The 2008 Chicago White Sox became the second team to capture an American League Central division title under the tenure of General Manager Ken Williams, the first being the 2005 White Sox, who went on to claim the third World Series championship in franchise history.

The White Sox have finished first or second in their division five times in the last seven seasons and have gone 683-614 (.527) with a World Series Championship, two division titles (2005 and 2008), three second-place finishes and two thirdplace finishes under Williams, whose winning percentage over eight seasons ranks as the best in club history for any general manager.

The 2008 White Sox went 89-74 (.546) to win the AL Central title by defeating the Twins in a tiebreaker on Tuesday, September 30. The 1-0 victory over Minnesota was the third of three straight must-win games against three different teams to end the regular season. The White Sox 17-game improvement from 2007 (72-90) is the franchise's best since 2000, and the Sox now own eight winning seasons in the decade, the most since also posting eight during the 1960s.

The 2006 White Sox posted a 90-72 record and third-place finish in the A.L. Central. The Sox won 90 or more games in back-to-back seasons in 2005-06 for just the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since 1963-65. The White Sox won 200 regular season and postseason games from 2005 to 2006, and the 189 combined regular-season wins from 2005-06 are the highest total in back-to-back campaigns by a Sox team since winning 193 in 1964-65.

Williams celebrated his fifth season as general manager in 2005 by winning the third World Series title in the franchise's history and the club's first since 1917. The 2005 World Champion White Sox, built around pitching, defense and timely power, became j ust the second team in major-league history to lead its division wire-to-wire and sweep the World Series in four games. The other was the 1927 New York Yankees. The Sox were 11-1 in postseason play, winning their final eight games.

Williams hired former White Sox All-Star shortstop and teammate Ozzie Guillen as the club's 37th manager on November 3, 2003. Guillen, who played for the Sox from 1985-97, is the first Venezuelan to manage a major league baseball team and win a World Series title. Under Guillen and Williams, the White Sox major-league coaching staff features several members who also starred for the team as players, including Harold Baines, Joey Cora and Greg Walker. On September 11, 2007, Guillen's contract was extended through the 2012 season.

Two trades and two free-agent signings highlighted the White Sox 2008-2009 offseason. Williams acquired INF Wilson Betemit, RHP Jhonny Nunez and RHP Jeff Marquez from the Yankees on November 13 and then acquired C Tyler Flowers, INF Jonathan Gilmore, INF Brent Lillibridge and LHP Santos Rodriguez from Atlanta on December 4. Williams signed free agent Cuban 3B Dayan Viciedo to a four-year, $10-million contract on December 12, and the Sox agreed to terms with former American League Cy Young Award winner RHP Bartolo Colon on January 15.

Six current members of the White Sox roster have signed multiyear extensions after joining the club: LHP Mark Buehrle (through 2011), RHP Jose Contreras (2009), Jermaine Dye (2010, including a mutual option), 1B Paul Konerko (2010), C A.J. Pierzynski (2011) and LHP Matt Thornton (through 2011, including options).

Since becoming the franchise's 11th general manager on October 24, 2000, Williams annually has made aggressive moves impacting the major-league roster. Prior to the 2008 season, he acquired OF Carlos Quentin (from Arizona on December 3), signed Cuban free agent Alexei Ramirez (January 22) and signed free agent relievers Octavio Dotel (January 22) and Scott Linebrink (November 28). Williams acquired RHP Gavin Floyd (December 6) and LHP John Danks (December 23) in trades before the 2007 season, and in 2006, the general manager added LHP Matt Thornton (Seattle) and DH Jim Thome (Phillies) via trade.

Prior to the 2005 championship season, the White Sox signed five free agents – OF Jermaine Dye, RHP Dustin Hermanson, RHP Orlando Hernandez, Japanese INF Tadahito Iguchi and C A.J. Pierzynski – and each played a key role in helping the team to the World Series title. The Sox also acquired OF Scott Podsednik and RHP Luis Vizcaino in a December 13 trade with the Brewers. In 2004, Williams signed RHP Shingo Takatsu, Japan's all-time saves leader, who was the first Japanese player for the White Sox, while in 2003, the Sox signed free agent RHP Esteban Loaiza, who went on to win 21 games and started the 2003 All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field.

During his tenure, Williams has acquired 157 players in 59 trades involving the major-league roster, adding notables such as Roberto Alomar (2003-04), Orlando Cabrera (2008), Bartolo Colon (2003), Jose Contreras (2004-present), Carl Everett (2003-05), Freddy Garcia (2004-06), Ken Griffey Jr. (2008), Thome (2006-present), Javier Vazquez (2006-2008) and David Wells (2001). He claimed right-hander Bobby Jenks (2005-present) off waivers and signed Sandy Alomar Jr. (2001-04), Jose Canseco (2001), Tom Gordon (2003) and Kenny Lofton (2002) as free agents. In Williams' eight seasons as general manager, the Sox farm system has developed third basemen Joe Crede and Josh Fields and outfielders Brian Anderson, Jerry Owens and Aaron Rowand.

Williams is the first African-American general manager in Chicago sports history and the third in major-league history, following Bill Lucas (Atlanta, 1979) and Bob Watson (Houston, 1994-95/Yankees, 1996-97). From 2001-03, Williams and Jerry Manuel formed the first African-American general manager/ manager tandem in major-league history. He was listed by Black Enterprise as one of the "Most Powerful Blacks in Sports" for 2005.

Williams served as the club's director of minor league operations from 1995-96 and was promoted to vice president of player development for four additional seasons (1997-2000). Under his direction, the White Sox were named 2000 Organization of the Year by Baseball America, USA Today and Howe SportsData.

Williams has spent 28 seasons in professional baseball and 25 with the White Sox in a variety of capacities, including player, scout and special assistant to the chairman. He served as the director of minor league operations/special assistant to the chairman from November 1995 until becoming vice president of player development in 1997. He joined the club in November 1992 as a scout, specializing in the inner cities, and was named special assistant to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in 1994. He also worked at SportsChannel in 1995 as a studio analyst on Sox telecasts.

Active in the organization's community outreach programs, Williams played a key part in the White Sox introducing the Direct Instruction program to the Chicago Public Schools system. He is on the board of Athletes Against Drugs.

A former outfielder with the White Sox (1986-88), Detroit (1989-90), Toronto (1990-91) and Montreal (1991), Williams appeared in 451 career major-league games. He was a lifetime .218 hitter (252-1,157) with 27 home runs and 119 RBI. His best season came as a rookie in 1987, when he hit .281 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI for the White Sox. Williams originally was selected by the Sox in the third round of the June 1982 free agent draft.

Born on April 6, 1964, in Berkeley, Calif., Williams attended Stanford University, where he played football. Williams and his wife, Jessica, have five children: Temeka, Dedrick, Ken Jr., Kyle and Tyler. Ken Jr. is a player in the White Sox farm system, while Kyle is a receiver on the Arizona State football team.