The Chicago White Sox are on the verge of setting a modern-era record for losses, a stunning fall from grace for a team that last tasted World Series victory in 2005. With just nine games left in the 2024 season, the team has posted a dismal 36-117 record, leaving them dangerously close to matching or surpassing the infamous 120-loss mark set by the New York Mets in 1962.
Chicago, known for its passionate sports fanbase, has watched the White Sox crumble this year. While their North Side rivals, the Cubs, overcame decades of hardship to win a championship in 2016, the White Sox, despite assembling a promising roster just three years ago, have spiraled into one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
This year, the White Sox failed to cross even the 40-win threshold, a modest goal for a club with three World Series titles and six American League pennants. Their 2024 season has been marked by struggles at every turn, including their most recent loss—a 4-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels in 13 innings. The Angels tied the game three times before sealing the victory, handing the White Sox yet another heartbreak in a season full of them.
In the National League, the 1962 Mets hold the record for the most losses, but in the American League, the 2003 Detroit Tigers sit atop the list with 119 defeats. Chicago and Detroit share a rich sports rivalry across several leagues, and now the White Sox may join the Tigers in the record books for all the wrong reasons.
“Everyone in there is aware of where we’re at,” said White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore. “Whether we hit some magical number or not, it’s still not a winning season. It’s not the season we hoped for.” Sizemore, facing the reality of his team’s struggles, emphasized the need to stay focused on competing in their remaining games.
With nine games left, the White Sox have a slim chance to improve their record. They are set to face the San Diego Padres, the Angels again, and, fittingly, the Detroit Tigers in their final games.
“If you’re only focused on the negative, you’re probably going to get negative outcomes,” Sizemore added. “We have to compete every night. The record will be what it is, but it’s not what we want it to be.”
Technically, the worst record in Major League Baseball history belongs to the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134. But the White Sox have a different historical stain, becoming known as the “Black Sox” after the 1919 match-fixing scandal that saw eight players banned from baseball for life.
“Everyone in this organization is extremely unhappy with the results of this season,” said White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. “This year has been very painful for all, especially our fans. We didn’t get here overnight, and solutions won’t happen overnight either.”
Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago Bulls, knows both the highs and lows of professional sports, having witnessed six NBA championships with Michael Jordan in the 1990s and several disappointing seasons since.
The White Sox hit a new low earlier this year when they tied the 1988 Baltimore Orioles’ American League record by losing 21 straight games from July 10 to August 5. This streak ultimately led to the firing of manager Pedro Grifol, who was replaced by Sizemore. Despite the challenges, Reinsdorf remains supportive of his players and staff, praising their effort during a historically difficult season.
In nearly every statistical category, the White Sox have struggled. They rank last in the league in home runs (123), runs scored (470), RBIs (449), team batting average (.222), and walks allowed (596). Their pitching has fared no better, with a league-worst 4.82 ERA and 782 runs allowed.
Despite these dismal numbers, General Manager Chris Getz has signaled that the team won’t be looking to free agency for quick fixes. “We’re not going to be working heavy in free agency,” Getz said. “We’ve got guys on the field right now who need to improve, a lot of young players who just need to make adjustments to be more productive.”
Getz’s comments did little to calm an increasingly frustrated fanbase. As the White Sox inch closer to the end of their nightmare season, many fans are eagerly awaiting the final out, hoping the team’s “fade to black” comes swiftly, as other clubs gear up for the playoffs.
