2005 World Series reunion: White Sox lean into glory days
Flashback: The scrappy squad was the first Chicago baseball team to win a championship since 1917. The team, under second-year manager Ozzie Guillen, didn't have a bona fide superstar, instead relying on pitching and defense to cruise through the playoffs with an astounding 11-1 record.
For example: The Sox had four starting pitchers in the ALCS throw complete games. It was one of the most dominant playoff performances in baseball history.
State of play: The 30th anniversary weekend events and promotions at The Rate will feature everything from commemorative Hawaiian shirt night to the unveiling of a Mark Buehrle statue at the ballpark.
Several former players and coaches are expected to attend, including Tadahito Iguchi, Joe Crede and Jermaine Dye.
The celebration will also be somber as All-Star closer Bobby Jenks died from stomach cancer last weekend. Jenks recorded the final out in the World Series.
The Sox are honoring him with a patch on the current team's jersey and a graphic in the home on-deck circle of his iconic pose after the last strikeout.
What they're saying: "The reunion takes on a different tone after the death of Bobby Jenks," 670 The Score host Laurence Holmes tells Axios. "But that team means so much to the South Side. The dominance they displayed is almost impossible to duplicate."
Zoom out: The 30th anniversary of the World Series win comes as the organization is mired in a rebuild.
Last year, the Sox set the modern record for losses in a season, and this year they are already 32 games under .500 and in the sole, dreary possession of last place in the American League.
Between the lines: The Sox are taking a page from other sports teams by playing into nostalgia. The Cubs welcomed back Sammy Sosa to Wrigley Field in June, while the Bulls welcomed Derrick Rose back to the United Center in January.
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