Editor's note: This is a short story from Weird and Wild. To read this week's full Weird and Wild column, click here.
Over the past few weeks, and to be honest, months, we've spent way too much precious time making very important comparisons between the 2024 White Sox and Casey Stengel's legendarily ill-fated 1962 Mets. But now we know that was actually the wrong comparison.
It would take a miracle for the White Sox (current record: 33-114) to beat the 1962 Mets (40-120), so let's do something I thought would never happen: it's time to look at the even more legendary 1899 Cleveland Spiders (fascinating final record: 20-134).
When I faced the reality of these crazy numbers on Thursday morning, I came to a shocking realization.
81 games with a win rate of less than 50%!!!
As someone who has documented weird and wild events over the years, I've seen a lot. But as I stared at the leaderboard, I thought to myself: Have you ever seen anything like this? Have you ever seen a team lose 81 games with a winning percentage below .500?
Here's the truth: No. I have never done it. And unless you're a spry 108-year-old, neither have you. And even if you are, your memory of your past 81 sub-.500 wins might be a bit hazy. So let me elaborate.
The '62 Mets? Sorry, we didn't get to 81 under par.
The 2003 Tigers? Sorry, they never made it either.
Both teams made it through under 80 games, but it takes a truly special team to sink in the ocean under 80 games. The White Sox are one of those great teams that took a turn in the wrong direction and just kept going, so hats off to them.
So who were those exceptional teams? Here are the only teams in the history of the American League, National League and 19th century American Association to go 81 or lower (in chronological order).
White Witt's 1916 A's — Like the White Sox, they fell to 81 under with a 33-114 record, but that was on September 27th with only six games left in the season… But they managed to win three! (Final record: 36 wins, 117 losses)
Harry Colliflower's 1899 Spiders — There's a reason the Spiders are the poster child for one-win season incompetence: They fell to 81 under (19-100) on August 31 with 35 games remaining… And 34 of them died! (Final score: 20-134)
Kirtley Baker's 1890 Allegheny Mountains — Once upon a time, before the Spiders came along, these guys were the epitome of 19th century ineptitude. They slumped to under 81 (21-102) on September 16th. They won two of their final 14 games! (Final record: 23-113, plus two ties)
Tord Ramsay's 1889 Colonels The worst team in the glorious history of the American Association, the Colonels fell to 26-107 and 81 under par. Luckily it was October 8th, so they only had 5 games left…and won one! (Final record: 27-111)
That's all for the 81-under club. But if you've been paying attention (in case you take the 2024 White Sox quiz at the end of the season), you might have noticed something. Only once in the nearly 150-year history of Major League Baseball has a team woken up at this time in September with a winning percentage of 81 games below or below .500. And that was… the 1899 Spiders. Of course they were!
But now the Spiders have company in the 2024 White Sox. What a great time to be in.
Going deeper
The White Sox may break their losing streak record. How would the 1962 Mets feel about that?
With Wednesday's loss to the Guardians, the White Sox are now 1-27 in their last 28 home games. (Kamil Krzaczynski/IMAG Images)
But in other big White Sox news…
They can't go home anymore! Since the second game of a doubleheader against Minnesota on July 10, the White Sox are 1-27 in home games. 1 and 27! According to Baseball Reference, only one other team in the modern era has gone 1-27 (or worse) at home: the 1916 A's (who were 1-27 in 28 games in July and August).
That is, since the game against the Twins on July 10th, Nine More teams have won at Guaranteed Rate Field than play half the season on that field, and while there are bound to be more, of course, only nine teams are allowed to play there by American schedule makers.
No one can beat me! It seems impossible, but the White Sox are currently 6-43 in the second half of the season. 6 and 43! You think that's terrible? How about historically terrible? The fewest games a team has won in the second half of a strikeless season since the All-Star break was invented is 15, by Ollie Arntzen's Athletics (15-61) in 1943. I'm beginning to think the White Sox will never catch up with them.
Latecomers! Relatedly, White Sox starting pitchers are 2-30 in the second half of the season. 2 and 30! The worst winning percentage recorded by a starting rotation in the second half of the season is .167 (7-35) by Paolo Espino's 2022 Nationals, and I'm starting to think the White Sox might not be able to keep up with that group.
No one will save you! When the White Sox get a lead, they've been known to bring in their bullpen to protect that lead. Here's how it works.
When using a relief pitcher in a save situation, the bullpen is currently 3-17. 3 and 17! He also had a 7.79 ERA, 31 failed saves and (somehow) allowed more home runs (26) than he made saves (18).
I looked through my baseball reference files for ages, and I wondered how many other teams have had more gopher balls than saves in situations like this since the modern save rule began in 1969. There isn't one.
I could go on for hours here, but did you know…
• The White Sox have not started a winning pitcher, even one who was 1-0, in more than a month, stretching their 36th consecutive game, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
• The White Sox lost their first game of the season. every Months – April, May, June, July, August, September? You can't beat that kind of consistency.
• It's September 13th… The White Sox won 33 games! Do you know when the Guardians won their 33rd victory? It was May 22nd! That's three and a half months (111 days) ago!
• And finally, is it too late to celebrate the 105th birthday of Loyola University Chicago icon Sister Jean? As a friend reminded me on Sister Jean's birthday last month, she's graced our earth for more than a century now. And she's seen the White Sox win a postseason series. Just one year out of 105 (2005, of course.) I'm beginning to think it's unlikely she'll win the series again this October.
Going deeper
This month's weird and wild MLB highlights: Game of the year, first-ever first-inning win and more
Going deeper
Loyalty, history and $5 beer: Why fans still come to Chicago White Sox games
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White Sox Watch: 15th straight home loss after fightback falls short
(Top photo of Louis Robert Jr. by Matt Krohn/Associated Press)
