As of 670 The Score’s 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these “flashbacks” have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score’s 20th Anniversary page.

October 16, 2005 – White Sox win the AL Pennant

Entering the 2005 season, the White Sox hadn’t played in a World Series game since the 1959 season.

That was all about to change when the White Sox defeated the Angels four-games-to-one in the American League Champion Series on Oct. 16, 2005.

Though the White Sox lost Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, they rebounded to win the next four games in incredible fashion.

Anchoring the team throughout the entire series was the starting rotation of Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras. The four pitchers combined to throw four-straight complete games in Games 2-5. In fact, the 2/3 of an inning pitched by Neal Cotts in Game 1 was the only work the White Sox bullpen saw the entire series.

After giving away home-field advantage with their loss in Game 1, the White Sox rebounded in Game 2, thanks in part to a controversial called third strike call at the end of the game that allowed the White Sox to even the series at 1-1.

Game 3 featured a first-inning, two-run home run from Paul Konerko that put the Angels in a hole they would never get out of. In Game 4, it was Konerko again who hit a first-inning, three-run home run to the put the White Sox on top for good in an 8-2 drudging.

The White Sox clinched the division in Game 5 in front of a sold-out crowd in Anaheim behind the team’s fourth-straight complete game, this time from Contreras.

The performance from the starting rotation marked the first time in 77 years that a team threw four straight complete-game victories in the playoffs, and the first time that it was done by four different pitchers since the Cubs did the same in the 1907 World Series.

For his efforts, Konerko was name MVP of the ALCS after batting .286, with two home runs and seven RBIs in the series.

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score’s 20th Anniversary »