Cubs–White Sox rivalry
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2019) |
Location | Chicago |
---|---|
First meeting | October 9, 1906 West Side Park (World Series) White Sox 2, Cubs 1 |
Latest meeting | August 16, 2023[1] Wrigley Field Cubs 4, White Sox 3 |
Next meeting | June 4, 2024 Wrigley Field |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 148[2] |
All-time series | White Sox, 78–70 (.527)[2] |
Regular season series | White Sox, 74–68 (.521)[1] |
Postseason results | White Sox, 4–2 (.667)[2] |
Largest victory | |
Longest win streak | |
Current win streak | Cubs, 1[1] |
Post-season history | |
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The Cubs–White Sox rivalry (also known as the Crosstown Classic, The Windy City Showdown,
The terms "North Siders" and "South Siders" are synonymous with the respective teams and their fans, setting up an enduring rivalry. Through the 2023 season, the White Sox lead the regular season series 74–68. There have been eight 3-game series sweeps since interleague play began: four by the Cubs in 1998, 2004, 2007, 2008, and four by the White Sox in 1999, 2008, 2012 and 2021. There have been two season series sweeps, both by the Cubs in 1998 (3 games) and 2013 (4 games). The
History
The rivalry between the two teams and their fans dates back to the founding of the American League. In 1900, Charles Comiskey moved his Saint Paul Saints minor league franchise to Chicago. It is believed that the Cubs owner at the time was not happy, and filed a suit against Comiskey. After talks, it was decided that Comiskey could move his team to Chicago, pending that Chicago was not used in the title of the team name, and that the team play south of 35th Street.[citation needed] In response, the team was renamed the "White Stockings", which had been the original name of the Cubs from 1876 to 1889. The establishment of a new team in the city was a direct challenge to the National League franchise, which had been the idea behind the formation of the American League. As the AL gained in popularity (with cheaper prices on admission and alcohol), the NL recognized the equality of the AL. This recognition did little to stem the rivalry between owners, players, and fans.
While teams in New York City (such as the
From 1903 until 1942, excluding the years one team or the other won the pennant, the Cubs and White Sox played each other in a best-of-seven postseason City Series. These series were officially sanctioned by the National Baseball Commission and, later, the Commissioner of Baseball. The first series was played in 1903 and was a best-of-15. That year, the Cubs had a 6–3 series lead before the White Sox came back to force a 7–7 tie. Thanks to a rainout, they did not play the decisive 15th game as the players' contracts expired on October 15. Starting in 1905, the series became best-of-seven and remained that way until 1942. In all, they played 25 City Series with the White Sox winning 18 and the Cubs winning six to go along with the tie of 1903. The 1912 version marked the first time in a Major League Baseball postseason series that a team overcame a 3–0 series deficit as the White Sox won the final four games of the series.[8]
1985 saw the start of an annual "Windy City Classic" charity game. The series alternated between the respective teams' ballparks, with Comiskey Park hosting the first year followed by Wrigley Field the next. The Sox would go 10–0–2 in this affair that lasted through 1995. (Two games were played in 1995.) One exhibition between the teams at Wrigley Field on April 7, 1994, was notable for the White Sox having Michael Jordan playing right field – Jordan was playing for a White Sox minor-league affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, during the first of his nearly two seasons of his first retirement from the NBA before his comeback with the Bulls.[9]
Since inter-league play began in 1997, the White Sox and Cubs have routinely played each other four or six times each year (one two or three-game series at each stadium). Based on the availability of tickets and the prices offered through ticket brokers, these games are among the most anticipated of the season.
In 2008, the teams played each other as leaders of their respective divisions for the first time ever: the White Sox in the American League Central and the Cubs in the National League Central. Also for the first time in the rivalry's history, both Sunday games to end each series were televised nationally on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The Chicago Cubs swept the White Sox in the first weekend series at Wrigley Field, and the White Sox subsequently swept the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field during the second weekend series, thus splitting the series 3–3 and resulting in an all-time inter-league series tie of 33–33 through 2008.
The Crosstown Cup trophy was introduced in 2010 and the White Sox won the trophy the first three seasons before the Cubs finally won it in 2013. The Cubs winning the 4 games of their 2013 series marks the inter-league series at 49–45 to the White Sox. In 2014 the White Sox reclaimed the Crosstown Cup after winning the first three games of their four-game series. They won the first two games at Wrigley Field 3–1 in 12 and 4–1 respectively, came back to U.S. Cellular Field to win 8–3 before getting blown out in the final game 12–5.
In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the trophy was sponsored by oil and gas company
Barrett vs. Pierzynski
The rivalry turned physical on May 20, 2006, when a brawl broke out during a White Sox-Cubs game at U.S. Cellular Field.[12] In the bottom of the second inning, Brian Anderson of the White Sox hit a sacrifice fly, attempting to score catcher A. J. Pierzynski.[12] Pierzynski collided with Cubs' catcher Michael Barrett. Barrett dropped the ball in the collision and Pierzynski was safe. After slapping home plate in celebration, Pierzynski began to walk away, but Barrett blocked his path and punched him in the jaw. Both benches cleared and a brawl broke out.[12] Umpires debated for 15 minutes before ejecting Pierzynski, Barrett, White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson and Cubs first baseman John Mabry from the game.[13] When play finally resumed, outfielder Scott Podsednik promptly got on base, loading the bases up, and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi cleared them with a grand-slam. The White Sox won the game, 7–0.[14] Michael Barrett was suspended for 10 games, while Brian Anderson was suspended for five and A. J. Pierzynski was fined.[15]
In 2006, Pierzynski was named one of the five American League players in the All-Star Final Vote. Soon afterwards the Chicago White Sox organization began an election campaign using the slogan "Punch A.J.", inspired by the May 20, 2006 collision and slugging incident between Pierzynski and Michael Barrett. Pierzynski received 3.6 million votes, the most votes in the American League, subsequently sending him to his second All-Star appearance.[13][16]
Stadiums
White Sox
The White Sox have always been located on the south side. At the time the White Sox came to town, the Cubs' home field was
When the new Comiskey Park (now called Guaranteed Rate Field) was built, many in the media and baseball (including both Cubs and White Sox fans) called the park "sterile", and lacking the beauty and personality of the old park, even though many seats at the old park were cramped, behind posts, or in the outfield. Others contend that in contrast Wrigley Field is dirty, uncomfortable, and generally unpleasant to be in. Regardless, this again set up a point of rivalry as Cubs fans had their classic park, while White Sox fans had their modern park. Former Sox manager Ozzie Guillén said of Wrigley, "But one thing about Wrigley Field, I puke every time I go there", further polarizing this point of contention. While several renovations to Guaranteed Rate Field have silenced many criticisms, such as the improved upper deck and bleachers, the difference between the fields remains a point of rivalry between fans of the teams.
Cubs
When the Tribune Company bought the Cubs, they immediately started pressing for night baseball, threatening to abandon Wrigley Field otherwise. Night baseball was finally added in 1988, and after some further negotiations with the city, in the winter of 2005–2006 they expanded Wrigley's bleachers for the first time since 1938.
Even the neighborhoods around the stadiums show the difference between the fans. Wrigleyville, a part of the
Television coverage
Until 2004,
Performance
While New York of the 1940s and 1950s often had two or three teams vying for championships, the two Chicago teams had comparatively little to celebrate for a long time, except for pennants in 1945 (Cubs) and 1959 (Sox), until the White Sox won the 2005 World Series and the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. Historically, each team's fans felt bad for their own team's relatively poor performance, but took solace in that the other team was doing just as badly. Thus, the rivalry often was one in which fans of one team are just as happy for the poor play of the other team as they are for the good play of their own (schadenfreude). This above all is what made the Chicago rivalry unique in Major League Baseball. An examination of other great rivalries (Yankees–Red Sox, Mets–Yankees, A's–Giants, Dodgers–Giants) shows that both teams have made World Series appearances on a fairly regular basis.
The animosity among fans (that only rarely escalates to violence) is summed up in the lines from the song "The Ballad of the South Side Irish", echoing sentiments often expressed by at least one side of any number of sports rivalries in America: "When it comes to baseball I've got two favorite clubs, the 'go-go White Sox'... and whoever plays the Cubs." Ardent fans such as the late columnist Mike Royko, a Cubs fan, and late writer Nelson Algren, a Sox fan, would take their shots at the other team. Royko once wrote that the reason Sox fans have a "bad attitude" is that when they would go to games at Comiskey Park, the stench of the Union Stock Yards would fill their nostrils and remind them of the status of their team. The stockyards closed in 1971.
Several Cubs and White Sox fans have made a cottage industry selling shirts, hats, and other souvenirs that include slogans intended to take swipes at the opposing teams, rather than support their own. Time reported that 36% of Cubs fans were rooting against the White Sox during the 2005 World Series.[18] White Sox Fans wave the Blue Cubs Loss flag after their team defeats the Cubs in mockery of the Cubs Win Flag tradition, in reverse the white Win Flag is waved by the Cubs fans in every win against the White Sox and "Go, Cubs, Go" is played during home victories as well.
Team owners naturally encourage such rivalries (two-time Sox owner Bill Veeck was a master at it) in the hope that they will translate to increased gate receipts, and the Cubs-Sox inter-league games have borne out that theory.
President Barack Obama, an avid White Sox fan, has taken verbal jabs at the Cubs on several occasions. When the New York Yankees (managed by former Cub Joe Girardi) visited the White House in honor of their 2009 World Series championship, Obama said, "It's been nine years since your last title—which must have felt like eternity for Yankee fans. I think other teams would be just fine with a spell like that. The Cubs, for example."[19] Obama however, has stated that while he is aware that many people hate the other team, he does not hate the Cubs and wants them to win as long as they are not playing the White Sox.[citation needed] On the other hand, his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, has been a lifelong Cubs fan and following the Cubs' 2016 World Series victory, Barack went as far as to invite them to the White House, tweeting that the Cubs' historic win was "change that even [he] can believe in". The Cubs came to the White House four days before the end of Obama's presidency.
"Cursed" teams
While not meant in the most literal sense to most fans, there is an overall feeling that both teams' misfortunes began with unfortunate events which some claim have cursed both teams into their poor play. This adds to the overall downtrodden feelings that fans feel for their own teams, making it much easier to revel in the poor play of the other. The two teams have the longest droughts in the MLB. The Cubs had a 108-year drought that went from 1908 to 2016, and the White Sox had an 88-year drought that went from 1917 to 2005.
The Chicago Cubs won ten National League championships between 1901 and 1945, and also had among the best winning percentages in the NL up to that time (3,796–3,022 for a 0.557 winning percentage). The Cubs had a 2 games to 1 lead over the
Some historians argue that the genesis of the curse goes back much farther; that the allegedly
The White Sox had the best winning percentage of any American League team from 1901 to 1920 (1,638–1,325 for a 0.553 winning percentage), but quickly slipped to among the worst teams after that. Many point to the
Club success
Team | World Series Titles | League pennants | Division titles | Wild Card Berths | Playoff Appearances | World Series Appearances | All-time Regular Season record | Win Percentage | Seasons played |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Cubs[20] | 3 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 11 | 11,244–10,688–161 | .513 | 151 |
Chicago White Sox[21] | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 9,492–9,390–103 | .502 | 123 |
Combined | 6 | 23 | 14 | 4 | 32 | 16 | 20,736–20,078–264 | .508 | 151 in CHI 274 total |
Note: Pennants won by both teams include pennants won before the modern World Series.
As of October 2, 2023.
Summary of results
Cubs wins | White Sox wins | Cubs runs | White Sox runs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Regular season | 68 | 74 | 653 | 649 |
World Series | 2 | 4 | 18 | 22 |
Total | 70 | 78 | 671 | 671 |
Updated to most recent meeting, 16 August, 2023.
Season-by-season results
Notes: All game scores are listed with the visiting score first.
In the history of the Crosstown cup, if the series is tied, the cup is awarded to the previous season winner.
Cubs vs. White Sox Season-by-Season Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1900s (White Sox, 4–2)
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1990s (Tie, 6–6)
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2000s (White Sox, 31–29)
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2010s (Tie, 25–25)
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2020s (White Sox, 12–8)
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Summary of Results
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Notable players that played for both teams
Name | Position(s) | Cubs tenure | White Sox tenure |
---|---|---|---|
Alex Avila | C | 2017 | 2016 |
George Bell | LF | 1991 | 1992–1993 |
Bobby Bonds | RF | 1981 | 1978 |
Steve Cishek | P | 2018–2019 | 2020 |
Neal Cotts | P | 2007–2009 | 2003–2006 |
Goose Gossage | P | 1988 | 1972–1976 |
Billy Hamilton | CF | 2020 | 2021, 2023 |
Austin Jackson | CF | 2015 | 2016 |
Darrin Jackson | OF | 1985, 1987–1989 | 1994, 1999 |
Edwin Jackson | P | 2013–2015 | 2010–2011 |
Jon Jay | OF | 2017 | 2019 |
Lance Johnson | CF | 1997–1999 | 1988–1995 |
Don Kessinger | SS | 1964–1975 | 1977–1979 |
Craig Kimbrel | P | 2019–2021 | 2021 |
Don Larsen | P | 1967 | 1961 |
Kenny Lofton | CF | 2003 | 2002 |
Nick Madrigal | 2B | 2022–present | 2020–2021 |
Dave Martinez | OF | 1986–1988, 2000 | 1995–1997 |
Juan Pierre | OF | 2006 | 2010–2011 |
José Quintana | P | 2017-2020 | 2012-2017 |
David Robertson | P | 2022 | 2015–2017 |
Jeff Samardzija | P | 2008–2014 | 2015 |
Ron Santo | 3B | 1960–1973 | 1974 |
Sammy Sosa | RF | 1992–2004 | 1989–1991 |
Geovany Soto | C | 2005–2012 | 2015, 2017 |
Steve Stone | P | 1974–1976 | 1973, 1977–1978 |
Ryan Tepera | P | 2020–2021 | 2021 |
Luis Vizcaíno | P | 2009 | 2005 |
See also
- Major League Baseball rivalries
- Major League Baseball Geographical Rivalries
- Bay Bridge Series, Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants
- Freeway Series, Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Subway Series/Mets-Yankees, New York Mets vs. New York Yankees, etc.
- Beltway Series, Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals
- Citrus Series, Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Show-Me Series, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
- Cleveland Indians
- Lone Star Series, Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e "Head-to-Head Records — Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox from 1997 to 2024". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ a b c "mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Chicago Cubs against Chicago White Sox". mcubed.net. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: September 25, 2020". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: August 29, 2021". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ Merkin, Scott (June 21, 2007). "Buehrle Opens Windy City Showdown". MLB.com. WhiteSox.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Jameson, Deirdre. "This Weekend[permanent dead link]". USA Today Sports Section. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ a b Dodd, Mike; Keen, Judy (October 3, 2008). "There Are Two Sides To the Story for Cubs and White Sox Fans". USA Today.
- ^ Chicago's Civil War
- ^ Michael Jordan plays right field for the White Sox Major League Baseball on YouTube
- ^ Bannon, Tim (June 17, 2019). "7 Things to Know about the Cubs-Sox City Series, Including Whatever Happened to the BP Cup and WGN-TV's Swan Song". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Sunday Night Baseball to Air Exclusively on ABC for First Time as Chicago Cubs Host American League Central-Leading Chicago White Sox at Historic Wrigley Field". 4 August 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Cubs' Barrett slugs Pierzynski, leads to melee". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 20, 2006.
- ^ a b "Cubs' Barrett slugs Pierzynski, leads to melee". ESPN. 20 May 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
- ^ "Cubs' tempers boil, bats fizzle as ChiSox win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 20, 2006.
- ^ "Barrett suspended 10 games for igniting brawl". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 26, 2006.
- ^ Newman, Mark (July 6, 2006). "Nomar, A.J. named Final Vote winners". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "White Sox Open New Bar And Restaurant". CBS News Chicago. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
- ^ Thigpen, David (2005-10-23). "Every Year, a Miracle". Time. Archived from the original on October 27, 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
- ^ "Obama Tweaks Cubs. Again". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on 2010-05-01.
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/ Chicago Cubs history at baseball-reference.com
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/ Chicago White Sox history at baseball-reference.com
- ^ Head-to-head games