Tune in to CSN tonight at 7 p.m. for the premiere of the original documentary, "Believe, The Story of the 2005 White Sox."
The thrilling 1-0 victory in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series marked the end of an 88-year drought for the White Sox, as well as the end of two parallel eras.
While Frank Thomas didn't play during the 2005 postseason, it was the end of his playing career in Chicago. While he didn't appear in as many games at the end of his White Sox tenure, his performance was still of a very high quality; perhaps higher than most remember.
In his last 162 games in a White Sox uniform, the Big Hurt posted a .953 OPS with 104 runs scored, 47 home runs and 121 RBIs. He hit 12 home runs in a brief 34-game stint in 2005. Then he moved on to Oakland, and it never seemed right to see him in green and gold.
[SHOP: Get a Frank Thomas jersey here]
Meanwhile, Jeff Bagwell, pinch hitting for pitcher Brandon Backe, grounded out in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 4. It was the last time he appeared in a major league game. Fun fact: Bagwell is the only player with a three-homer game in two Chicago ballparks in the same season (1999).
Thomas and Bagwell were two players who, to that point, had played every game of their major league careers with one team. Two former All-Star first basemen who each won the 1994 MVP in his respective league. Both were born on May 27, 1968. At one point, both were at the top of the profession. But in 2005, they were somewhat of a footnote.
MLB
Sometimes it's funny how things work out.