October 7, 2026
October 7, 2026
2005 Chicago White Sox: Smart Ball Southsiders
Ozzie Guillen’s first season managing a Major League team came in 2004 with the Chicago White Sox, who went just 83-79 that year, finishing as one of the more average teams in baseball. Having seen only minimal success since their last World Series appearance in 1959, the White Sox front office moved quickly to improve the roster. In the 2004-2005 offseason, the team signed free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye and free agent relief pitcher Dustin Hermanson on December 9, 2004. Four days later, on December 13, the White Sox traded slugging outfielder Carlos Lee to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for speedy outfielder Scott Podsednik and relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino.
The White Sox then claimed relief pitcher Bobby Jenks off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, signed starting pitcher Orlando Hernandez on January 3, 2005, and added catcher A.J. Pierzynski on January 6. They also signed Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi on January 27. Every one of these additions would play a significant part in turning the White Sox around under Ozzie Guillen, whose fiery managing style became a hallmark of the club’s identity that season.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox went 99-63 in the regular season, finishing six games ahead of the Cleveland Indians to win the American League Central division. The only notable teams the White Sox struggled against were the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, going 3-4 and 4-6 against them, respectively. The White Sox made only one trade at the deadline on July 31, sending left-handed minor league pitcher Ryan Meaux to the San Diego Padres in exchange for utility infielder Geoff Blum.
Otherwise known simply as “Small Ball,” the term “Smart Ball” was used throughout 2005 to describe Guillen’s managing style and the White Sox’s style of play. Stealing bases in the most ideal baserunning situations was the norm for Chicago.
Playing left field, Scott Podsednik batted .290 with 147 hits and 28 doubles, and he led the team with a whopping 59 stolen bases. First baseman Paul Konerko batted .283 and slammed 40 home runs, recording 100 RBIs off 163 hits and 24 doubles. Tadahito Iguchi batted .278, hitting 15 home runs and recording 71 RBIs off 142 hits, 25 doubles, and six triples; Iguchi also added 15 stolen bases. Playing right field, Jermaine Dye batted .274, crushing 31 home runs and recording 86 RBIs off 145 hits and 29 doubles, along with 11 stolen bases. Center fielder Aaron Rowand batted .270 and hit 13 home runs, recording 69 RBIs off 156 hits, 30 doubles, and five triples, plus 16 stolen bases.
Designated hitter Carl Everett belted 23 home runs and recorded 87 RBIs off 123 hits and 17 doubles. Third baseman Joe Crede belted 22 home runs and had 156 hits and 21 doubles. Shortstop Juan Uribe hit 16 home runs and recorded 71 RBIs off 121 hits, 23 doubles, and three triples. A.J. Pierzynski slammed 18 home runs and had 118 hits and 21 doubles.
Coming off the bench, third baseman Pablo Ozuna added 14 stolen bases, and second baseman Willie Harris chipped in 10 stolen bases, giving Guillen’s lineup depth and speed up and down the roster.
The White Sox also had a reliable pitching staff built on momentum, wasting little time between pitches to keep opposing hitters off balance.
Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle went 16-8 with 149 strikeouts and recorded a 3.12 ERA, three complete games, and one shutout. Freddy Garcia went 14-8 with 146 strikeouts, recording a 3.87 ERA and two complete games. Jon Garland went 18-10 with 115 strikeouts, recording a 3.50 ERA, three complete games, and three shutouts. Forkball specialist Jose Contreras went 15-7 with 154 strikeouts, recording a 3.61 ERA and one complete game.
Dustin Hermanson served as the main closer for the White Sox, recording 34 saves along with a 2.04 ERA. To start the season, Shingo Takatsu recorded eight saves in 31 games, while Bobby Jenks came on late in the season to record six saves. Damaso Marte also recorded four saves. Cliff Politte posted a 2.00 ERA and Neal Cotts a 1.94 ERA as the club’s primary setup men.
The White Sox drew the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series, and Chicago swept Boston three games to none.
In Game 1 on October 4 at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox pounded the Red Sox 14-2. The catalyst for Chicago’s offensive surge came in the bottom of the first inning, when Paul Konerko grounded into a forceout at second base to score Scott Podsednik. Aaron Rowand added an RBI single, and A.J. Pierzynski then crushed a three-run home run. Jose Contreras went 7.2 innings, giving up eight hits and two runs while recording six strikeouts.
In Game 2 on October 5, the White Sox narrowly beat the Red Sox 5-4 after Boston struck early. Left fielder Manny Ramirez had a two-run single in the top of the first inning, catcher Jason Varitek added an RBI single, and outfielder Trot Nixon had an RBI groundout in the top of the third inning. Chicago struck back emphatically in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Aaron Rowand hit an RBI double, Joe Crede added an RBI single, and Tadahito Iguchi crushed a three-run home run.
In Game 3 on October 7 at Fenway Park, the White Sox won again, 5-3, in a wilder fashion. Podsednik had an RBI double in the top of the third inning, and Iguchi followed with an RBI single. In the bottom of the fourth inning, designated hitter David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit back-to-back solo home runs. Paul Konerko gave Chicago the lead back with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, and Ramirez gave Boston some hope with another solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Relieving Freddy Garcia, Damaso Marte gave up a single to Trot Nixon and walked both third baseman Bill Mueller and first baseman John Olerud. Ozzie Guillen then pulled Marte in favor of Orlando Hernandez, and with the bases loaded and no outs, “El Duque” got catcher Jason Varitek to hit a foul popup, second baseman Tony Graffanino to hit a popup, and struck out center fielder Johnny Damon to end the threat.
The White Sox moved on to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League Championship Series and eliminated the Angels four games to one. After losing Game 1 at home 3-2 on October 11, the White Sox went on a tear, starting with a 2-1 Game 2 win on October 12. The series shifted to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for Game 3 on October 14, and the White Sox won 5-2. Chicago then continued to roll with an 8-2 Game 4 win on October 15 before capping things off in Game 5 on October 16 with a 6-3 win.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox met the Houston Astros in the World Series.
Beginning at U.S. Cellular Field in Game 1 on October 22, the White Sox won 5-3. Jermaine Dye got things started in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run, and Astros first baseman Mike Lamb answered with his own solo home run in the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, A.J. Pierzynski grounded out to the shortstop to score Carl Everett, and Juan Uribe followed with an RBI double. Astros left fielder Lance Berkman had a two-run double in the top of the third inning, but the White Sox responded with a Joe Crede solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and a Scott Podsednik RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth.
The White Sox won Game 2 on October 23 by a score of 7-6. Joe Crede had an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, and Juan Uribe followed with a flyball RBI single. Lance Berkman struck often for the Astros, adding a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning and a two-run double in the top of the fifth. Paul Konerko then sent White Sox fans into a roar of cheers with a grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh. After Jose Vizcaino delivered a pinch-hit two-run single in the top of the ninth, Scott Podsednik, who hit no home runs in the regular season, hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to win it for his team.
Houston’s Minute Maid Park hosted the next two games, and the White Sox won Game 3 on October 25 by a score of 7-5. Berkman struck again for Houston with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning, while second baseman Craig Biggio added an RBI single in the bottom of the third, and third baseman Morgan Ensberg followed with his own RBI single. Left fielder Jason Lane then hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to give Houston an early 4-0 lead. Chicago came back with a solo home run from Joe Crede in the top of the fifth, followed by RBI singles from Tadahito Iguchi and Jermaine Dye, and a two-run double from A.J. Pierzynski. Jason Lane’s infield RBI single to the shortstop in the bottom of the eighth kept the game going until the bottom of the 14th inning, when Geoff Blum hit a solo home run and catcher Chris Widger added a bases-loaded walk for another run.
In Game 4 on October 26, Freddy Garcia pitched seven innings and gave up only four hits and three walks while recording seven strikeouts. Jermaine Dye drove in the only run of the game, as his RBI single in the top of the eighth inning proved to be all the White Sox needed. Bobby Jenks came in to record his fourth save of the postseason, and the Chicago White Sox won their first World Series championship since 1917. Jermaine Dye won the World Series Most Valuable Player award. The White Sox’s 11-1 postseason record is tied with the New York Yankees for the best postseason record in baseball history.
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