White Sox relish first title in 88 years
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-28 05:51

That's what makes their dominant run through the postseason so remarkable. With stellar pitching, solid defense, timely hitting — and even some help from the umpires — Chicago joined the 1999 New York Yankees as the only teams to go 11-1 in the postseason since the extra round of playoffs was added in '95.

"We went to Boston and then we went to Anaheim," Guillen said. "I told my players the last 11 games we have to win are the toughest ones."

Going back to the regular season, the White Sox won 16 of their final 17 games. They nearly squandered a 15 1/2-game lead in the AL Central before holding off Cleveland down the stretch, but that sure seems like a long time ago.

"They were calling us chokers, now they can call us champions," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

It's the same charming story as last year, when the Red Sox swept St. Louis for their first championship since 1918.

Chicago hadn't won it all since 1917, and hadn't even reached the Series since '59. But thanks to MVP Jermaine Dye, slugger Paul Konerko and the rest, the White Sox will no longer be mainly remembered for Shoeless Joe Jackson's Black Sox, who threw the 1919 Series against Cincinnati.

And another parallel is striking: Boston won its final eight games in the 2004 postseason, just as the White Sox did this year.

Now only one team remains with a similar streak of futility — and it's even longer. The Cubs have come up empty since 1908.

"The instant the Red Sox won last year, I thought maybe we're next," said White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, posing with the trophy, cigar in mouth.

For the Astros, who captured their first pennant after 44 seasons in the National League, it was a difficult defeat to swallow. They were outscored by only six runs, matching the New York Yankees' 1950 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for the smallest margin in a Series sweep.