Table Of ContentCHIC AGO
WHITE SOX
by George Castle
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title; Amy Sancetta/AP Images, 4, 10, 43 (bottom); David J. Phillip/AP Images,
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014932910
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Castle, George.
Chicago White Sox / by George Castle.
p. cm. — (Inside MLB)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-62403-465-7
1. Chicago White Sox (Baseball team)—History—Juvenile Literature. I. Title.
GV875.C58C375 2015
796.357’640977311—dc23
2014932910
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
Chapter .............D on't Stop Believin', 4
2
Chapter .............Comiskey and Company, 12
3
Chapter .............“Black Sox” and a Dark Era, 18
4
Chapter .............The Go-Go White Sox, 26
5
Chapter .............The Reinsdorf White Sox, 34
Timeline, 42
Quick Stats, 44
Quotes and Anecdotes, 45
Glossary, 46
For More Information, 47
Index, 48
About the Author, 48
1
CHAPTER
DON'T STOP
BELIEVIN'
E
very team should experience a dream
season once in their fans’ lifetimes.
For the Chicago White Sox and their
long-suffering fans, that year was 2005.
The White Sox had not six-game loss to the Los Ange-
won a World Series since 1917. les Dodgers. It was their only
They were a seemingly unlucky World Series appearance since
franchise. Perhaps their best the “fixed” Series of 1919. Three
team, the 1919 squad, gave trips to the playoffs after 1959
baseball a black eye with the also resulted in failure. Former
infamous “Black Sox” betting Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen’s
scandal. The Sox’s 1959 Fall hiring as manger in 2004 did
Classic appearance ended in a not immediately work out.
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5
DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’
OZZIE GUILLEN But the White Sox won it
all in Guillen’s second season
On May 4, 2010, Ozzie Guillen
in charge. This was thanks to
managed his 1,000th game for the
many factors. General man-
White Sox. It did not turn out as he
ager Kenny Williams, for
had hoped—a 7–2 loss to the Kansas
example, shook up the ros-
City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field. But
ter. He subtracted some of
Guillen was proud that he had lasted
seven seasons as manager. That the team’s power for speed.
was longer than any other White Sox He traded slugging left fielder
manager since Tony La Russa, who Carlos Lee to the Milwaukee
led the team from 1979 to 1986. Brewers for outfielder Scott
“I'm just lucky,” the outspoken Podsednik. Podsednik would
Guillen said. “The front office and become the team’s speedy
[team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf] gave
leadoff man. Another Sox fix-
me good ballclubs. That's the only
ture, right fielder Magglio
way you can stay. Most of the time
Ordonez, left as a free agent
managers get fired. They gave me
for the Detroit Tigers. The Sox
the opportunity.”
signed right fielder Jermaine
Guillen, a native of Venezuela,
Dye to take Ordonez’s place.
was a big-league shortstop from
Podsednik and Dye would play
1985 to 2000. He played his first 13
key roles in the regular season
seasons with the White Sox. After his
and in the postseason.
playing career, he was a coach with
Other new faces became
the Montreal Expos and the Florida
contributors to the team’s suc-
Marlins until the White Sox hired him
cess. The Sox started the 2005
before the 2004 season.
season with Shingo Takatsu
of Japan as their closer.
6
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Scott Podsednik, who was in his first season with the White Sox in 2005,
helped Chicago with his speed. He stole 59 bases that season.
But Dustin Hermanson soon The Sox also employed
replaced him. When Herman- another Japanese player—sec-
son developed back problems, ond baseman Tadahito Iguchi.
the Sox turned to rookie Bobby He had been a power hitter in
Jenks. Jenks had a troubled Japan before he signed with Chi-
career in the Los Angeles cago prior to the 2005 season.
Angels’ minor league system. But Guillen needed a hitter to
But he was outstanding as a bat second. Iguchi adjusted his
closer for the White Sox. style and hit behind Podsednik.
7
DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’
In the starting rotation, the division, you’re lying,” Sox
former New York Yankee Jose first baseman Paul Konerko
Contreras blossomed under said.
pitching coach Don Cooper’s But the Sox believed in
direction. Contreras and fel- themselves and adopted the
low Cuba native Orlando “El song “Don’t Stop Believin’” by
Duque” Hernandez, also an 1980s rock band Journey as
ex-Yankee, gave the rotation their unofficial anthem. The
depth. Longtime starters Mark song would ring in every Sox
Buehrle and Jon Garland con- fan’s ears throughout October
tinued to excel. Freddy Garcia, 2005.
a former Seattle Mariner whom The White Sox faced the
the White Sox acquired in 2004, Boston Red Sox in the AL Divi-
rounded out the starting five. sion Series (ALDS). Chicago
The Sox started out 2005 returned to midseason form. In
as if they would breeze to the the first two games, the White
American League (AL) Cen- Sox beat the Red Sox 14–2 and
tral title. They held a 15-game 5–4 at U.S. Cellular Field. Chi-
lead on August 1. But then the cago then won 5–3 in Game 3
Cleveland Indians got hot. By at Fenway Park to sweep the
September 22, the Sox’s lead series in three games.
was down to 1 1/2 games. Chi- In the AL Championship
cago, however, pulled away to Series (ALCS) against the Los
finish 99–63 and capture the Angeles Angels, exceptional
division title by six games. pitching boosted the White Sox.
“If you said before the sea- Chicago dropped Game 1 at
son that we were going to win home 3–2. But then the Sox’s
8
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
