Editing Aaron Rowand (section)

====2005====
[[File:Victory Parade.jpg|thumb|200px|Aaron Rowand at the White Sox parade celebrating their victory in the [[2005 World Series]]]]
On June 10, 2005, with the White Sox leading the [[San Diego Padres]] by two runs in the seventh inning, Rowand made two run-saving plays. First, he threw out [[Phil Nevin]] in a close play at third base. Next, with runners on second and third and two outs, he made a diving catch to rob [[Khalil Greene]] of a hit and end the inning. The White Sox won 4–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/white-sox-2005-rewind-aaron-rowands-game-saving-inning-center-field|title=Aaron Rowand's Game-Saving Inning in Center Field|work=NBC Sports|date=April 15, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref> Two days later, after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, Rowand hit a go-ahead, three-run, 10th-inning home run against [[Trevor Hoffman]], helping the White Sox beat the Padres 8–5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200506120.shtml|title=Chicago White Sox at San Diego Padres Box Score, June 12, 2005|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> Rowand had three hits and scored three runs on July 16 in a 7–5 victory over the [[Cleveland Indians]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250716105|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609000724/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250716105|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 9, 2021|title=Buehrle wins; Hafner hit in mouth, leaves game|work=ESPN|date=July 16, 2005|access-date=March 1, 2021}}</ref> On September 13, he had four hits and a career-high three doubles in a 6–4 win over the [[Kansas City Royals]]. White Sox manager [[Ozzie Guillén]] said, "Rowand had a big night. From now on somebody needs to step up and be a hero every game. Tonight
it was Rowand."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250913107|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404153104/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250913107|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2022|title=White Sox beat Royals for 13th time this season|work=ESPN|date=September 14, 2005|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> In 2005, he had a .270 batting average with 77 runs and 30 doubles. Rowand also hit 13 home runs and stole 16 bases.<ref name="brstats" /> He walked 32 times and struck out 116.<ref name="brstats" /> He had a .329 [[on-base percentage]] (OBP) and a .407 [[slugging percentage]] (SLG). He also collected 235 [[total bases]].<ref name="brstats" /> Defensively, he collected 388 putouts and committed only three [[Error (baseball)|errors]], for a .978 [[fielding percentage]].<ref name="brstats" /> His defensive WAR of 1.9 was the seventh-best in the AL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2005-batting-leaders.shtml|title=2005 AL Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref>

The White Sox won the [[AL Central]] title, advancing to the playoffs for the first time in Rowand's career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/2005.shtml|title=2005 Chicago White Sox Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> In the first game of the [[2005 American League Division Series|AL Division Series]] (ALDS) against the [[Boston Red Sox]], he slammed into the wall chasing after a ball even though the White Sox were up by 14 runs.<ref name="Rock">{{cite web|last=Kernan|first=Kevin|url=https://nypost.com/2005/10/22/rock-of-the-chisox-rowand-goes-all-out-in-cf/|title=Rock of the Chi-Sox; Rowand Goes All-Out in CF|work=The New York Post|date=October 22, 2005|access-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref> He batted .400 with two RBI in the ALDS, which Chicago swept in three games.<ref name="brstats" /> In the [[2005 American League Championship Series|AL Championship Series]] (ALCS), he batted .167 with three hits (all doubles), three runs scored, and one RBI as the White Sox defeated the [[Los Angeles Angels]] in five games.<ref name="postseason Rowand">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rowanaa01.shtml|title=Aaron Rowand Postseason Batting Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> Against the [[Houston Astros]] in the [[2005 World Series|World Series]], he batted .294. Though he had no RBI, he scored two runs and had five hits as the White Sox swept the Astros, earning their first World Series championship since [[1917 World Series|1917]].<ref name="postseason Rowand"/><ref name="ws">{{cite web |work=MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/cws/history/championship05.jsp |title=2005 World Series Champions |access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402181652/http://mlb.mlb.com/cws/history/championship05.jsp|archive-date=April 2, 2008}}</ref>

During his time in Chicago, Rowand was a favorite of the fans because of his style of play. He would run hard after balls hit to center field, not afraid to crash into the outfield wall if it was necessary to make a catch.<ref name="phillies-camp"/> "White Sox fans have always reserved a special place for Aaron because of his all-out style of play and love for the game," observed Director of Player Development [[Nick Capra]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Merkin|first=Scott|url=https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/aaron-rowand-hired-as-white-sox-instructor/c-157978288|title=White Sox tab Rowand as Minors instructor|work=MLB.com|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref>