Highlights

Year in Review | The best, and worst, of 2005

Losers win

No one took the White Sox seriously until it was too late. Sure Chicago powered more home runs than the free-swinging Red Sox. But compared to famous Boston sluggers like Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the star power of the White Sox no-name lineup could hardly compare. But it isn't the size of the name that wins baseball games.

The White Sox won in 2005 by getting on and then stealing bases. By pitching and fielding. By doing all the things that chicks (and dudes) who dig the long ball might miss. And they did it with reject pitchers from the New York Yankees like Orlando Hernandez and especially Jose Contreras, as well as home-grown youngsters like Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland.

With the Red Sox breaking an 86-year World Series drought in 2004 and the Chicago White Sox ending an 88-year World Series slump, does a 97-year losing streak seem unbreakable? But if the Cubs do try to emulate their cross-town neighbors, they'll likely find at least one thing impossible. There is only one Ozzie Gullien, a manager whose team adopted his confident persona and translated it into wins on the field.