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Chicago White Sox

From Cornhuskers to White Stockings

The franchise was originally founded in 1894 as a minor league team called the Sioux City Cornhuskers. 1)

A Saintly Stopover

Before settling in Chicago, the team was purchased by Charles Comiskey and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were known as the St. Paul Saints. 2)

Windy City Arrival

In 1900, Charles Comiskey relocated the St. Paul Saints to Chicago, and they were initially named the Chicago White Stockings, a former name of the city's National League team, the Cubs. 3)

A Shorter Sobriquet

The team officially shortened its name from the “White Stockings” to the “White Sox” in 1904, a nickname that had been popularized by sports journalists. 4)

Inaugural American League Champions

In the American League's first season as a major league in 1901, the Chicago White Stockings won the pennant. 5)

The "Hitless Wonders" of 1906

The 1906 White Sox won the World Series against their crosstown rivals, the Cubs, despite having the worst team batting average (.230) in the American League, earning them the nickname “the Hitless Wonders”. 6)

A Pitcher-Friendly Palace

Comiskey Park, the team's home from 1910 to 1990, was designed with input from pitcher Ed Walsh and was known for its spacious, pitcher-friendly dimensions. 7)

From City Dump to Ballpark

The land for Comiskey Park was a former city dump that Charles Comiskey purchased in 1909. 8)

A Patriotic Tradition's Beginning

The tradition of playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at baseball games is said to have started at Comiskey Park during the 1918 World Series. 9)

The Infamous Black Sox Scandal

Eight White Sox players were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from gamblers. 10)

A Signal to the Gamblers

The fix of the 1919 World Series was allegedly signaled to gamblers when pitcher Eddie Cicotte hit the first batter of the series, Morrie Rath, with a pitch. 11)

Lifetime Bans Despite Acquittal

Although the eight accused players were acquitted in a 1921 trial, they were permanently banned from professional baseball by the first Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. 12)

A Long Championship Drought

Following the Black Sox Scandal, the franchise endured an 88-year drought before winning another World Series. 13)

The "Go-Go" White Sox

The successful teams of the 1950s and early 1960s were known as the “Go-Go White Sox” for their emphasis on speed, defense, and pitching rather than power hitting. 14)

First to Feature Names on Jerseys

In 1960, the White Sox became the first team in Major League Baseball to put players' names on the back of their jerseys. 15)

Veeck's Exploding Scoreboard

Famed owner Bill Veeck installed the first “exploding” scoreboard at Comiskey Park in 1960, which would light up and shoot off fireworks. 16)

Disco Demolition Night

A 1979 promotion, “Disco Demolition Night,” resulted in a riot on the field at Comiskey Park after a crate of disco records was blown up, forcing the White Sox to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader. 17)

Winning Ugly

The 1983 team, which won the AL West division, was known by the slogan “Winning Ugly,” a phrase coined by manager Tony La Russa to describe their gritty style of play. 18)

The Longest Game in MLB History (by time)

On May 8-9, 1984, the White Sox played in the longest game by time in MLB history, an 8-hour, 6-minute affair against the Milwaukee Brewers that lasted 25 innings. 19)

A Two-Win Day for Seaver

In the marathon 25-inning game, Hall of Famer Tom Seaver earned the win in relief and then started and won the regularly scheduled game that followed. 20)

The Big Hurt's Back-to-Back MVPs

First baseman Frank Thomas, nicknamed “The Big Hurt,” won consecutive American League MVP awards in 1993 and 1994. 21)

A Record-Setting Closer

In the final season at old Comiskey Park in 1990, closer Bobby Thigpen set a then-MLB record with 57 saves. 22)

Four Straight Complete Games in the Postseason

During the 2005 ALCS, White Sox starting pitchers Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, and Jose Contreras threw four consecutive complete games, a feat unlikely to be repeated. 23)

Breaking the Curse

In 2005, the White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years, sweeping the Houston Astros. 24)

A Grand Slam and a Walk-Off in the Same World Series Game

In Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, Paul Konerko hit a grand slam, and Scott Podsednik hit a walk-off home run, the first time that combination had ever occurred in a World Series game. 25)

Mark Buehrle's Perfect Game

On July 23, 2009, pitcher Mark Buehrle threw the 18th perfect game in MLB history against the Tampa Bay Rays. 26)

"The Catch" to Preserve Perfection

DeWayne Wise made a spectacular, home-run-robbing catch in the 9th inning to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game. 27)

The Only 100-Win Season

The 1917 team is the only one in franchise history to win 100 games in a season. 28)

Black Betsy

Shoeless Joe Jackson's famous bat was named “Black Betsy” and was darkened with tobacco juice. 29)

Old Aches and Pains

Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling was affectionately known as “Old Aches and Pains.” 30)

The Cuban Comet

Minnie Miñoso, a beloved White Sox icon, was nicknamed “The Cuban Comet.” 31)

Shorts on the Diamond

In 1976, the White Sox wore shorts for a game, one of the most unusual uniform choices in baseball history. 32)

A Fan-Designed Uniform

The “Winning Ugly” era uniforms of the 1980s were the result of a fan design contest. 33)

The First MLB All-Star Game Host

The first-ever Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held at Comiskey Park in 1933. 34)

A Boxing Championship Bout

Comiskey Park hosted the famous 1937 boxing match where Joe Louis defeated James J. Braddock to become the heavyweight champion. 35)

Most Runs in a Game

The team record for most runs scored in a single game is 29, set on April 23, 1955, against the Kansas City Athletics. 36)

Most Errors in a Game

The franchise record for errors in a single game is a staggering 12, which occurred on May 6, 1903, against the Detroit Tigers. 37)

Single-Season Home Run King

Albert Belle holds the single-season franchise record for home runs with 49, set in 1998. 38)

Single-Season Stolen Base Leader

Rudy Law set the franchise record for stolen bases in a season with 77 in 1983. 39)

Most Career Home Runs

Frank Thomas holds the franchise record for the most career home runs with 448. 40)

Most Career Hits

Hall of Famer Luke Appling is the franchise's all-time leader in hits with 2,749. 41)

Most Career Wins by a Pitcher

Ted Lyons holds the franchise record for the most career wins by a pitcher with 260. 42)

Field of Dreams Walk-Off

The White Sox participated in the first-ever MLB at Field of Dreams game in Iowa in 2021, winning on a walk-off home run by Tim Anderson against the New York Yankees. 43)

A New Perception

Following a difficult period, the organization has been focused on changing its culture and is reportedly gaining a more positive reputation among MLB players. 44)

chicago_white_sox.txt · Last modified: 2025/08/17 10:59 by eziothekilla34