For decades, baseball and football have been synonymous with “America’s Favorite Pastime,” and with good reason. Baseball’s history and influence on our culture and society are unparalleled. Whether you’re a fan or just curious about how baseball and football compare, you’ll likely find something to enjoy in this collection of vintage photographs. KEN GRABOWSKI: The American pastime has a new look these days
The Chicago White Sox broke through in 2005
The Chicago White Sox had not been in the playoffs since 1931, when they won the World Series. In fact, only seven teams had done so in the previous century, and the Sox had never been in the postseason back-to-back. With the core of the 2005 team still on the roster, manager Denny Williams went into the offseason aggressively, adding a handful of key pieces to the roster. He added workhorse starter Javier Vasquez and slugger Jim Thome to the roster. Both players had been injured in 2005, but Garcia’s development has been a positive thing for the team.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox broke through with an 11-1 postseason run and won the World Series. The 2005 White Sox are one of only five teams in MLB history to lead their division from start to finish. They went on to win the AL pennant in four consecutive games, the longest streak in team history. They may never make it to the World Series again, but the 2005 White Sox are certainly worthy of more recognition than they receive.
The Angels series was interesting because the Angels were missing their top starter, and the White Sox had to play without him. Chicago lost three games to them without Guerrero. The Sox also played seven games without ace closer Gagne. In game two, they tied the series 1-1 after A.J. Pierzynski hit the game-winning HR after Hee-Seop Choi dropped a pop foul.
The Chicago White Sox have enjoyed success in recent seasons. The team went 100-54 in 1999 and a century ago, but they have only had one 100-win season since then. Their last championship would come in 2021. The White Sox and Cubs played in a crosstown World Series 11 years earlier, and the Cubs won in six games. However, their season in 2005 had high expectations.
After winning the 2005 World Series, the Chicago White Sox were finally crowned champions. The triumph overshadowed the Red Sox’ title the year before, and left the crosstown rivals with a multi-generational curse. While the Sox’ success brought excitement to Bridgeport, the current White Sox seem to be lacking the same level of passion. At Shinnick’s Pub, there were nine members of the Flynn family who own the business.
Although the team struggled early in the season, the lineup showed a sign of life. In addition to Vlad Guerrero, the team had five players with at least one RBI. While the team didn’t have the most talent, their offense looked like it was ready for another October run. As the season went on, the White Sox’ starting pitching and bullpen started to show signs of fatigue. While their offense was a strong enough force to overcome a tough era, their starting pitching and bullpen started to crack.
The season began with a 1-0 victory against the Cardinals on July 15. It was the first World Series appearance for the White Sox since the World Series was held in Atlanta in 1995. Geoff Blum was acquired from the San Diego Padres before the deadline. Blum’s unassuming and anonymous appearance as a White Sox player made him an unlikely hero. A little later, the team’s clinched the ALDS against the Red Sox.
Although pitching and fielding were the primary keys to the Red Sox’ 2005 success, the team’s offense struggled mightily. The Red Sox won the AL Central division and made the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. However, the Red Sox still needed to make adjustments to their offense. They wanted to improve their strikeout to walk ratio and improve their pitching, and a more balanced offense was the answer.
While the Sox have not yet reached their ceiling, the team’s record and performance suggest that the team has the potential to go far. Coach Tony La Russa knows how to make the best of what he has, and the record is the key to success. As Bill Parcells famously said, “You are what your record says you are.”
In the fifth inning, the White Sox scored a run on a lead-off home run by Joe Crede, and then two outs later on in the game by A. J. Pierzynski and Tal’s Hill. They also walked in a run. After the fifth, Joe Crede hit a three-run home run by Jermaine Dye. Nevertheless, the White Sox blew multiple opportunities in the late innings.
The team won the World Series in five games, with the first game being won by the White Sox, 4-0. In addition, a few players hit HRs, with five for the Sox and two by the Red Sox. But their success was not enough, and they had to go even further. The resurgent team swept the season in the AL. However, the White Sox would go on to win the World Series and clinch their first division title in a decade.
President Bush honored the players, including Joe Buck. Fox Sports carried the World Series on US television for the first time, making it even more impressive. After winning the 2005 World Series, Rooney joined the Cardinals’ broadcast team and called the final out for the White Sox. During the 2006 World Series, Rooney was the voice of the team. This was his third postseason championship. It is hard to imagine a White Sox season without him.