HR0715 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0715 LRB094 15054 AJO 50214 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On October 26, 2005, the Chicago White Sox of the American League won the 101st World Series of Major League Baseball in dominant fashion by defeating the Houston Astros by a score of 1-0 to capture the organization's third World Series title and first since the year 1917; and

WHEREAS, With an American League best record of 99 wins and 63 losses in the regular season the 2005 White Sox became the American League Central Division champions and opened the post-season by sweeping the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox three games to none in the American League Division Series, and then soundly defeating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim four games to one to become the American League Champions and the first White Sox team in 46 years to reach the World Series, and finally, the White Sox swept the Houston Astros with four straight wins to become Major League Baseball's World Champions; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox tied a Major League Record since the introduction of the three round playoff system by winning 11 of 12 post season games; demonstrated the essence of teamwork by winning 110 games and losing 64 through the post-season; remarkably won sixteen of their last seventeen games; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf marked the 25th season he has served as chairman of the White Sox organization in 2005, making him the second-longest tenured owner in team history as well as the second-longest tenured owner among the 30 Major League clubs; since taking over as Chairman in January 1981, the White Sox have a winning record of 2031-1892 (.518); and

WHEREAS, Mr. Reinsdorf had the wisdom and vision to promote Ken Williams to the position of White Sox Senior Vice President and General Manager in October 2000; Williams has spent 25 seasons in professional baseball and 22 with the White Sox in a variety of capacities, including player, scout and special assistant to the chairman; under Williams as General Manager the White Sox have a winning record of 432-379 (.533); he is the first African American general manager in Chicago sports' history and the third in Major League history; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Williams placed his trust in Ozzie Guillen to serve as the team's manager; Guillen made his Major League debut in April 1985, following in the footsteps of two other White Sox Venezuelan greats: shortstops Chico Carrasquel and Hall-of-Famer Luis Aparicio; he was the 1985 American League Rookie of the Year; he was also a 3-time American League All-Star (1988, 1990, 1991) and a 1990 American League Gold Glove winner; and

WHEREAS, After Mr. Guillen ended his 16-year Major League career as a player with the Tampa Devil Rays in October 2000, he continued on in the game as a coach, and he was the 3rd base coach for the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, Mr. Guillen returned to the White Sox as the manager, becoming the first Venezuelan native to manage a Major League Baseball team; in 2005, he led the White Sox to the World Series, becoming the first Latino manager in history to do so; with Guillen as manager the White Sox have a winning record of 193-143 (.574); and

WHEREAS, Messrs. Reinsdorf, Williams, and Guillen worked together to assemble a White Sox team that displayed exceptional pitching, solid defense, timely hitting, team chemistry, and a "Win or Die Trying" attitude throughout the entire 2005 season and post-season; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox pitchers included Jon Adkins, Jeff Bajenaru, Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Neal Cotts, Felix Diaz, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Dustin Hermanson, Orlando Hernandez, Bobby Jenks, Damaso Marte, Brandon McCarthy, Arnie Munoz, Cliff Politte, David Sanders, Luis Vizcaino, and Kevin Walker; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox catchers included Jaime Burke, Raul Cassanova, A.J. Pierzynski, and Chris Widger; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox infielders included Geoff Blum, Joe Crede, Ross Gload, Willie Harris, Tadahito Iguchi, Paul Konerko, Pedro Lopez, Pablo Ozuna, Casey Rogowski, and Juan Uribe; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox outfielders included Brian Anderson, Joe Borchard, Jermaine Dye (the 2005 World Series MVP), Timo Perez, Scott Podsednik, and Aaron Rowand; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox designated hitters were Frank Thomas and Carl Everett; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox players benefited immensely from the seasoned coaching skills of pitching coach Don Cooper, hitting coach Greg Walker, bench coach Harold Baines, bullpen coach Art Kusnyer, first base coach Tim Raines, third base coach Joey Cora, bullpen catcher Man Soo Lee, head trainer Herm Schneider, assistant trainer Brian Ball, director of conditioning Allen Thomas, and the organizational and administrative skills of clubhouse manager Vince Fresso and manager of team travel Ed Cassin; and

WHEREAS, The White Sox organization, like the city and state it calls home, represents diversity at its finest, with players and coaches hailing from throughout the United States, as well as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela; and

WHEREAS, The 2005 White Sox are a team that met and exceeded even their own high expectations; they have won games because of their talent, unity, and spirit; they have given their fans an extraordinary and unforgettable season; they have made the people of Chicago and the State of Illinois proud; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the 2005 Chicago White Sox be honored and applauded for their accomplishments during the 2005 season, for their talent and teamwork displayed on the field, for their excellence and humility off the field, for the outstanding coaching staff leading the team, and for the brilliant ownership and management that crafted and built the 2005 White Sox; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to each member of the White Sox executive board, to each member of management in the White Sox organization, and to every player on the 2005 White Sox team.