If you ask a casual baseball fan about the South Side of Chicago, they’ll probably mention the "Black Sox" or maybe Frank Thomas. But there is a weird, almost eerie gap in the collective memory of sports media when it comes to the White Sox World Series history. It's like the 2005 championship was a collective fever dream that everyone decided to stop talking about the moment the parade ended.
Seriously. ESPN once famously ran a graphic about Chicago championships and just... forgot the White Sox existed.
The truth is, this franchise doesn't just have one story. It has three titles, one of the most infamous scandals in human history, and a 2005 run that was statistically one of the most dominant displays of pitching ever seen. They aren't just the "other" team in Chicago. Honestly, their postseason history is way more dramatic than the "Loveable Losers" narrative across town.
The 2005 White Sox World Series: A Total Eclipse
The 2005 season was basically a wire-to-wire masterclass. Most people forget the Sox led their division for every single day of the season. That’s rare. Then they hit the playoffs and went 11-1. Let that sink in. They nearly swept the entire postseason.
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You've got to look at the ALCS to understand the World Series win. Four straight complete games. Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, and Jose Contreras simply refused to leave the mound. In an era of specialized bullpens, that was basically a miracle.
By the time they reached the White Sox World Series matchup against the Houston Astros, they were an unstoppable force. But it wasn't a "blowout" in the way you'd think. Every game was tight. Every game was stressful.
The Swing That Changed Everything
Game 2 of the 2005 Series is the one people still talk about at bars on 35th Street. It was raining. It was cold. The Sox were down. Then, Paul Konerko hit a grand slam that literally shook the foundation of U.S. Cellular Field.
But even that didn't end it. The Astros tied it back up.
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Then came Scott Podsednik. This guy didn't hit a single home run during the entire regular season. Not one. In the bottom of the ninth, he turned on a Brad Lidge fastball and sent it into the right-field seats. A walk-off. From the guy with zero power. That is the kind of baseball magic you can't script, and it basically broke the Astros' spirit for the rest of the sweep.
The "Hitless Wonders" of 1906
Before the 2005 glory, you have to go way back to 1906. This was the first ever "Subway Series" (or L-Series, I guess). It was the White Sox against the Cubs.
The Cubs were the heavy favorites. They had won 116 games—a record that stood alone until the 2001 Mariners tied it. The White Sox? They were nicknamed the "Hitless Wonders" because they had a team batting average of .230. They were terrible at the plate.
But they won.
They beat their crosstown rivals in six games, mostly because their pitching was so stingy it made the Cubs' legendary offense look amateur. It remains one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.
The 1917 Title and the 1919 Shadow
In 1917, the Sox were arguably the best team in the world. They beat the New York Giants in six games. Eddie Cicotte and Red Faber were absolute Workhorses. This was a powerhouse team, a juggernaut that should have been a dynasty.
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Then 1919 happened.
The "Black Sox" scandal is the most famous fix in sports history. Eight players, including the legendary "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, were accused of taking money from gamblers to throw the Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
- The Motive: Pure spite. Owner Charles Comiskey was notoriously cheap. He allegedly wouldn't even pay to laundry the uniforms, leading to the "Black Sox" nickname (though that might be a bit of folklore).
- The Fallout: All eight players were banned for life by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, even though they were acquitted in court.
- The Curse: This created an 88-year drought. While the Cubs had the "Billy Goat," the Sox had the "Curse of the Black Sox."
It’s a dark, complex chapter. Some people still argue Joe Jackson was innocent because he hit .375 in that series. Others say he was in on it from the start. Either way, it defined the franchise for nearly a century.
Why the White Sox World Series Legacy is Disrespected
There's a weird psychological thing where people ignore the Sox. Maybe it’s because they swept the 2005 series, and sweeps are "boring" to national media. Or maybe it’s because they don’t have the Ivy-covered walls of Wrigley.
But if you look at the stats, the 2005 team was one of the best "team-ball" rosters ever assembled. They didn't rely on one superstar. They had Jermaine Dye (the Series MVP), A.J. Pierzynski (the villain everyone loved to hate), and a rookie closer named Bobby Jenks who threw 100 mph gas.
How to Appreciate Sox History Like an Expert
If you want to actually understand this team’s legacy, don't just look at the trophies. Look at the context.
- Watch the Game 3 of 2005: It was a 14-inning marathon in Houston. Geoff Blum—a utility infielder—hit the go-ahead homer. It’s the longest game in World Series history by time.
- Study the 1906 Upset: Understand that the South Side has always been the underdog. Beating a 116-win Cubs team is the ultimate bragging right.
- Respect the Pitching: From Ed Walsh in the early 1900s to Mark Buehrle's 2005 heroics (including a save in Game 3 after drinking a few beers in the bullpen—legend has it), this team is built on the mound.
The White Sox World Series wins aren't just dates on a calendar. They are reminders that in Chicago, the South Side doesn't need the spotlight to dominate. They just need a solid rotation and a timely swing.
If you're ever in Chicago, go to the corner of 35th and Shields. There's a statue of Paul Konerko with his fist in the air. That’s not just art; it’s the moment an 88-year shadow finally lifted.
Next time you hear someone say Chicago only has one baseball team, just remind them: the White Sox have a higher winning percentage in the World Series than the Cubs do. That usually shuts them up pretty quick.
To get the full experience, grab a scorecard and look up the box scores for the 2005 series. Specifically, check the pitch counts for the ALCS. You will never see a stretch of starting pitching like that again as long as you live.