GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jerry Krause, who died Tuesday at the age of 77, played a major role in six NBA titles won by the Chicago Bulls during the historic Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen era.
But according to White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, who knew Krause from the time Williams was a 17-year-old player, the one-time Bulls general manager should have another championship credited to his resume.
"He had a hand in seven championships being that he scouted both Ozzie [Guillen] and myself, and counseled us in the early years of some of the things we had to go through in our general manager-player relationships," said Williams at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, referring to the 2005 World Series won the by Sox. "He's probably telling his friends up there right now he actually has seven.
"We talk about his six championships, so deservedly you would think he'd have lived long enough to see himself inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hopefully that happens but it would have been nice for him to see that happen."
Krause served as the White Sox director of international scouting from May, 2010, through the 2011 season. Krause worked as a scout with the Indians, A's, Mariners and White Sox during the 1970s and 1980s, and also with the Yankees, Mets and D-backs following his retirement from the Bulls.

Krause played a major role in the White Sox acquisitions of Guillen, Julio Cruz, Ed Farmer, Greg Luzinski, Tom Seaver, Greg Walker and Williams.
"I learned a lot from him in the early years, maybe not to your guys' [media] liking, the secrecy part of things," Williams said. "But he felt you absolutely had to have protection against your proprietary information. I wish people had got to know his softer side because he's a good family man.
"A good fisherman. He could tell a story, man. He could recite stories from 20, 30 years ago. I wish the public had gotten a chance to know him along those lines -- maybe he would have gotten a break he probably deserved."
General manager Rick Hahn paid his respect to Krause, who is survived by his wife, Thelma, his two children, David and Stacy, and his four grandchildren. Hahn spoke of his two personal Krause experiences, starting with growing up a Bulls fan and feeling a sense of gratitude toward the man before ever meeting him for what the team accomplished.
"From a personal level, when he was here and involved in our scouting operations, I found him to be an excellent evaluator and a very thoughtful individual," Hahn said. "He knew a tremendous amount about the game and was generous with his time and was certainly an asset."