History of the Chicago White Sox

Although the Chicago White Sox started in 1901 as a strong team, it took them over 80 years to win a World Series after their first two titles. But it's not their early wins that gave the team a well-known reputation. Instead, it was the scandal of the 1919 World Series that renamed them the "Black Sox."

1901-1909

After the National League Chicago White Stockings became the Cubs, Chicago's American League team changed its name to the White Stockings. The name held until 1904 when it was shortened to the White Sox. They played at South Side Park from 1901 through 1910.

The White Stockings started as a championship team, winning the American League pennant in 1901. The following year, they again had a winning season with 74 wins and 60 losses, but they dropped down to just 60 wins to 77 losses in 1903. Clark Griffith managed them for their first two seasons and Jimmy Callahan took over in 1903.

In 1904, two future Hall of Famers, Ed Walsh and George Davis, joined the White Sox. With their help, the team won 89 games. Fielder Jones took over as manager in 1904, and he led the team to 92 wins and 60 losses in 1905.

The White Sox finished the 1906 season with 93 wins and 58 losses. They won the AL pennant and went on to defeat the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. They continued to have winning seasons in 1907, 1908, and 1909, but they didn't play in the postseason.

1910-1919

The White Sox moved their home games to Comiskey Park in 1910. They had a losing season in 1910, but followed that with winning seasons in 1911, 1912, and 1913. Future Hall of Famer Ray Schalk joined the team in 1912. Hugh Duffy managed the team in 1910 and 1911, and Jimmy Callahan followed in 1912.

The White Sox had a losing season in 1914 (70 wins to 84 losses), but they bounced back with 93 wins to 61 losses in 1915, under the leadership of new manager Pants Rowland. That year, future Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Red Faber played with the team. It was also the year that "Shoeless" Joe Jackson joined the team.

The White Sox had another winning season in 1916, and then in 1917, when they had 100 wins and 54 losses, they won the AL pennant. They played against the New York Giants in the postseason and won their second World Series title.

In 1918, the White Sox fell down to 57 wins and 67 losses, and manager Rowland was replaced by Kid Gleason, who managed the team from 1919 through 1923. Gleason's first season became a notable one. The White Sox won 88 games and lost 52 in 1919 and they faced the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

The White Sox lost the World Series in 1919, but the real loss came in 1920 with the "Black Sox Scandal." Rumors started in 1919 that the World Series had been fixed and that White Sox players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, had been paid to throw the series. In 1920, the accused White Sox players, including Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, and Buck Weaver, were banned from baseball. The loss of these key players caused the White Sox to soon drop to the bottom of the standings. It took almost forty years for the team to recover fully from the "Black Sox Scandal."

1920-1929

The White Sox had 96 wins and 58 losses in 1920, but they didn't have another winning season until 1925. Kid Gleason managed them until 1923. That year, they added future Hall of Famer Ted Lyons to their roster. He continued to play with the team for the next two decades.

In 1924, Johnny Evers took over the managerial position for a year. The following season, Eddie Collins took over the position and he remained the player-manager for the White Sox through 1926. He led the team to winning seasons in both 1925 (79-75 record) and 1926 (81-72 record). They wouldn't have another winning season for ten years.

Ray Schalk became player-manager of the White Sox in 1927. He was replaced by Lena Blackburne in 1928.

1930-1939

From 1930 through 1935, the White Sox had only losing seasons under three managers. Donie Bush managed the team in 1930 and 1931, Lew Fonseca managed from 1932 to 1934, and Jimmy Dykes took over the position in 1934. He continued to manage the team through 1946.

Under Dykes leadership and with stronger players, including future Hall of Famers Luke Appling and Al Simmons, the White Sox had winning seasons in 1936, 1937, and 1939. Their best season was 1937, when they had 86 wins and 68 losses. They didn't get to the postseason in any of those years.

1940-1949

In the 1940s, the White Sox had just two winning seasons (1940, 1943) and no postseason games. Dykes continued to manage the team until Ted Lyons took over in 1946. Jack Onslow was the team's manager in 1949 and 1950.

1950-1959

The White Sox finally had good seasons in the 1950s. Future Hall of Famer Nellie Fox joined the team in 1950, and he helped the team to winning seasons from 1951 through 1959. After having two managers in 1950 (Jack Onslow and Red Corriden), Paul Richards took over the position in 1951, and he led the team until 1954, when Marty Marion replaced him. Al Lopez was hired as manager in 1957.

In 1959, the White Sox were sold to a group that was led by experienced baseball owner Bill Veeck. The team was revitalized and the improved White Sox won the AL pennant with 94 wins and 60 losses. The then played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series and lost the series in six games.

1960-1969

The White Sox, under manager Al Lopez, had winning seasons from 1960 through 1965. Eddie Stanky took over as manager in 1966, and he led the team to winning seasons in 1966 and 1967. Les Moss replaced him for 36 games in 1968, before Al Lopez returned to continue managing the team for the rest of that season. The following year, Don Gutteridge replaced Lopez.

Future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm joined the White Sox in 1963, and he helped them win 98 games in 1964. The following season, pitcher Tommy John joined the team's starting rotation.

The White Sox were moved to the newly formed AL West division in 1969.

1970-1979

The White Sox went into a downslide in the 1970s, starting the decade with 56 wins and 106 losses in 1970. They had winning seasons only in 1972 and 1977. Their best season was 1977, when they had 90 wins and 72 losses.

The White Sox changed managers frequently during the 1970s. After their disastrous 1970 season, Don Gutteridge was replaced by Chuck Tanner in 1971. Tanner managed the team through 1975, followed by Paul Richards in 1976. Next came two future Hall of Fame players - Bob Lemon in 1977, and a year later, he was replaced by Larry Doby. Tony La Russa took over as manager in 1979, and he managed the team to 1986.

1980-1989

La Russa led the White Sox to winning seasons from 1981 through 1983, and again in 1985. They had their best season in 1983 with 99 wins and 63 losses. They won the AL West division title but they lost the AL Championship series to the Baltimore Orioles. La Russa was named AL Manager of the Year in 1983.

The White Sox slipped down in the standings after 1983, and La Russa was fired in 1986. He was replaced by Jim Fregosi, who managed the team through 1988. Jeff Torborg took over the position in 1989. The White Sox had only losing seasons from 1986 through 1989.

In 1985, the White Sox added Ozzie Guillen, who would have an impact on the team for more than a decade. He was named the AL Rookie of the Year that season. They also added future Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Carlton Fisk to their roster during the 1980s. Seaver pitched for them only through 1986, but Fisk stayed with them through 1993.

1990-1999

The White Sox played well in the 1990s, with six winning seasons (1990-1994, 1996). However, they only went to the postseason one year. In 1991, the team moved their home games to Comisky Park 2, which would be renamed as U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 and Guaranteed Rate Field in 2017.

Jeff Torborg led the White Sox to their first winning season in five years in 1990. He was named the AL Manager of the Year for that achievement. He led the team to another winning season in 1991, but he was replaced by Gene Lamont the next year. Future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas helped the team with their winning streak, joining the team in 1990. He continued to play with them through 2005.

Under Lamont's leadership in 1993, the White Sox had 94 wins and 68 losses. They won the AL West division title and Lamont was named the AL Manager of the Year. They faced the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and lost the series in six games.

The White Sox were moved to the AL Central division in 1994. The following year, Terry Bevington took over as manager. Jerry Manuel took over as manager in 1998, and he stayed in that position through 2003. From 1997 through 1999, the White Sox had only losing seasons.

2000-2009

The years from 2000 to 2009 were better ones for the White Sox. They were in the AL Central division and they fared much better with the new division plan. They had winning seasons in 2000, 2001, 2003-2006, and 2008, and they went to the postseason three times.

Jerry Manuel continued to manage the team through the early years of the new century, leading them to the postseason in 2000 with 95 wins and 67 losses. He won the AL Manager of the Year award that season. However, the postseason led to an AL division series loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Ozzie Guillen returned to the White Sox in 2004, this time as their manager. He led the team to 99 wins and 63 losses in 2005, and the White Sox had another AL Manager of the Year award winner. They then went to the ALDS and defeated the Red Sox. They finally won the AL pennant and made it to the World Series by defeating the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS. They then won their first World Series title since 1917, defeating the Houston Astros.

Guillen led the White Sox to one more postseason in 2008. That year, they lost the ALDS to the Tampa Bay Rays in four games. They had a losing season in 2009, but they had one pitcher, Mark Buehrle, who gave the fans a thrill when he pitched a perfect game on July 23rd.

2010-2018

The White Sox have struggled in the last nine years, having winning seasons only in 2010 and 2012. They finished in fourth or fifth place in the AL Central division for six of the nine years.

Guillen was replaced as manager by Robin Ventura in 2012. In his first season with the White Sox, he led the team to 85 wins and 77 losses and a second place finish in the AL Central division. For the next four seasons, he couldn't lead the team past fourth place in the division. Their best season from 2013 through 2016, was in 2016 when they had 78 wins and 84 losses.

Rick Renteria took over as manager of the White Sox in 2017, but he hasn't been able to move the team out of fourth place in their division. They finished the 2017 season with 67 wins and 95 losses. The 2018 season was even worse with 62 wins and 100 losses.

Two players who gave White Sox fans something to cheer about in the last few years were pitcher Chris Sale and first baseman Jose Abreu. Sale led the AL in strikeouts in 2015. The year before, Abreu led the AL in slugging percentage with .581 and he was named the AL Rookie of the Year. He hit for the cycle on September 9, 2017.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Chicago White Sox
Baseball Reference - Chicago White Sox