10 for 10: Remembering the 2005 White Sox
Many Chicago White Sox fans have "stopped believin'" since that miraculous season, with good reason.
Over the past three years, the Sox have posted losing records while finishing a combined 66 games out of first place in the AL Central.
Since that memorable season a decade ago, the White Sox have made the playoffs just one time, and they've won just one playoff game.
It has been a difficult 10 years, without a doubt.
But Monday was a feel-good day, marking the 10-year anniversary of the Sox' 1-0 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park that capped a four-game sweep and secured the franchise's first World Series championship since 1917.
"It seems like it was just yesterday," said former White Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye, who drove in the lone run in Game 4 with an eighth inning single before being named World Series MVP. "Time flies."
Much has changed since the Sox ended their 88-year championship drought in Houston, but the memories remain. Here are my Top 10:
1. Podsednik power
Scott Podsednik did not hit a home run during the 2005 regular season. Looking back, maybe the speedy leadoff man was saving the power for when it really counted.
Podsednik homered in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, but the big blast came in Game 2 of the World Series.
After the Astros rallied for 2 runs against closer Bobby Jenks in the ninth inning to tie the game at 6, Podsednik hit a walk-off homer off Brad Lidge in the bottom of the ninth.
"I still get chills just watching it," former third baseman Joe Crede said.
2. Start and finish
In the AL Championship Series against the Angels, which the White Sox won in 5 games, the starting rotation took over.
Mark Buehrle pitched a complete game in Game 2, and Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras followed suit in Games 3-5.
It was the first time in 77 years that a team pitched four straight complete games in the playoffs.
3. Late Blum-er
Now a broadcaster for the Astros, Geoff Blum came up big for the Sox in Game 3 of the Fall Classic.
With the game tied at 5 in the 14th inning, Blum came on to pinch hit and delivered a solo home run to spark a 7-5 win in the longest World Series game (5 hours, 41 minutes) in history.
4. The Duke
Known as a high pressure performer before signing a free-agent contract with the Sox prior to the 2005 season, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez showed why in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Coming out of the bullpen in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and no outs and the White Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead over the Red Sox, Hernandez got three straight outs.
The White Sox beat Boston 5-3 to sweep the series in three games.
5. A.J. being A.J.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is still one of the most hated players in the game, but he was on the Sox' side 10 years ago and his smarts paid off big.
In Game 2 of the ALCS, Pierzynski ran to first base on a disputed dropped third strike in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game.
Crede followed with a double that scored pinch-runner Pablo Ozuna from first base to give the White Sox the win.
6. The Slam
Podsednik ended Game 2 of the World Series with his clutch home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Paul Konerko set up the heroics with a grand slam in the seventh that wiped out Houston's 4-2 lead.
7. The Dive
Juan Uribe is hoping to be healthy enough to suit up for the New York Mets in this year's World Series, but he remains a South Side legend.
Before throwing out Orlando Palmeiro on a groundball to shortstop to end Game 4, Uribe dove into the stands down the third-base line and caught a Chris Burke foul ball for the second out of the inning.
8. The Presentation
At the downtown victory parade, Konerko showed why his respect level was so high by presenting White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf with the baseball from the final out of the World Series.
9. Double Duty
After starting Game 2 of the World Series and throwing 100 pitches over 7 innings, Buehrle volunteered to pitch again in the Game 3 marathon.
Buehrle got the final out in the 14th inning to earn the save.
10. The Parade
It was a long time coming, and the huge crowd that turned out for the White Sox' victory celebration is Konerko's fondest World Series memory.
An estimated 2 million people lined the streets of Chicago. That might be an inflated total, but it was a party still remembered 10 years later.