The 2005 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 105th season. They finished with a 99–63 record in the regular season and first place in the American League Central division by six games over the Cleveland Indians. In the playoffs, they won the American League Division Series 3–0 over the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox, the American League Championship Series 4–1 over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the World Series 4–0 over the Houston Astros, ending an 88-year championship drought.
Offseason
December 9, 2004: Jermaine Dye was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. December 9, 2004: Dustin Hermanson was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. December 13, 2004: Carlos Lee was traded by the White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for Scott Podsednik, Luis Vizcaíno and a player to be named later. The Brewers completed the deal by sending Travis Hinton (minors) to the White Sox on January 10, 2005. December 17, 2004: Bobby Jenks was claimed off waivers by the White Sox from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. January 3, 2005: Orlando Hernández was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. January 6, 2005: A. J. Pierzynski was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. January 27, 2005: Tadahito Iguchi was signed as a free agent by the White Sox.
Regular season
The Chicago White Sox had a total attendance of 2,342,833 in 2005, 7th in the American League.
The manager
Much that happened in 2005 was under the direction of manager Ozzie Guillén. After his inaugural season in 2004, in which his club went 83–79 and finished second in the American League Central Division, Guillén approached general manager Kenny Williams. He asked Williams for a makeover for his club. Guillén envisioned his team playing small ball.
Williams agreed with Guillén. The Sox already had a feisty manager, solid pitching, and power hitters. The Sox decided to clean up a bit and bring in players with the team first attitude. Guillén wanted more quickness, so speedy Scott Podsednik was brought in to be the number one hitter and to create havoc for opposing pitchers. Guillén wanted pitching, so Williams got Freddy García, Orlando "El Duque" Hernández, Luis Vizcaíno, Dustin Hermanson, and in July, hard throwing closer Bobby Jenks was brought up from the minor leagues.
Another important factor to Guillén's new plan was to have players who put the team ahead of personal accomplishments. Jermaine Dye was added for veteran leadership and provided an important bat and glove in the lineup. Tadahito Iguchi came in from Japan to play second base and bat second behind Podsednik. Iguchi proved his value all year long.
Finally, the Sox decided to add a little fire into a mostly laid back and quiet clubhouse. This need brought catcher A. J. Pierzynski to Chicago after playing six years for division rival Minnesota, and one year for San Francisco.