THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: OCTOBER 16/ALCS CLINCHER!!&#33

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THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: OCTOBER 16

 

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1995: The White Sox designated catcher Mike LaValliere designated for assignment. LaValliere played for the White Sox between 1993 and 1995 and was essentially the backstop who replaced the great Carlton Fisk. “Spanky” hit .263 with two home runs and 51 RBIs in 142 games for the White Sox serving mainly as Ron Karkovice’s backup.

 

1996: The White Sox named Doug Rader as their third base coach for the 1997 season. Rader would last one season in his second tour as a White Sox. Rader, who coined the term “winning ugly” in reference to the 1983 White Sox, also coached on South Side in 1986 and 1987. His tenure in 1986 included a two-game managing stint between the departure of Tony LaRussa and the arrival of Jim Fregosi. Rader split his two games as Sox skipper.

 

2005: For the first time since 1959, the White Sox were American League champions! The Sox clinched the pennant with a 6-3 win over the Angels in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series in Anaheim. Jose Contreras went the distance for the win, giving the White Sox four consecutive complete games in the ALCS making the Sox first team to accomplish that feat in the postseason since the 1928 Yankees. The Sox were trailing after six but tied it when Joe Crede led off the seventh with a homer. An inning later, the Sox took the lead when Aaron Rowand crossed on Crede’s infield roller up the middle. The Sox added two in the ninth on Paul Konerko’s RBI double and Rowand’s sac fly. Contreras cruised with the lead, retiring the final 15 batters he faced in the 114-pitch effort. Konerko, who made the final putout, was named the series MVP, hitting .286 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Crede didn’t have a bad go of it either, hitting .368 with two homers and seven RBIs. Three days later, the White Sox would learn that their World Series opponent would be the Houston Astros and three days after that, the Fall Classic would commence.