So today the White Sox bid farewell to Tadahito Iguchi, and one more member of the 2005 World Series champions is now playing elsewhere (Jermaine Dye next to go?). I was kinda hoping the Gooch would stick around a few more years. The little guy had a sweet swing, nice and easy with surprising power.
I'm also bummed to see Iguchi go because I still needed his autograph on my 2005 World Series baseball.
I've got A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Crede, Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Scott Podsednik, and Bobby Jenks on my ball. Still have a whole bunch of people to get, many I probably never will. I think the only guys still on the roster from that 2005 team that I don't have are Jermaine Dye, Juan Uribe and Jon Garland. So when it comes to autographs that I need, the team Iguchi was traded to--Philadelphia Phillies--has as many guys on THEIR team from the 2005 White Sox starting line up than the White Sox actually do now.
And as luck would have it, the Phillies are in town next week to play the Cubs. Maybe I'll see Iguchi, Aaron Rowand, and Freddy Garcia (unlikely, on the DL) somewhere out on the town to get their John Hancocks on my ball.