Tim Anderson’s Career and Retirement from Baseball
Nearly five years ago, Tim Anderson made a memorable appearance for the Chicago White Sox in Dyersville, Iowa. With the world watching, Anderson delivered a highlight of his career. He hit a two-run homer into the fields beyond the right-field wall, giving the Sox a 9-8 win over the New York Yankees. This iconic moment occurred during the first Field of Dreams game on August 12, 2021.
“Just as I round second, I see the team, everybody is just going crazy,” Anderson reflected. “I look up in the stands and everybody is just going crazy. You hear the fireworks. Just a moment of happiness. We were really happy in that moment. That moment made everyone happy.”
During this game, Anderson hit a walk-off home run, cementing his place in White Sox history. However, on a recent Monday afternoon, Anderson announced his retirement during an emotional videoconference call. He expressed mixed feelings about his career.
“The game brought a lot of good moments, but also brought a lot of pain. It gives me anxiety just stepping into talking about baseball,” Anderson shared. “I’m sweating now. A lot of great moments. But throughout playing, it definitely was a lot of dark moments. I lost a lot of people. It got to the point where I really couldn’t enjoy being in that setting. It just wasn’t the same.”
As a central figure of the “change the game” era for the franchise, Anderson achieved numerous accolades. In 2019, he won a batting title with a .335 average and was named an All-Star twice (2021-22). He started the 2022 All-Star Game as shortstop.
“Definitely were great moments,” Anderson remarked. “But just overall, the anxiety is just something I would rather not step into. I fought to try to get back. I trained. I just couldn’t get the body to operate like it used to. Overall, I’m happy. I’m happy in real life, happy in the real world.”
Anderson emphasized his joy outside of baseball, spending time with family and living life on his terms. Reflecting on his decision, he expressed contentment with retiring.
“I get to enjoy my kids. I get to wake up and do whatever I want to. That makes me happy. As far as thinking about baseball, it’s a lot of moments. A lot of cool moments, but for me overall it brought a lot of pain, a lot of anxiety.”
The White Sox plan to honor Anderson, 33, before their game against the Detroit Tigers on September 17 at Rate Field. Anderson will throw out the first pitch, and the team will don the “Southside” city connect uniform, a nod to his influence.
Over his career, Anderson participated in 991 games for the Sox (2016-23), Miami Marlins (2024), and Los Angeles Angels (2025). He held a batting average of .276, with 98 home runs and 350 RBIs. His eight seasons with the Sox showcased .282/.312/.422 averages, along with numerous achievements.
“I’m getting emotional now because we’re talking about something that I worked my whole life to get there,” Anderson explained. “Nobody knows what I sacrificed and what the body felt every day. I’m kind of happier waking up and being able to be around my kids and really living a real life.”
Anderson fondly recalled his journey with the White Sox, acknowledging the team for giving him a chance.
“I’m definitely happy for my moments. But I get sad talking about it because this is the first team that gave me my opportunity. They took the chance on me. I didn’t have a crazy resume. So they gave me a shot and they stuck by my side.”
His legacy includes enjoyed moments such as the bat flips and walk-offs, especially the Field of Dreams game nearing its fifth anniversary.
“I think everyone in the baseball world was happy, it don’t matter which team you was really going for — well, I mean, besides if you were for the Yankees,” Anderson noted. “But just being in that moment, definitely it struck the baseball community.”