Top Ten White Sox Moments From The 2005 Postseason

Had some time on my hands a couple weekends ago, so I paid a visit to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Low and behold, way in the corner I noticed a sign that said all items 70% off. My curiosity heightened, I went over and looked through the rack. After dodging through a Nomar Garciaparra Cubs jersey and a shirt that said “Jesus is my homeboy” (no, I’m not kidding), I spotted a black White Sox t-shirt. On it were the names and numbers of all 25 players from the 2005 World Series team, everyone from Willie Harris to Carl Everett. Of course, I bought it, adding to my impressive collection of White Sox memorabilia (three shirts, one being an Albert Belle jersey that covers about half my chest). Even today, almost two and a half years later, people still want to talk about that magical month of October, where the Sox stormed through the playoffs with a nearly perfect 11-1 record. From their shellacking of Matt Clement in the opener against Boston, to the final out in game four at Houston, this was an incredible three-week ride that will never be forgotten in the city of Chicago. Whether it was Joe Crede and Paul Konerko delivering the clutch hits, A.J. pissing off opponents, the starting pitchers dominating, or Geoff Blum/Scott Podsednik showcasing some mighty power, there were many moments to look back on. Here’s my attempt at choosing the best ten.

By: Danny Sheridan

10. Orlando Hernandez bases loaded escape (ALDS Game 3 vs. Boston)

For everyone who questioned why “El Duque” was even on the playoff roster instead of young Brandon McCarthy, shame on you. How quick we forgot Hernandez had already been a part of three world championships with the New York Yankees. Brought into a near impossible situation (bases loaded, nobody out) Hernandez somehow worked his magic once again, getting two fly outs before striking out Johnny Damon on a full count, preserving a one-run Sox lead. The fact that Hernandez threw only one inning the next two series combined hardly mattered. You kind of got a sense right after that inning there was something special going on with this team. Now if we could just find out Hernandez’s actual age, simply for curiosity purposes.

9. A.J. Pierzynski, Aaron Rowand, and Joe Crede singing at the parade

“Just a small town girl…” well you know the rest. Paul Konerko giving Jerry Reinsdorf the ball from the final out was great, but nothing topped this. In what qualified as being right up there with Tony Romo singing the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley, Journey singer Steve Perry joined the three onstage for the unforgettable rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing.” They won’t be putting out record deals anytime soon, and Pierzynski didn’t really know all the words, but who was complaining? Starting in September this became the Sox rallying cry, carrying all the way to the final out in Houston. Admit it, every time you hear the song now, it still brings back memories. I went to the parade, and my only regret was that I wasn’t close enough to get any of it on tape.

8. Tadahito Iguchi’s Home Run (ALDS Game 2 vs. Boston)

Thank you Tony Graffanino. And thank you David Wells. Iguchi’s go-ahead three-run blast in the fifth inning gets sort of lost in the shuffle. Well before the Sox would go on to an 11-1 playoff mark, they found themselves in a dog fight with the defending world champs. By the end of the regular season, Ozzie Guillen was promoting Iguchi as his team’s MVP, which a lot of people rolled their eyes at. Never really a home run threat, Iguchi brought the home crowd back to life by crushing a hanger from Wells on a 0-2 count into the left field seats. The Sox wouldn’t trail the rest of the series. About the only bad thing was having to hear Chris Beerman do the call. If Boston had won this game and evened the series, who knows how the inexperienced White Sox would have handled it? A shout out also to Kenny Williams for signing Iguchi that off-season, despite never seeing him play in person.

7. Joe Crede’s walk off double (ALCS Game 2 vs. Angels)

Sure, the inning probably should have been over already (see below). However, don’t take anything away from the guy who only a few months’ earlier fans wanted gone. You’ll recall it was Jay Mariotti who kept pushing for the Sox to acquire third basemen Shea Hillenbrand to replace Crede. It was also Mariotti who wanted to ship Crede and Jose Contreras at the trade deadline to Florida for Mike Lowell and A.J. Burnett. No wonder him and Ozzie don’t exactly see eye to eye. This was arguably the most important win of the entire playoffs for the Sox. If they had dropped the first two games at home, well, it’d be 91 years and counting. With Mark Buehrle set to come out to pitch a 10^th inning, Crede provided the first of his many clutch hits, and in the process gave the Sox back control of the series. Don’t forget Pablo Ozuna’s stolen base that set the whole thing up either. This certainly wouldn’t be the last we’d hear of Crede.

6. Juan Uribe’s back-to-back defensive plays (WS Game 4 vs. Houston)

Astros fans were probably wondering where was Steve Bartman when you needed him. If Derek Jeter had made either of those two plays to clinch a World Series, he’d be the mayor of New York the next day. Uribe had to settle for a nice little celebration back home in the Dominican Republic. Criticized for much of the season because he couldn’t exactly hit a baseball real well, Uribe put the Sox one out away from a title by making as good a play as you’ll see any shortstop make, Ozzie Smith included. Considering that Uribe isn’t exactly Mr. fleet of foot, how he covered so much ground to even get in position to have a chance for the ball is one thing. Reaching in the stands and coming down with the catch left Joe Buck nearly at a loss for words. A few minutes later, with the tying run at second, Uribe charged a slow hopper and gunned it over to Konerko just in time. Good thing Bobby Jenks couldn’t jump very high, or otherwise the ball would have deflected off his glove.

5. A.J. Pierzynski dropped third strike (ALCS Game 2 vs. Angels)

Up until the past few weeks, the result of this one play caused people to start screaming for instant replay. Forget for a second that hundreds of replays proved inconclusive on whether or not Josh Paul caught the ball cleanly. Don’t blame home plate ump Doug Eddings, blame Paul for lackadaisically rolling the ball back to the mound after the supposed third out of the inning. Give Pierzynski credit for being heads up. He did what any baseball player would do. It just happened to be A.J. at bat. Okay, I’m a little biased, but come on, Pablo Ozuna still had to steal a base, Kelvim Escobar still had to hang a 0-2 pitch, and Joe Crede still had to deliver the game-winning hit. Of course, the Sox got a lot couple lucky breaks in the playoffs, but good teams make their own breaks. Apparently, the Angels were fragile enough to let this one play dictate how the rest of the series would go (see below again).

4. Paul Konerko grand slam (WS Game 2 vs. Houston)

Watching on television, I thought the fans might pull another Disco Demolition fiasco and storm the field. That’s how loud the Cell got after Konerko put the Sox ahead by two in the seventh inning. Throughout his career, Paulie had gone unrecognized as one of the game’s top sluggers, so the playoffs served as sort of his coming out party. Despite having consecutive 40 homer seasons in 04 and 05, his name rarely got mentioned outside of Chicago. After this night, he probably didn’t have to pay for a meal all winter. Although right now he’s getting on people’s nerves, Konerko turned into the undisputed leader during the Sox incredible run, and not just in the postseason. While Ozzie had been doing all the talking till that point, Konerko finally stepped up in September and basically told the media the Sox weren’t going to choke away what was once a 15 game division lead back on Aug. 1.

3. Geoff Blum go-ahead homer (WS Game 3. Houston)

(AP Photo)

See, Kenny Williams knew exactly what he was doing. Criticized for not getting any big-names at the deadline, Williams displayed his Midas touch yet again. Once Jermaine Dye grounded into a double play, Sox fans started looking ahead to who would pitch the bottom of the fourteenth inning. Most probably even got up for a minute to grab something from the fridge as the clock stuck 1:00 in Chicago (guilty). Considering Blum had hit all of one home run in over 300 at bats that year with the Padres and White Sox, he seemed like the absolute last person to go downtown. As soon as the ball left Blum’s bat, it took only a few seconds for it to get out. The lasting image may have been Frank Thomas going crazy on the top step of the dugout while Blum rounded the bases. When Mark Buerhle added another chapter to this classic game by getting the save in the bottom half, Blum went from a nobody to a guy who could have started charging for motivational speeches. Afterwards, some stupid reporter asked Blum if this was his most memorable home run. Gee, uuh you think?

2. Four consecutive complete games (ALCS Games 2-5 vs. Angels)

Quick trivia. Who was the only reliever to pitch for the Sox in the ALCS and how many innings did he go? If you answered Neal Cotts and 2/3, well, nice job. Mark Buerhle started it and Jose Contreras finished the record breaking streak. In between came gems by the since traded John Garland (bad move) and Freddy Garcia (brilliant move). Angel stars Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Chone Figgins combined to hit .138 with one home run and one RBI. They made Alex Rodriguez look like Mr. October. Orlando Cabrera led the way with a whopping four hits for the Angels the entire series. Starting pitching carried the Sox to 99 wins in the regular season, but few predicted it would carry them all the way through October. Garland’s outing in game three, with the series still up for grabs, came out of nowhere. Yeah, the Angels offense wasn’t exactly the 27’ Yankees. When Steve Finley’s your center fielder, that’s not a good thing. Just be glad the Sox didn’t have to play the Yankees, who had a far more potent lineup with A-Rod, Jeter, Posada, Matsui, Sheffield, etc.

1. Scott Podsednik walk-off home run (WS Game 2 vs. Houston)

Brad Lidge said afterwards anyone could have hit the pitch he threw out of the ballpark. Really, anyone Brad? How about giving Pods a little credit? After all, he had rediscovered his power surge, evidenced by his home run a few weeks earlier against Boston. Forget the fact Podsednik went homerless in 507 regular season at bats in 05. Having Albert Pujos hit a ball 500 feet is one thing. Letting Podsednik round the bases untouched while his teammates waited at home plate is another. Next to Kurt Gibson’s and Joe Carter’s heroics, Podsednik’s homer might go down as the greatest walk-off moment in postseason history. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions. Once Bobby Jenks blew a two-run ninth inning lead, extra innings appeared likely. With one out, Pods drove one to right-center. Right away, you were hoping the ball would roll around and Pods could stretch it into a triple. Somehow, the ball kept carrying on a windy 40 degree night, reaching the 10^th row of bleachers. Game over, and for all intents and purposes, series over. Too bad Pods has never been the same.