Sport-Blog.com

Last week, the Chicago White Sox won their first World Series title in 88 years. While I think it's safe to say that it was truly a team effort -- from the incredible starting rotation and bullpen staff to the timely fielding of Juan Uribe and Joe Crede to the hitting heroics of Paul Konerko, Scott Podsednik, and Geoff Blum -- sports writers of course have to choose a single Most Valuable Player from the winning squad. This year, Jermaine Dye earned that distinction. Let's take a brief look at Dye's journey to this point in his career.

Dye was originally a 17th round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves back in 1993 when he was just 19 years old. He didn't break into the majors until three years later when he played in 98 games for the Braves in 1996. But he did so in style. Dye hit a home run in his first career plate appearance, and would end the season with a .281 average, 12 home runs, and 37 RBI in 292 at-bats. However, he also had a terrible strikeout-to-walk ratio. In fact, he was fanned 67 times (that's about one out of every five trips to the plate) while walking just 8 times.

Then, prior to the start of spring training in 1997, Dye was traded to the Kansas City Royals. In his first season with the Royals, Dye suffered from many injuries and was only able to play in 75 games, which is less than half of the schedule. He only managed to hit .236 with 7 homers and 22 RBI in 263 at-bats. Things didn't get any better the following year, either. Dye, again limited by injuries, appeared in just 60 games for the Royals, hitting just .234 during those games.

The next season, 1999, was a turning point in Dye's career. He was finally healthy and played in 158 of the Royals' 162 games. He hit .294 with 27 home runs and 119 RBI en route to being named the Player of the Year for Kansas City. He also established himself defensively by recording 17 assists from the outfield, which was tops in the American League. In 2000, Dye's progress went even further. He was voted to the starting lineup in the All-Star Game, and won a Gold Glove for his defensive efforts.

In 2001, a mid-season trade sent Dye to the Oakland A's where he saw some good years and even went to the playoffs. But at the end of 2004, the A's decided not to pick up his contract. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox and appeared in 145 regular season games for the South Siders, hitting .274 with 31 home runs and 86 RBI.

But he really came on in the postseason. He had clutch hits in all three playoff series, and got things going for the Sox in Game One of the World Series by belting a first-inning home run off of Houston Astros' ace Roger Clemens. It was fitting, then, that Dye also ended the scoring in the series with his single up the middle of closer Brad Lidge to drive in the winning run in Game Four. For that, Dye now has the MVP trophy on his mantle and a new Chevy truck in his driveway!