The producers, Sarah Lauch and Ryan McGuffey, had a challenge for their documentary on the 2005 White Sox. Even though 10 years have passed since a Chicago baseball team actually won a World Series, many of the moments still remain fresh for Sox fans.
“Our goal was to try to really get behind the scenes and tell the inside stories about that team,” Lauch said. “We wanted to explain what went into that team.”
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The end result of 14 hours worth of interviews is “Believe: The Story of the 2005 White Sox,” which debuts Sunday at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet. The 90-minute film, narrated by South Side native Mandy Patinkin, features insights from virtually every important individual associated with the team, from Ozzie Guillen to Kenny Williams to Paul Konerko.
However, one of the best passages came from Orlando Hernandez recounting his historic inning of relief when he got the Sox out of bases loaded, no-out jam during a playoff game in Boston. Hernandez, speaking in Spanish with English subtext, told how he waved off fastballs signs from catcher A.J. Pierzynski, electing to throw curveballs down the middle. The veterans knew the Red Sox hitters would be anxious in that situation, and would be off-balance with breaking balls.
Sure enough, Hernandez was right as his big inning helped key the Sox surge during that post-season.
“The significance of that inning was huge,” McGuffey said. “The guys said, ‘Yeah, this is the moment. There’s no looking back now.'”
It all culminated with the White Sox wrapping up their first championship in 88 years with the four-game sweep in Houston. In the film, general manager Kenny Williams recalls the moment.
“For me, it was a deep breath and then my attention went right to Jerry (Reinsdorf) and I think I watched him from the time of the last pitch to the time we went down to the tunnels,” Williams said. “I watched him because he was…he was like a little kid, and I promised him we’re going to get this done.”
McGuffey and Lauch said a highlight for them was getting do all the interviews. Guillen’s session lasted nearly two hours.
“For most of those guys, that team was their signature moment,” McGuffey said. “They left no stone unturned. They were really into it. They never really felt like interviews. They felt more like two people talking.”