2005 Topps World Series Champions #19 - Chris WidgerChris Widger is a prime example of redemption in Major League baseball. After spending all of 2004 out of MLB and its affiliates, Chris broke with the White Sox out of Spring Training in 2005 as a backup catcher to A.J. Pierzynski.
After seeing glimpses of team success on the Mariners, the Yankees and the Cardinals, Widger finally saw the World Series with the White Sox in 2005. His last taste of the playoffs was ten years prior, in 1995, with the Mariners.
Chris responded by having his best season in five years with the White Sox and helped them propel into the playoffs. Widger would only play in one game during the World Series, but his play would be important, at the time.
In Game 3, in the top of the fourteenth inning, the Sox had just taken the lead on Geoff Blum's solo home run. Aaron Rowand and Joe Crede had singled after the home run and Juan Uribe showed infinite patience and walked to load the bases. Chris Widger walked to score Rowand as a very important insurance run.
Ultimately, the insurance run wasn't needed, but the way the game had been going back and forth, it provided enough breathing room for Damaso Marte and Mark Buehrle to finish off the Astros in the bottom of the fourteenth inning.
Happy 39th birthday, Chris!
1 comment:
It's always nice to see a former Mariner get some love on other blogs. Too bad we couldn't have seen that ring come with the M's. Love the work you do with the custom cards, wish I was good at that stuff!
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