Classic Sports Illustrated Covers: 2005 Chicago White Sox

Happy 5th anniversary to the 2005 World Series Champions: Chicago White Sox .  As a White Sox fan, October 26, 2005 marks one of the greatest days in my life, and is all but a distant memory. I remember exactly where I was when I watched each game of the World Series against the Astros.  That includes being lucky enough to watch Game 1 from the upper-deck, down the right field line.  Despite the fact that I had knee surgery a few days before — I was even pushed around U.S. Cellular Field in a wheel chair — it was easily the greatest baseball game that I have ever attended.  To this day, I have never seen a third baseman play the position like Joe Crede did that night.

“Don’t stop now, boys!”

On Wednesday, Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox was named the shortstop on The Sporting News American League All-Star Team, as voted on by a panel of 326 major-league players, 25 managers and 24 general managers.

Ramirez, 29, hit .282 with 29 doubles, 18 home runs and 70 RBI in 156 games with the White Sox in 2010.  He is just the third shortstop in White Sox history to be honored by The Sporting News and the first since Luis Aparicio in 1970.

After a slow start to the 2010 season, Ramirez ultimately led all AL shortstops in average (.282), home runs (18), slugging percentage (.431) and total bases (252) and ranked second in RBI (70), third in runs scored (83) and tied for third in doubles (29).

He also led the league with 768 total chances, the most by a Sox shortstop since Ozzie Guillen in 1989 (806), as well as assists (499) and range factor/games at SS (4.79).

Ramirez joins South Side legends Aparicio (1968, ’70) and Luke Appling (1936, ’40 and ’43) as the only three White Sox shortstops to receive the prestigious recognition.

Next up for Ramirez is the Silver Slugger.

In 2010, there were 90 Golden Sombreros and 4 Platinum Sombreros

The Diamondbacks had the most sombreros [8]

The Diamondbacks had the most players with a sombrero [Justin Upton, Chris Snyder, Mark Reynolds, Miguel Montero, Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche]

Mark Reynolds had the most sombreros in 2010 [4]

12 players managed to collect a hit while also striking out 4 or more times

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Bizarre baseball injuries happen every season, whether it is Tom Glavine purging his airline food and injuring his ribs, Jeff Kent falling off of his motorcycle, Garrett Jones choking on a piece of meat, or Jeff Baker burning his ass after trying to light a fart on fire in the Cubs’ clubhouse.

They are part of the game just as much as the game itself.

After the Baltimore Orioles season finale on Sunday, Brian Roberts finally addressed the media as to why he hadn’t played since September 27^th.  His explanation? That he hit himself in the helmet with his own bat and had been experiencing concussion-like symptoms since.

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On Wednesday night, David Ortiz thought he was being sneaky when he attempted to bunt for hit against Freddy Garcia and the Chicago White Sox.  With the shift on like usual against the lefthanded slugger, Ortiz dropped down a bunt that landed next to Garcia, who fielded the ball cleanly and easily threw out Big Papi at first base.  While Garcia chuckled after the play, manager Ozzie Guillen simply could not contain himself: