By Woodrow Carroll
It may seem a bit hard to process, but, it has been 20 years since the Chicago White Sox reigned as baseball’s World Champions. And, given the franchise’s struggles in recent years, success in the near future does appear in the offing. With that in mind, let us look back on the 2005 season in order to bring a degree of joy to the White Sox faithful.
The White Sox came into the 2005 season with a fairly high degree of optimism. With a regular-season record of 99-63, the White Sox had the best record in the American League. (True, the St. Louis Cardinals had a Major League best record of 100-62. But, so what!)
First up for the Pale Hose in the franchises playoff run in 2005 was a best-of-five series with the Boston Red Sox, the defending World Champions. The Red Sox had swept St. Louis four straight games to win the 2004 World Series.
The White Sox opened divisional series play by taking the opening game in Chicago, 14-2. A five-run first inning burst by Chicago made it easy for Chicago and starting pitcher Jose Contreras.
Game 2 of the divisional playoffs was close with Chicago emerging a 5-4 victor. The Red Sox were up 4-0 before Chicago stormed back to give the White Sox, and starter Mark Buehrle, the victory.
In Boston for the third game of the divisional playoffs and seeking a sweep in the series, Chicago pitching turned in what Oswego resident, and long-time White Sox fan, George Fortier, vividly recalled as the postseason highlight of 2005.
El Duque (The Duke) was White Sox reliever Orlando Hernandez’s nickname. Hernandez had broken into the Majors with the New York Yankees in 1998. And, it was good timing on the part of Hernandez when the Yankees captured the World Championship each of his first three years with the Yankees. However, what stands out about Hernandez, at least to White Sox fans, is Hernandez performance in Game 3 of the AL Divisional Playoffs in 2005.
Let’s set the stage for Hernandez’s heroic effort, who by 2005 was pitching for the White Sox. A serviceable pitcher, Hernandez was only 9-9 with Chicago in 2005.
In the sixth inning of Game 3 in Boston, White Sox reliever Damaso Marte loaded the bases with no outs and Chicago held on to a precarious 4-3 lead. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen then brought in El Duque in relief. And, what does Hernandez do? First, Hernandez gets Jason Varitek to pop out. Next, El Duque gets Tony Graffinino on another pop out. Then Hernandez strikes out Johnny Damon. The White Sox lead was preserved. Chicago then tacked on a run in the top of the ninth inning for Chicago to take the game 5-3 and the Series 3-0. And El Duque acquired legendary status in the minds of many White Sox fans.
With Boston out of the way, the American League Championship Series was next for Chicago. After dropping the first game of a best-of-seven series to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the White Sox then took four straight to reach the World Series. And, as all White Sox fans can tell you, it was a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros in the World Series giving the White Sox their first championship since 1917.
The 2005 campaign closed with a rush for the White Sox. Chicago closed the regular season winning its final five games. Then, the White Sox took 11 of 12 contests in postseason play. The fondest of memories for the White Sox faithful.