Many Chicago White Sox fans were genuinely cheering for the team to lose just two years ago.In late September 2024, the White Sox were taking the field for their final home series of the season.
The attendance was sparse, but those who did show up were hoping to witness history, as Chicago was one defeat away from setting the record for losses in a 162-game season.The White Sox, of course, let them down, winning their final three home games before they lost their record 121st game on the road in their next series.Fast-forward to today, and the unthinkable has happened: The White Sox are returning home as heroes.
Chicago will play its first playoff game at home since 2021 on Wednesday.And the White Sox will enter their matchup with the Cleveland Guardians up 2-0 in the American League Division Series, one win away from advancing to the Championship Series.
The five years between home playoff games were not kind to fans of the South Siders.After a respectable 81-81 finish in 2022, Chicago nosedived.The White Sox lost 101 games in 2023, 121 in 2024 and 102 more last year.
This season, they became the first team to make the playoffs after back-to-back 100-loss seasons — which also means they’re the first team to do so after three straight 100-loss seasons.Fans in Chicago cheer from the stands during a game against the New York Mets on Aug.23.Isaac Wasserman / GettyOn Wednesday, the Sox will have another chance at history, as they haven’t clinched a playoff series in front of their home fans since 1906.The fans have been “waiting 120 years, so maybe we can do it this year,” pitcher Grant Taylor, who recorded saves in each of the first two wins against the Guardians, told reporters Monday.
“I think it’s going to be unbelievable.Those fans deserve it.
They’ve been with us for three years of 100 losses, and they’ve been with us a good bit this year giving us a lot of support as we’ve gone through this.So being able to give them a postseason game ...