Each MLB team’s best season ever

Chicago White Sox: 2005

Forever an afterthought in the city of Chicago, where the Cubs are the much more popular team, the White Sox have won only three World Series titles in their history dating back to 1901. Two of those championships came before 1920. The White Sox have been to the playoffs only five times since 1960, but did pull off one of the most surprising wins in recent history by winning the 2005 title.

The White Sox had built a solid core by the early 2000s, finishing .500 or better each season from 2000 to 2006, and everything came together in 2005. With an average offense, the White Sox were carried to the title by their dominant starting rotation. On the tail end of the Steroid Era, the 2005 Sox had four starting pitchers with an ERA below 4.00. Mark Buehrle led the staff with a 16-8 record and 3.12 ERA. He was an All-Star and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young.

Offensively, the White Sox were only ninth in the AL in runs scored and eighth in OPS. Paul Konerko was the big star in the lineup, hitting 41 home runs and driving in 100. Right fielder Jermaine Dye hit 31 homers to go along with 86 RBI. Hall of Famer Frank Thomas was in the twilight of his career, but did manage to hit 12 home runs in only 105 at-bats.

Chicago emerged from an underwhelming crop of contenders to win the World Series and toook only one loss on their way to the title. It was one of the more forgettable postseasons in the past 20 years without much real drama. In the World Series, the White Sox dominated the Houston Astros, hitting .286/.360/.487 and outscoring them 20-14. Dye was the MVP of the World Series.