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superchops70

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Is this the worst era of Chicago sports in history? I'd say it pretty much has to be. Bears are the worst team in the NFL, White Sox and Bulls both near the bottom. Blackhawks sucked last season. Don't know how it could get much worse. Think I need to find some new hobbies because following Chicago sports is a lost cause. None of the owners seem to give a rip 

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11 minutes ago, superchops70 said:

Is this the worst era of Chicago sports in history? I'd say it pretty much has to be. Bears are the worst team in the NFL, White Sox and Bulls both near the bottom. Blackhawks sucked last season. Don't know how it could get much worse. Think I need to find some new hobbies because following Chicago sports is a lost cause. None of the owners seem to give a rip 

The 70s were pretty bad, Sox and Cubs except for a couple of nice seasons were bad with no playoff appearances,  the Hawks had a couple of trips to the finals in 71 and 73 but were really bad later in the decade and after many years of sellouts were drawing 10,000 a game, same with the Bulls. The Bears were horrible for most of the decade but made the playoffs IIRC in 77. Bottom line the 70s were the worst decade I can remember for Chicago sports teams with the Blackhawks in 71 the only season when any team came close to winning it all.

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1900 was the last year at least one professional Chicago Sports Team (Baseball, Basketball, Football, Ice Hockey, Soccer) did not finish over .500.

Baring an improbable over .500 Chicago Bears season, the Chicago Cubs were the only team to finish 2023 above .500. Below are the 21 years a single Chicago professional team finished over .500, with the White Sox at the top with eight seasons (White Sox 8; Cubs/Chicago/Orphans; 4 Bears; 2 Black Hawks/Blackhawks; 1 Bulls; 1 Fire FC).

21 Seasons One Chicago Professional Sports Team finished over .500 (1901 - 2023) (Number of teams - Teams with losing records)

  • 2023 Cubs (Bears pending conclusion of 2023 season; Blackhawks, Bulls, Fire, Sky, White Sox)
  • 2002 Blackhawks (Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox)
  • 1999 Fire FC (Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox)
  • 1997 Bulls (Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox)
  • 1987 Bears (Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs & White Sox)
  • 1978 Black Hawks (Bears, Bulls, Cubs, Sting o, White Sox)
  • 1960 White Sox (Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs)
  • 1952, 1953, 1957 White Sox (Bears, Black Hawks, Cardinals, Cubs)
  • 1945 Cubs (American Giants, Bears, Black Hawks, Cardinals, White Sox)
  • 1941, 1942, 1944 Bears (American Giants, Black Hawks, Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox)
  • 1916, 1917 White Sox (Cubs)
  • 1910, 1918 Cubs (White Sox)
  • 1903 Chicago (White Sox)
  • 1902 White Sox (Chicago)
  • 1901 White Sox (Orphans)

2023 Chicago Major League Team Standings - Last Completed Regular Season

  1. .512 Chicago Cubs (2023 83-79)
  2. .488 Chicago Bulls (2022-2023 40-42)
  3. .450 Chicago Sky (2023 18-22)
  4. .426 Chicago Fire FC (2022 10-15-9) - Clinched 2023 losing record
  5. .377 Chicago White Sox (2023 61-101)
  6. .317 Chicago Blackhawks (2022-2023 26-56)
  7. .176 Chicago Bears (2022 3-14) - Likely 2023 losing record

Chicago Major League Teams (Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer) over .500 by year (1876 - 2023):

Year (Number of Chicago Teams) Teams with over .500 regular season seasons. Bold Team = Championship Season

  • 2023 (6 + Bears in ProgressCubs
  • 2022 (7) Bulls, Sky
  • 2021 (7) Sky, White Sox
  • 2020 (7) Cubs, Sky, White Sox
  • 2019 (6) Cubs, Sky
  • 2018 (6) Bears, Cubs
  • 2017 (5) Blackhawks, Cubs
  • 2016 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs
  • 2015 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs
  • 2014 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls
  • 2013 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls
  • 2012 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 2011 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls
  • 2010 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox
  • 2009 (6) Blackhawks, Cubs
  • 2008 (6) Bears, Cubs, White Sox
  • 2007 (6) Bulls, Cubs
  • 2006 (6) Bears, White Sox
  • 2005 (5) Bears, Bulls, Fire, White Sox
  • 2004 (6) Cubs, White Sox
  • 2003 (6) Cubs, Fire, White Sox
  • 2002 (5) Blackhawks
  • 2001 (6) Bears, Cubs, Fire, White Sox
  • 2000 (6) Fire, White Sox
  • 1999 (6) Fire
  • 1998 (6) Bulls, Cubs, Fire
  • 1997 (5) Bulls
  • 1996 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1995 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs
  • 1994 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1993 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1992 (5) Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1991 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1990 (5) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1989 (5) Bulls, Cubs
  • 1988 (5) Bears, Bulls
  • 1987 (5) Bears
  • 1986 (6) Bears, Black Hawks
  • 1985 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, Sting i, White Sox
  • 1984 (7) Bears, Cubs, Sting i, Sting o
  • 1983 (7) Black Hawks, Sting i, White Sox
  • 1982 (7) Sting i, White Sox
  • 1981 (7) Bulls, Sting i, Sting o, White Sox
  • 1980 (6) Black Hawks, Sting o
  • 1979 (6) Bears, Sting o
  • 1978 (6) Black Hawks
  • 1977 (6) Bears, Bulls, White Sox
  • 1976 (7) Black Hawks, Sting o
  • 1975 (7) Black Hawks, Bulls, Sting o
  • 1974 (6) Black Hawks, Bulls, Cougars
  • 1973 (6) Black Hawks, Bulls
  • 1972 (5) Black Hawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1971 (5) Black Hawks, Bulls, Cubs
  • 1970 (5) Black Hawks, Cubs
  • 1969 (5) Black Hawks, Cubs
  • 1968 (6) Black Hawks, Cubs, Mustangs
  • 1967 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs, Mustangs, White Sox
  • 1966 (4) Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1965 (4) Bears, Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1964 (4) Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1963 (5) Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1962 (5) Bears, Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1961 (4) Bears, Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1960 (4) White Sox
  • 1959 (5) Bears, White Sox
  • 1958 (5) Bears, White Sox
  • 1957 (5) White Sox
  • 1956 (5) Bears, Cardinals, White Sox
  • 1955 (5) Bears, White Sox
  • 1954 (5) Bears, White Sox
  • 1953 (5) White Sox
  • 1952 (5) White Sox
  • 1951 (5) Bears, White Sox
  • 1950 (6) Bears, Stags
  • 1949 (6) Bears, Cardinals, Stags
  • 1948 (7) Bears, Cardinals, Stags
  • 1947 (7) Bears, Cardinals, Stags
  • 1946 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs 
  • 1945 (6) Cubs
  • 1944 (6) Bears
  • 1943 (6) American Giants, Bears, White Sox
  • 1942 (6) Bears
  • 1941 (6) Bears
  • 1940 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, White Sox
  • 1939 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1938 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs
  • 1937 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1936 (5) Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1935 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, Cardinals, Cubs
  • 1934 (6) American Giants, Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs
  • 1933 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs
  • 1932 (6) American GiantsBears, Cubs
  • 1931 (6) Bears, Black Hawks, Cardinals, Cubs
  • 1930 (6) American Giants, Bears, Black Hawks, Cubs
  • 1929 (6) American Giants, Cubs
  • 1928 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs
  • 1927 (6) American Giants, Bears, Cubs
  • 1926 (5) American Giants, Bears, Cubs, White Sox
  • 1925 (5) American Giants, Bears, Cardinals, White Sox
  • 1924 (5) American Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Cubs
  • 1923 (5) American Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Cubs
  • 1922 (5) American Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Cubs
  • 1921 (6) American GiantsStaleys
  • 1920 (5) American Giants, Cardinals, White Sox
  • 1919 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1918 (2) Cubs
  • 1917 (2) White Sox
  • 1916 (2) White Sox
  • 1915 (3) Whales, White Sox
  • 1914 (3) Chi-Feds, Cubs
  • 1913 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1912 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1911 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1910 (2) Cubs
  • 1909 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1908 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1907 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1906 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1905 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1904 (2) Cubs, White Sox
  • 1903 (2) Chicago
  • 1902 (2) White Sox
  • 1901 (2) White Sox
  • 1900 (1) None
  • 1899 (1) Orphans
  • 1898 (1) Orphans
  • 1897 (1) None
  • 1896 (1) Colts
  • 1895 (1) Colts
  • 1894 (1) None
  • 1893 (1) None
  • 1892 (1) None
  • 1891 (1) Colts
  • 1890 (2) Colts, White Stockings
  • 1889 (1) Chicago
  • 1888 (1) Chicago
  • 1887 (1) White Stockings
  • 1886 (1) White Stockings
  • 1885 (1) White Stockings
  • 1884 (2) White Stockings
  • 1883 (1) White Stockings
  • 1882 (1) White Stockings
  • 1881 (1) White Stockings
  • 1880 (1) White Stockings
  • 1879 (1) White Stockings
  • 1878 (1) None
  • 1877 (1) None
  • 1876 (1) White Stockings

Includes the following leagues:

  • Baseball
    • NL National League (1876-1900)
    • UA Union Association (1884)
    • PL Players League (1890)
    • MLB Major League Baseball (1901-2023)
    • FL Federal League (1914-1915)
    • NNL Negro National League (1920-1931)
    • NSL Negro Southern League (1932)
    • NN2 Negro National League II (1933-1935)
    • NAL Negro American League (1937-1948)
  • Basketball
    • BAA Basketball Association of America (1946-47 through 1948-1949)
    • NBA National Basketball Association (1949-1950; 1961-1962 through 1962-1963; 1966-1967 through 2023-2024)
    • WNBA Women's National Basketball Association (2006-2009 & 2018-2023)
  • Football
    • APFA American Professional Football Association (1920-1921)
    • NFL National Football League (1922-2023)
    • AAFC All-American Football Conference (1946-1949)
  • Hockey
    • NHL National Hockey League (1926-1927 through 2003-2004 & 2005-2006 through 2023-2024)
    • WHA World Hockey Association (1972-1973 through 1974-1975)
  • Soccer Indoor
    • NASL North American Soccer League (1976; 1980-1981 through 1981-1982 & 1983-1984)
    • MISL Major Indoor Soccer League (1982-1983 & 1984-1985 through 1985-1986)
  • Soccer Outdoor
    • USA United Soccer Association (1967)
    • NASL North American Soccer League (1968; 1975-1984)
    • MLS Major League Soccer (1998-2001; 2003-2005; 2020-2023)

Note: Seasons and records above are limited to those hosted in the City of Chicago. Fire, Sky & Sting seasons played in the suburbs are not included above.

Note: The Chicago Black Hawks won the 1937-1938 Stanley Cup with a losing regular season record of 14-25-9, and are not included above.

Edited by South Side Hit Men
Added other MLB recognized MLs & Mustang USA/NASL Team
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Cubs honestly is the biggest black eye here. YES, the Sox were supposed to be the contenders, but by mid may their season was clearly over. 3 weeks ago the Cubs had a 92% chance to make the wild card and they burned in historic fashion. It has all been swept under the rug because the Bears are laughably awful. But wow, being a Sox, Bulls, Hawks fan right now is absolutely brutal...outside of the Hawks potentially having a superstar in 3 years. 

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6 hours ago, EloyJenkins said:

Cubs honestly is the biggest black eye here. YES, the Sox were supposed to be the contenders, but by mid may their season was clearly over. 3 weeks ago the Cubs had a 92% chance to make the wild card and they burned in historic fashion. It has all been swept under the rug because the Bears are laughably awful. But wow, being a Sox, Bulls, Hawks fan right now is absolutely brutal...outside of the Hawks potentially having a superstar in 3 years. 

Yeah, At least the Hawks have Bedard to look forward to.

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5 hours ago, Dick Allen said:

So never in Chicago sports history have the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox, and Blackhawks all played .500 the same season.

.500 seasons are excluded in my analysis (winning 1 + game > .500). That said, 1922 was the only year it played a factor. The White Sox would likely only have one season, Jerry Reinsdorf post lockout / scab 1995 season, if Judge KKK Landis didn't ban the eight acquitted White Sox, which set the Sox back for nearly two generations.

1963 is the year closest in terms of what you are looking for. The precursor to the Bulls, the NBA Chicago Packers (1961-62) and Chicago Zephyrs (1962-63) moved to Baltimore the following season and were renamed the Bullets. Chicago regained a team four years later and also was the only losing sports team that year.

These are the closest years after the ten seasons both the White Sox and Cubs finished over ..500, prior to the adoption of Chicago NFL, NHL and Negro Leagues teams in the 1920s, and the NBA first in the 1940s and finally staying in the 1960s. The Black Hawks are the only team not to ruin the Chicago Super High Five.

  • Eight Years The Cubs Ruined It:
    • 2012 (5) Bears (.625), Blackhawks (.549), Bulls (.758), White Sox (.525). Cubs .377
    • 2005 (5) Bears (.688) , Bulls (.573), Fire (.531), White Sox (.611). Cubs .488 *See Note
    • 1994 (5) Bears (.563), Blackhawks (.518), Bulls (.671), White Sox (.593 - f*** you Jerry). Cubs .434
    • 1991 (5) Bears (.688), Blackhawks (.663) , Bulls (.744), White Sox (.537). Cubs .481
    • 1990 (5) Bears (.688), Blackhawks (.550) , Bulls (.671), White Sox (.580). Cubs .475
    • 1965 (4) Bears (.643), Black Hawks (.543), White Sox (.586). Cubs .444
    • 1961 (4) Bears (.571), Black Hawks (.536), White Sox (.531). Cubs .416
    • 1925 (5) American Giants (.582), Bears (.618), Cardinals (.821), White Sox (.513). Cubs .442
  • Two Years The Bears Ruined It:
    • 1993 (5) Blackhawks (.631), Bulls (.695), Cubs (.519), White Sox (.580). Bears .438
    • 1972 (5) Black Hawks (.686), Bulls (.695), Cubs (.548), White Sox (.565). Bears .321
  • Year The Bulls Ruined It:
    • 1967 (6) Bears (.536), Black Hawks (.671), Cubs (.540), Mustangs (.542), White Sox (.549). Bulls .407 Inaugural Season
  • Two Years The Cardinals Ruined It:
    • 1936 (5) Bears (.750), Black Hawks (.521), Cubs (.565), White Sox (.536). Cardinals .292
    • 1926 (5) American Giants (.704), Bears (.844), Cubs (.532), White Sox (.529). Cardinals .458 Short a TD in 1 of 2 games from finishing over .500.
  • Three Losing Years + One .500 Season The White Sox ruined it:
    • 1995 (5) Bears (.563), Blackhawks (.552), Bulls (.573) , Cubs (.507). White Sox .472
    • 1924 (5) American Giants (.658), Bears (.727), Cardinals (.550), Cubs (.529). White Sox .431
    • 1923 (5) American Giants (.619), Bears (.792), Cardinals (.667), Cubs (.539). White Sox .448
    • 1922 (5) American Giants (.607), Bears (.750), Cardinals (.727), Cubs (.519). White Sox .500 77-77-1
  • Year The Chicago Zephyrs ruined it:
    • 1963 (5) Bears (.857), Black Hawks (.579), Cubs (.506), White Sox (.580). Zephyrs .313

 

Note *: Bettman & Wirtz cancelled the 2004-2005 NHL Season, resulting in five Chicago teams credited with competing in 2005.

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It always comes down to ownership and for a century or so Chicago sports teams owners have been less than willing to go all in, regardless of consequence, less than willing to hire the best and the brightest and less then willing to put personal beliefs aside in the interest of winning.

It always starts at the top folks. 

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In my lifetime (41 years) it definitely is. There have been times where the teams were individually worse (except the Sox, this is probably the worst they've ever been, and potentially the Bears too) or have been bad for longer periods of time, but never all at the same time.

-Until the Hahn era the Sox were always generally above-average at worst, and at least had a handful of good (sometimes excellent or historically notable) players. Currently fucking awful

-The Cubs (until the last decade or so and obviously 2016) had a notorious track record of failure, even their fans would admit this

-The Bears cycle between years-long periods of dormancy and relevance (sometimes accidentally being good off the sheer number of times they have to keep starting over), but even so they've produced multiple Hall of Famers during this period. Currently the in the Browns/Lions category of NFL laughingstock until further notice

-The Blackhawks were good when I was younger, then a laughingstock for an extended period of time, then ran the 2010s, good times (major caveat of the sexual assault scandal, however). Currently transitioning, so they're bad, but arrow pointing up

-The Bulls, no explanation needed, but currently stuck in NBA hell indefinitely as a fringe playoff team at best with no end in sight

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1 hour ago, lostfan said:

In my lifetime (41 years) it definitely is. There have been times where the teams were individually worse (except the Sox, this is probably the worst they've ever been, and potentially the Bears too) or have been bad for longer periods of time, but never all at the same time.

-Until the Hahn era the Sox were always generally above-average at worst, and at least had a handful of good (sometimes excellent or historically notable) players. Currently fucking awful

-The Cubs (until the last decade or so and obviously 2016) had a notorious track record of failure, even their fans would admit this

-The Bears cycle between years-long periods of dormancy and relevance (sometimes accidentally being good off the sheer number of times they have to keep starting over), but even so they've produced multiple Hall of Famers during this period. Currently the in the Browns/Lions category of NFL laughingstock until further notice

-The Blackhawks were good when I was younger, then a laughingstock for an extended period of time, then ran the 2010s, good times (major caveat of the sexual assault scandal, however). Currently transitioning, so they're bad, but arrow pointing up

-The Bulls, no explanation needed, but currently stuck in NBA hell indefinitely as a fringe playoff team at best with no end in sight

I'd say each of the teams had a legitimate "multi championship competitive window" during my lifetime (born 1969).

Chicago Legitimate "Multi Championship Competitive Windows" since the Moon Landing:

  • Chicago Bears (1984-1988)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (2009-2015)
  • Chicago Bulls (1989-1993 & 1995-1998)  Two Jordan exile / gambling ban years not included
  • Chicago Cubs (2015-2017)
  • Chicago White Sox (1993-1994)

2005 was a great year, which I still cherish, and there were several other White Sox teams which were very exciting to watch (1977, 1983 and 1990 my favorites). That said, I hope they can build a team which can put together a solid 3-5 year run and let the chips fall where they may.

1917-1920 was their other legitimate window and we weren't around to enjoy.

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38 minutes ago, South Side Hit Men said:

I'd say each of the teams had a legitimate "multi championship competitive window" during my lifetime (born 1969).

Chicago Legitimate "Multi Championship Competitive Windows" since the Moon Landing:

  • Chicago Bears (1984-1988)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (2009-2015)
  • Chicago Bulls (1989-1993 & 1995-1998)  Two Jordan exile / gambling ban years not included
  • Chicago Cubs (2015-2017)
  • Chicago White Sox (1993-1994)

2005 was a great year, which I still cherish, and there were several other White Sox teams which were very exciting to watch (1977, 1983 and 1990 my favorites). That said, I hope they can build a team which can put together a solid 3-5 year run and let the chips fall where they may.

1917-1920 was their other legitimate window and we weren't around to enjoy.

I'd argue they had legit chances to win during the time period from 1951-1967 too. 

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38 minutes ago, South Side Hit Men said:

I'd say each of the teams had a legitimate "multi championship competitive window during my lifetime (born 1969)., the Bulls a second self-imposed (Jordan Gambling Suspension or whatever).

Chicago Legitimate "Multi Championship Competitive Windows" since the Moon Landing:

  • Chicago Bears (1984-1988)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (2009-2015)
  • Chicago Bulls (1989-1993 & 1995-1998)  Two Jordan exile / gambling ban years not included
  • Chicago Cubs (2015-2017)
  • Chicago White Sox (1993-1994)

2005 was a great year, still cherish but hope they can build a team hat can put together a solid 3-5 year run and let the chips fall where they may.

Bears got very close during the Lovie era and were legitimately good in 2018 before the wheels came off on the Nagy era. They draft Mahomes and we may be having an entirely different discussion

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1 hour ago, lostfan said:

Bears got very close during the Lovie era and were legitimately good in 2018 before the wheels came off on the Nagy era. They draft Mahomes and we may be having an entirely different discussion

About how we should’ve drafted Trubisky who’s lighting it up for the Chiefs while Mahomes is out of football?

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1 hour ago, lostfan said:

Bears got very close during the Lovie era and were legitimately good in 2018 before the wheels came off on the Nagy era. They draft Mahomes and we may be having an entirely different discussion

Multi championship competitive window is open to interpretation.

I feel a team entering a stretch of seasons among the top few (2-4) favorites to win a title over multiple years is how I see it. The team has a championship caliber roster and core stars / players to be considered favorites by most people here or nationally.

For the Sox, 1917-1920 and 1993-1994 fit the bill, both were sabotaged internally (Black Sox / cancelled 1994) which makes the Sox tragic like the Greek plays.

I don’t believe they were among the top couple favorites to win a single World Series during the era Lip mentioned. Wish Frank Rosenthal was here to give his assessment.

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