White Sox's Paul Konerko Reaches 4,000 Total Bases for Career

With a fourth-inning double in Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox designated hitter Paul Konerko became the first player in franchise history to record 4,000 total bases in a White Sox uniform, per MLB Milestones on Twitter.

Konerko started his career in 1997 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he played just 55 games between the 1997 and 1998 seasons before being acquired by the Cincinnati Reds in the middle of the '98 campaign. He only appeared in 26 games for the Reds from July through September, as he still didn't have a regular role. 

In all, Konerko played in 81 National League games in 1997-1998, batting a modest .214 with seven home runs, 29 RBI and 73 total bases. He was then traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Mike Cameron, who would go on to have a fine career of his own.

Despite playing in the country's third-largest market since 1999, Konerko has long been one of the more underrated players in the game. Now in his 16th season with the White Sox, he is ranked in the franchise’s top 10 in a number of offensive categories. 

In addition to being the franchise leader in total bases, Konerko is second in games played with 2,247, just behind Luke Appling's 2,422. Konerko ranks third in hits (2,286), trailing Nellie Fox (2,470) and Appling (2,749).  

The 38-year-old is also third in doubles (405), trailing Appling (440) and recent Hall of Fame inductee Frank Thomas (447).  Plus, he trails only Thomas for the franchise lead in home runs with 432 to Thomas' 448.

All stats courtesy of MLB.com unless specifically noted otherwise.