White Sox the best team no one pays attention to

[greasywheels121]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8294860/

 

White Sox the best team no one pays attention to

Despite best record in majors, club

remains second-best draw in Chicago

By Mike Celizic

NBCSports.com contributor

 

The saying “Nobody remembers who finished second” was written for the White Sox, who have finished second in the AL Central seven times in nine years. But for Chicago, it’s worse that that; nobody remembers them when they finish first.

 

The White Sox are on their way to finishing first in the AL Central again. If they continue to play as they have — and they’ve got the best winning percentage in the majors — it will be the fourth time they’ve accomplished that since 1993, and even figuring in that one of those years — 1994 — was the year a strike canceled the postseason, that’s pretty darned good.

 

It’s a good bet most baseball fans outside of Chicago — and good many in Chicago — would be surprised if you told them that. Even this year, despite having the best record in either league, there’s less buzz about the White Sox than there is about asphalt.

 

If ever there were a team in any sport that has to actually win a championship before anyone even considers taking it seriously, it’s the Chicago White Sox. That’s worth bringing up now, because with midseason drawing near, it’s time to start mentioning that this is a team that is capable of winning it all.

 

I probably shouldn’t say that. The last time the White Sox had a team that couldn’t lose was 1983, when Chicago assembled a great pitching staff led by 20-game winners La Marr Hoyt and Richard Dotson. It didn’t do any good; the Sox lost in the ALCS to Baltimore, three games to one.

 

And the last time people said the Sox were good enough to win it all was, oh, last year and the year before that and maybe the year before that, too. And every time the analysts have said they’re great, the game’s least respected team has gone out and proved the analysts wrong.

 

I don’t know if the Sox care about the attention and applause they’re not getting or not. My guess is they do. After all, on average, they’ve been consistently better than that other Chicago team, yet all anyone anywhere talks about — when they’re not talking about the Red Sox, that is — is the Cubbies.

 

But the White Sox have been pretty darned good for a long time. You have to go back to 1989 to find the last time they finished worse than third, and that’s about as good a run of consistency as any team not named the Yankees or Braves could ever hope for — even in a four-team division.

 

And yet, for all the credit and attention they get, the White Sox may as well be the Kansas City Royals. That’s not just a national phenomenon; during the past decade, despite the seven seconds, one first and one third-place finish, Chicago has never done better at the gate than the eighth-best draw in the 14-team American League. This year, the best record in the game has moved them all the way up to 20th in Major League Baseball in attendance, right behind that powerhouse Cincinnati team.

 

Granted, for a long time, the AL Central was ruled by the Cleveland Indians, and the other teams may as well not have showed up. Then, when Cleveland began to disintegrate, the AL Central was generally as weak a division as the game provided. That’s evident by the fact that three of Chicago’s runner-up finishes were accomplished without the benefit of a winning record.

 

Just the same, if you finish first or second just about every year, it ought to translate into a little respect. It worked for Boston, didn’t it?

 

There is, in fact, an awful lot in common between the White Sox and the other American League team named for the hue of its hosiery. You just wouldn’t know it from the literature.

 

Boston has always gotten mythic treatment from fans and media alike. Chicago has simply been ignored. But until last year, Boston had last won the World Series in 1918, one year after the White Sox last won it. Since then, Boston had been to the World Series in 1946, 1968, 1975 and 1986 without winning. The White Sox had been there in 1919 and 1959 and had won their division in 1983, 1993 and 2000.

 

Yet there has never been one-tenth the sympathy and 100 times the disdain for the poor, long-suffering White Sox fans that there has been for Red Sox Nation.

 

The reason was once easy to fathom. The 1919 White Sox team was one of the best outfits baseball had produced to that time, but it threw the World Series to Cincinnati and went down in infamy as the Black Sox.

 

Eight players, including pitcher Eddie Cicotte, the ringleader of the fix, and Shoeless Joe Jackson, who many still consider to have been innocent, were banned for life and baseball adopted the strict policy against gambling on the game that would eventually cost Pete Rose his place in the Hall of Fame.

 

So, for a long time, no matter how bad things went for the White Sox, fans who remembered the fix figured it wasn’t bad enough. And the team didn’t help itself by pulling such stunts as Disco Demolition Night and dressing up in softball uniforms. Lately, the White Sox have been known as the team that plays in the park where fans jump onto the field to mug coaches.

 

It’s a lot to overcome, and the team’s record of never winning a playoff series doesn’t help.

 

So maybe they should continue on in anonymity, the best team no one pays attention to. After all, they’ve earned every bit of respect they don’t get. If they want to change that, let them win something big. Let them win it soon.

Edited June 21, 2005 by greasywheels121

[Kyyle23]

If ever there were a team in any sport that has to actually win a championship before anyone even considers taking it seriously, it’s the Chicago White Sox. That’s worth bringing up now, because with midseason drawing near, it’s time to start mentioning that this is a team that is capable of winning it all.

 

I probably shouldn’t say that. The last time the White Sox had a team that couldn’t lose was 1983, when Chicago assembled a great pitching staff led by 20-game winners La Marr Hoyt and Richard Dotson. It didn’t do any good; the Sox lost in the ALCS to Baltimore, three games to one.

 

In 93 and 94, the Sox couldnt lose either. This guy is a tool.

[jerseysox]

In 93 and 94, the Sox couldnt lose either. This guy is a tool.

 

this guy used to be a columnist at a paper i used to work at. you can't take anything he says seriously. he doesn't really go anywhere. he just writes columns off his couch. i doubt he's seen a white sox game in person this century.

[KevHead0881]

This would actually be a decent article if it hadn't already been written about 5,726,624 times before over the past few years.

 

We know we play second fiddle in this town. I'm glad that writers across the nation feel that we shouldn't forget this. Sheesh!

[CanOfCorn]

And again, a columnist fails to mention things like:

 

The gobs of charity work that the White Sox do that "The Northside Team" doesn't do.

Promotions like "Turn Back the Clock" Night, which, I believe was started here, but now every team and even other leagues do.

Elvis Night

Dog Day

Sleepover Night

 

Give it about 15 years and the youth, the ones that enjoy going to Fundamentals and the above promotions, will be Sox fans.

 

It's not easy to turn adults into fans. You have to work on the next generation and I think the White Sox are doing just that. Just look at the age of some of our posters!!!

[RockRaines]

Seriously, is it THAT hard to be a sports writer. Take a little ESPN, a little opinion, roll it up into your own words, and spit it out. Every article I read is the same. People talk about how weak our division is, our attendance, the cubs, our field, come on give me something new. Honestly dont write any more articles, we dont want them. We dont want the attention, we dont even want your ESPN to visit us. Keep talking about the cubs, the red sox, the yankees and stay away from 35th and shields. Opinions are so based on ESPN's web page these days its sickening. Moron sports writers are ruining the sport. I think some of the best written sports peices I have read this year are on futuresox.com, where the coverage is actually based on the events and players they are covering, wow what a concept.

[southsider2k5]

this guy used to be a columnist at a paper i used to work at. you can't take anything he says seriously. he doesn't really go anywhere. he just writes columns off his couch. i doubt he's seen a white sox game in person this century.

 

He has only been to the new ballpark once since it opened. Now they won't let him in it.

[Kyyle23]

He has only been to the new ballpark once since it opened.  Now they won't let him in it.

 

seriously?

[southsider2k5]

seriously?

 

Its was well reported back a few years ago. Jay isn't allowed in the ballpark, they don't want him there. His cronies do his digging for him now.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Unfortunately, a lot of people who can't think for themselves will read it and think: Oh, so is that how I'm supposed to feel about the White Sox? Well, I don't want to be affiliated with THAT, I'm gonna do what's popular instead.

[Kyyle23]

Its was well reported back a few years ago.  Jay isn't allowed in the ballpark, they don't want him there.  His cronies do his digging for him now.

 

Jay? This article is By Mike Celizic

[sayitaintso]

And again, a columnist fails to mention things like: 

 

The gobs of charity work that the White Sox do that "The Northside Team" doesn't do.

Promotions like "Turn Back the Clock" Night, which, I believe was started here, but now every team and even other leagues do.

Elvis Night

Dog Day

Sleepover Night

 

Give it about 15 years and the youth, the ones that enjoy going to Fundamentals and the above promotions, will be Sox fans. 

 

It's not easy to turn adults into fans.  You have to work on the next generation and I think the White Sox are doing just that.  Just look at the age of some of our posters!!!

You aren't lying about that.

[Yossarian]

Eddie Cicotte was not the ringleader of the fix in 1919. He was along for the ride on and off the field but he was in no way a ringleader.

[JUGGERNAUT]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/cubsatte.shtml

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/wsoxatte.shtml

 

Let me tell the real story.

 

In 1920 following the loss in the 1919 WS they drew 200K more fans than the league average. They were one of the highest draws in the league. Up until that time they had been outdrawing the Cub for the most part every year.

 

Then in Aug of 1920, a story broke that Cub players had fixed a game in that month. A Chicago reporter wrote a column strongly suggesting that the 1919 WS be included in the grand jury investigation of this Aug Cub game. The BlackSox scandal at reached it's peak & a promising season with WS hopes went down the toilet.

 

The Sox suffered at the gate until 1925. They drew below the league avg. Then attendance rebounded to 1920 levels. The Cub was below the league avg in those years.

 

In 1926 Wrigley Field arrived as an icon in MLB. The Cub would consistently draw above the league avg until 1951. The White Sox consistently drew below the league avg in that time. Sometimes woefully so.

 

From 1951 until 1968 the Cub consistenly drew below the league avg. The appeal of the new park could not compensate for bad teams. From 1951 until 1965 the White Sox were one of the best draws in the game.

 

From 1968 until 1981 Cub & White Sox attendance was about even. Both struggled to meet or exceed the league avg. A slight edge probably goes to the Cub.

 

In 1981 the Cub were one of the worst draws in MLB. They couldn't draw 600K when the league avg was over a million. The Sox also failed to meet the league avg but were less than 100K short. From 1981 thru 1983 the Sox outdrew the Cub .. big time. The Sox drew over 2 million for the first time in franchise history.

 

By 1984 the franchises had taken different directions. Reinsdorf opted for PPV & the Cub opted for Harry Carray & national cable with WGN. WGN was the first major superstation in America. More American's saw the Cub play on TV than the NYY$.

 

The league average had reached over the 2 million mark by 1987. The Cub hovered around the average while the White Sox fell on hard times. The Cub reached the NLCS in 1989 & 2.5M fans. Well above the league avg. The White Sox in that same year drew just over a million. One of the worst draws in MLB.

 

In 1990 the final season at Old Comiskey drew just over 2 million fans while the Cub avg'd 30K/gm at Wrigley.

 

In 1991 New Comiskey opened & the White Sox outdrew the Cub by 600K+& outdrew the league avg by 700K+. 36K/gm avg. By this time the White Sox were back on broadcast TV.

 

But the upper deck was too steep & the appeal quickly wore off. Attendance began to drop even during years with a competitive team. By 1993 the avg had dropped to about 32K/gm while the Cub had increased to 32.5K/gm. Wrigley had already become a national landmark for MLB fans world-over thanks to deals made by WGN to broadcast games overseas in the late 80's. Yep. Nobody talks about it much. But when Turner bought the Braves & created TBS as America's 2nd major superstation WGN was already working deals to show the Cubs in all major TV markets in the world.

 

In 1994 during a strike shortened season the Cub overtook the White Sox in attendance & never looked back. In that year the Cub avg'd 32.6K/gm (close to the league avg) & the White Sox avg'd 30K/gm (below the league avg).

 

Hard to believe they would strike in a year when the avg attendance was 30K/gm around the league. As the strike wore on. JR was made the scape goat by the media. He was the man to blame by most for the strike. He was perceived as wrecking his own team's chance at a World Series for financial gain.

 

From that point on the Cub went on to be one of the best draws in MLB & the White Sox one of the worst. In less than a 15 yr period the Cub had morphed from being one of the worst draws in MLB & to a Chicago icon, a national icon, & a world icon. WGN had changed the face of professional sports in America forever. Wrigley became a shrine unto the world.

 

In 1999 the Cub drew 500K more than the league avg while the White Sox drew 900K below the league avg. Ouch! Credit the White Sox for closing the gap quickly. In 2000 the Cub drew 300K over league avg, & the White Sox rebounded to draw 300K below league avg. The winning season was worth 600K more fans in the seat. Dissapointing seasons in 2001-2002 pushed the White Sox 600K below league avg. The Cub were nearly 400K above it.

 

In the infamous Bartman year of 2003 the Cub drew 700K over the league avg while the White Sox rebounded to less than 300K below league avg.

 

In 2004 the Cub past the 3M mark for the first time in franchise history maintaining their 700K mark above the league avg. The White were below 2M or 400K below avg.

 

In 2005 the best team in MLB (Chicago White Sox) are on pace to exceed 2M. Something they have not done since the strike. The 14th ranked Cub are on pace to exceed 3.2M. Something they've never done.

 

Stupid Cub fans.

Edited June 21, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[mreye]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/cubsatte.shtml

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/wsoxatte.shtml

 

Let me tell the real story.

 

 

Great post, Juggs.

 

Isn't it also true that the Cubs broke a record for most losses in consecutive seasons and also brok their own 2 year attendance record in the same years? That's funny!

[dasox24]

Great post, Juggs.

Ditto. Very well said.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I am still fuming since the time I learned it was the Cub in 1920 that wrecked the fortunes of my favorite team.

 

One can only imagine what the history of our beloved White Sox would be had the dirty rotten Cub players not fixed that game in Aug of 1920. Do the White Sox go on to win the 1920 WS? Why the hell not? They were in the thick of the race at the time. Does shoeless Joe Jackson go on to be one of the greatest players of all time. Why the hell not?

 

One might argue the scandal would have re-emerged any way but that would be ignoring the timing of this whole thing. If the Cub players don't fix that game in late Aug & the WS go on to win the 1920 WS they become the media darlings.

 

It's even conceivable to imagine that we might be the most storied franchise in MLB & not the Yankees if that Cub game isn't fixed.

[Yossarian]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/cubsatte.shtml

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/wsoxatte.shtml

 

Let me tell the real story.

 

In 1920 following the loss in the 1919 WS they drew 200K more fans than the league average.  They were one of the highest draws in the league.  Up until that time they had been outdrawing the Cub for the most part every year.

 

Then in Aug of 1920, a story broke that Cub players had fixed a game in that month.  A Chicago reporter wrote a column strongly suggesting that the 1919 WS be included in the grand jury investigation of this Aug Cub game. The BlackSox scandal at reached it's peak & a promising season with WS hopes went down the toilet.

 

The Sox suffered at the gate until 1925.  They drew below the league avg.  Then attendance rebounded to 1920 levels.  The Cub was below the league avg in those years.

 

In 1926 Wrigley Field arrived as an icon in MLB.  The Cub would consistently draw above the league avg until 1951. The White Sox consistently drew below the league avg in that time.  Sometimes woefully so. 

 

From 1951 until 1968 the Cub consistenly drew below the league avg.  The appeal of the new park could not compensate for bad teams.  From 1951 until 1965 the White Sox were one of the best draws in the game. 

 

From 1968 until 1981 Cub & White Sox attendance was about even.  Both struggled to meet or exceed the league avg.  A slight edge probably goes to the Cub.

 

In 1981 the Cub were one of the worst draws in MLB.  They couldn't draw 600K when the league avg was over a million.  The Sox also failed to meet the league avg but were less than 100K short.  From 1981 thru 1983 the Sox outdrew the Cub .. big time.  The Sox drew over 2 million for the first time in franchise history.

 

By 1984 the franchises had taken different directions.  Reinsdorf opted for PPV & the Cub opted for Harry Carray & national cable with WGN.  WGN was the first major superstation in America.  More American's saw the Cub play on TV than the NYY$. 

 

The league average had reached over the 2 million mark by 1987.  The Cub hovered around the average while the White Sox fell on hard times.  The Cub reached the NLCS in 1989 & 2.5M fans.  Well above the league avg.  The White Sox in that same year drew just over a million.  One of the worst draws in MLB.

 

In 1990 the final season at Old Comiskey drew just over 2 million fans while the Cub avg'd 30K/gm at Wrigley. 

 

In 1991 New Comiskey opened & the White Sox outdrew the Cub by 600K+& outdrew the league avg by 700K+. 36K/gm avg.  By this time the White Sox were back on broadcast TV. 

 

But the upper deck was too steep & the appeal quickly wore off.  Attendance began to drop even during years with a competitive team.  By 1993 the avg had dropped to about 32K/gm while the Cub had increased to 32.5K/gm.  Wrigley had already become a national landmark for MLB fans world-over thanks to deals made by WGN to broadcast games overseas in the late 80's.  Yep.  Nobody talks about it much.  But when Turner bought the Braves & created TBS as America's 2nd major superstation WGN was already working deals to show the Cubs in all major TV markets in the world.

 

In 1994 during a strike shortened season the Cub overtook the White Sox in attendance & never looked back.  In that year the Cub avg'd 32.6K/gm (close to the league avg) & the White Sox avg'd 30K/gm (below the league avg). 

 

Hard to believe they would strike in a year when the avg attendance was 30K/gm around the league.  As the strike wore on.  JR was made the scape goat by the media.  He was the man to blame by most for the strike.  He was perceived as wrecking his own team's chance at a World Series for financial gain.

 

From that point on the Cub went on to be one of the best draws in MLB & the White Sox one of the worst.  In less than a 15 yr period the Cub had morphed from being one of the worst draws in MLB & to a Chicago icon, a national icon, & a world icon.  WGN had changed the face of professional sports in America forever.  Wrigley became a shrine unto the world.

 

In 1999 the Cub drew 500K more than the league avg while the White Sox drew 900K below the league avg.  Ouch!  Credit the White Sox for closing the gap quickly.  In 2000 the Cub drew 300K over league avg, & the White Sox rebounded to draw 300K below league avg.  The winning season was worth 600K more fans in the seat.  Dissapointing seasons in 2001-2002 pushed the White Sox 600K below league avg.  The Cub were nearly 400K above it. 

 

In the infamous Bartman year of 2003 the Cub drew 700K over the league avg while the White Sox rebounded to less than 300K below league avg.

 

In 2004 the Cub past the 3M mark for the first time in franchise history maintaining their 700K mark above the league avg.  The White were below 2M or 400K below avg.

 

In 2005 the best team in MLB (Chicago White Sox) are on pace to exceed 2M.  Something they have not done since the strike. The 14th ranked Cub are on pace to exceed 3.2M.  Something they've never done.

 

Stupid Cub fans.

Wow. Way to go

[Yossarian]

I am still fuming since the time I learned it was the Cub in 1920 that wrecked the fortunes of my favorite team. 

 

One can only imagine what the history of our beloved White Sox would be had the dirty rotten Cub players not fixed that game in Aug of 1920.  Do the White Sox go on to win the 1920 WS? Why the hell not?  They were in the thick of the race at the time.  Does shoeless Joe Jackson go on to be one of the greatest players of all time. Why the hell not?

 

One might argue the scandal would have re-emerged any way but that would be ignoring the timing of this whole thing.  If the Cub players don't fix that game in late Aug & the WS go on to win the 1920 WS they become the media darlings. 

 

It's even conceivable to imagine that we might be the most storied franchise in MLB & not the Yankees if that Cub game isn't fixed.

White Sox Hall of Fame catcher Ray Schalk told Chicago sportswriter Bill Gleason that if not for 1919 there would have been no Yankees dynasty. Only he didn't say in those polite terms. Edited June 21, 2005 by Yossarian

[Balta1701]

I am still fuming since the time I learned it was the Cub in 1920 that wrecked the fortunes of my favorite team. 

 

One can only imagine what the history of our beloved White Sox would be had the dirty rotten Cub players not fixed that game in Aug of 1920.  Do the White Sox go on to win the 1920 WS? Why the hell not?  They were in the thick of the race at the time.  Does shoeless Joe Jackson go on to be one of the greatest players of all time. Why the hell not?

 

One might argue the scandal would have re-emerged any way but that would be ignoring the timing of this whole thing.  If the Cub players don't fix that game in late Aug & the WS go on to win the 1920 WS they become the media darlings. 

 

It's even conceivable to imagine that we might be the most storied franchise in MLB & not the Yankees if that Cub game isn't fixed.

Just because we might not have been caught doens't mean that we didn't deserve what we got when we did.

[BobDylan]

They're better than just the team nobody pays attention to. They are the best team in the league.

[Rowand44]

They're better than just the team nobody pays attention to. They are the best team in the league.

That's the first thing I said when I saw the title.

[southsider2k5]

Just because we might not have been caught doens't mean that we didn't deserve what we got when we did.

 

Exactly. The whole, "it ain't wrong til you get caught" theory is half the problem with the country today.

[JUGGERNAUT]

What about the 1918 Cubs? Where's the disdain for them? I can't wait until that book comes out. I hope they make it into a movie. Not only did this team fix that series but it threatened to strike in the middle of it for a greater pc of the pie from the bigger parks.

 

Chick the prick, & his other stoolies were obviously in on the fix. But many of the better ball players were not. I will believe that until the day I die. There is nothing in their numbers or play to suggest that some of those guys were in on the fix (Shoeless Joe, Buck Weaver being the most notable).

 

Eddie's life & the life of his family was threatened? What is he supposed to do? They went to Comiskey & he didn't want to hear it.

 

Landis' ruling was unfair. This isn't grade school were you penalize all for a few. This is a sports-entertainment business. People's lives & livelihoods are at stake. To throw out those who tried to speak up but fell on deaf ears is a gross injustice to those players & the fans.

 

He was a sanctimonious prick who put his own misguided sense of justice over the game itself.