The 2005 Major League Baseball World Series opens Saturday with the American League champion Chicago White Sox hosting the National League champion Houston Astros.
Houston is making its first-ever World Series appearance after entering the post season as a wild card team. The Astros knocked off the Atlanta Braves in the first round, then eliminated the favored St. Louis Cardinals to clinch the National League championship and reach the World Series.
Houston is led by superstar pitcher Roger Clemens, who is scheduled to start in Saturday's opener of the best-of-seven-game series.
Cuban-born Jose Contreras will start for Chicago, which was a surprise team this year, finishing the regular season with the best record in the American League. The White Sox defeated the defending champion Boston Red Sox in the first round, then bumped off the Los Angeles Angels for the American League pennant.
The Sox are looking to win their first World Series since 1917. The team last appeared in baseball's championship in 1959, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The World Series began in 1903.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
