St Charles Missouri. People call me the redneck. We’re 25 minutes from the city.”
Buerhrle is sentimental about cars, and he chooses carefully. He’s held onto a 1999 Mustang Cobra with a super charger. “That was my first car I bought when I signed with the White Sox. It doesn’t have too many miles kinds of sits in the garage. It has different gears and rims. It’s got extra work it’s souped it’s pretty fast.
He plans to show off the F650 at car shows. “If there’s a show off season and I have a chance to clean it up.” The truck is so big that it sits outside. The 2005 BM W760 LI is his fanciest ride and the daily driver. “It’s my luxury car,” he says. “It’s stock with rims.” He favors the BMW or the truck, while the Mustang is for the collection and then there’s the family car. “The wife has an Infiniti QX 56. It’s an SUV family car for the baby toys and stroller. I try to be chilled out when I drive with the baby.”
When Buerhrle has a little extra time he’d like to get more involved with his rides. “I can change brakes and oil. I would like to get into it.” But first he’s got those pesky Rays to deal with on the mound — and hopefully a chance to drive the F650 to home turf playoff games.
