2005 World Series

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Manager Ozzie Guillen hugs pitcher Mark Buehrle after winning Game 3 of the World Series.

The Chicago White Sox have had many legendary fan-favorites over the course of their century-plus history. From Frank Thomas to Mark Buehrle, that much is evident.

But a player pivotal to Chicago’s success in the early 21st century, including a World Series championship, wasn’t present on a list by MLB Network.

Both Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds left franchise legend Paul Konerko off their All-Time Franchise Favorites.

Many fans in the comment section of MLB Network’s Instagram post were taken aback by this decision.

While he wasn’t the 2005 World Series MVP, it’s still fair to wonder why he was left off.

Who Else Did Reynolds and Vasgersian Snub on Their Chicago White Sox List?

White Sox fans would think that the catcher position would be the same for anyone ranking this team. However, Vasgersian decided to put Jim Essian over Cooperstown inductee Carlton Fisk.

This is beyond strange when you realize that Vasgersian didn’t consider A.J. Pierzynski, or maybe someone who actually hit more than 33 home runs in a Chicago uniform.

While both agreed that Thomas was the favorite at first base, second base was a contested topic once again. Reynolds chose Julio Cruz, while Vasgersian chose Ray Durham. Cruz is especially confusing when he only played parts of four seasons in a White Sox uniform. Going with an old-time player like Eddie Collins or Nellie Fox would’ve made sense here.

Dan Pasqua, Mike Cameron and Ivan Calderon were Vasgersian’s choice for the outfield spots. That didn’t sit well with White Sox fans, who pointed out that Minnie Minoso, Joe Jackson, Harold Baines and others deserve spots over those aforementioned three.

But where the real mistake is made is designated hitter. Reynolds put Jim Thome, whereas Vasgersian had Lamar Johnson.

While Thome is at least somewhat respectable, he didn’t spend nearly as long with the White Sox as Konerko. Johnson, who hit just 57 home runs in Chicago, was a laughable decision to fans.

Why Konerko Deserves the Spot

Spending 16 years in Chicago should be more than enough to be a fan-favorite over Johnson and even Thome. When you factor in Konerko’s accolades, it makes both analysts’ decisions even more ridiculous to fans.

A six-time All-Star, 2005 ALCS MVP, along with many legendary moments, Konerko is more than deserving of this spot.

Hitting 432 home runs in a White Sox uniform, Konerko is one of the All-Time legends of the franchise. If it wasn’t for his poor defense and the latter part of his career, he could’ve been destined for Cooperstown.

But beyond that, Konerko was most definitely a fan-favorite. Kids born in the early 21st century revered this man. His grand slam in the 2005 World Series inspired players and fans alike, as Chicago pulled off what was thought to be impossible.

His number is retired, he has a statue in Rate Field and his play will live in White Sox fans’ hearts forever. He is not only one of the legends of the game and franchise, but a fan-favorite and deserves to be known as such.

 

 

Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer

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