2024 Chicago White Sox's 121st loss
 Comerica Park, the venue of Loss #121 for the 2024 Chicago White Sox (pictured in 2007) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | September 27, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Comerica Park | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | Detroit, Michigan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2024 Chicago White Sox's 121st loss, referred to colloquially as Loss No. 121 or Loss #121 during the game, in local and national sports media, and by sports fans,[1][2][3][4][5][6] is a historic Major League Baseball game played on September 27, 2024, that simultaneously saw the visiting Chicago White Sox clinch the most amount of losses in a major league baseball season since 1899 together with the home team Detroit Tigers clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2014.
The game was played in Comerica Park in Detroit, and represented a crucial point in Tigers–White Sox rivalry as well as the milestone comeback of the 2024 Detroit Tigers after being down 53–60 on August 5, matching the 1973 National League Champion New York Mets in their lowest likelihood of making the playoffs at 0.2%.[7][8]
Background
[edit]The 2024 Chicago White Sox season broke several franchise records for losses after beginning their season with their worst start in franchise history at 3–22,[6] which also tied the worst start in the wild card era.[2][9]
On June 6, following a 14–2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox, the White Sox established a franchise record for the most consecutive losses at 14.[10][11] During this losing streak, the White Sox had their "first winless homestand of at least seven games in franchise history", going 0–7.[12][13] The franchise record for consecutive losses was broken again on July 29 when the White Sox dropped their 15th straight game, losing 8–5 to the Kansas City Royals.[14] The streak continued, and on August 5, the White Sox lost their 21st consecutive game, falling 5–1 to the Oakland Athletics.[6] This marked the first time since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles that a team endured a 21-game losing streak.[15]
The team also broke league-wide losing records including for the quickest assurance of a losing season by losing 82 of their first 109 games, surpassing the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who lost 82 of their first 111 games.[14]
120th loss
[edit]On September 22, 2024, the White Sox lost 4–2 to the San Diego Padres, earning their 120th loss, surpassing the American League record set by the 2003 Tigers and tying the Major League record set by the 1962 expansion New York Mets.[16] Following the game, several sports and news outlets ran articles discussing the potential for the White Sox to lose one of their remaining six games of the season to the Los Angeles Angels at home or the Tigers in Detroit to break the modern single-season loss record.[16]
As a result, many White Sox fans bought tickets to White Sox home games against the Angels, hoping to witness the historical game where the team surpassed the modern loss record. Mixes of cheers and boos came from White Sox fans during the games when their team executed well, while fans yelled phrases such as "Sell the team!" when the team made mistakes. The White Sox won all three home games against the Angels to keep their record at 120 losses, resulting in fans throughout the stadium booing the White Sox. White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi acknowledged the fans' reaction after the game by saying: "People here tonight were trying to see history. They're going to have to wait one more day. Maybe."[17]
During the games, White Sox fans held signs mentioning the historic significance of the potential loss, including one sign bearing "121" in the font of the White Sox logo.[18] The White Sox swept the Angels, winning their final home game of the season 7–0 score, resulting in a standing ovation from most of the White Sox fans in the stadium.[19]
Game
[edit]Prior to facing the Tigers, Interim White Sox manager Grady Sizemore stated that despite the frustration surrounding their exceptional win-loss record, the White Sox players were ultimately professionals who would not be shaken by it, and trusted that they would play to compete and to win. He further stated that since the Tigers were attempting to clinch a spot in the playoffs, the White Sox wanted to do their best to spoil it.[20] The game's outcome marked a significant prospect for the Tigers' comeback season after having only an estimated 0.2% chance of getting into the playoffs on August 5 when their record was 53–60, which matched the equally improbable playoff comeback of the National League Champion 1973 New York Mets.[7][8]
Recap
[edit]
The September 27 game remained scoreless through the first four innings, with both teams' starting pitchers performing effectively. The Tigers' broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 5th inning, with Jake Rogers scoring from third base on a wild pitch thrown by Jared Shuster. Matt Vierling hit a sacrifice fly two pitches later, scoring Parker Meadows to put Detroit up 2–0.[21]
The White Sox responded in the top of the 6th inning, with Zach DeLoach hit a 401-foot home run to right field, the first of his major league career, to cut the lead to 2–1. The Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the 7th, when Andy Ibáñez led off with a double to right-center and reached third base due to a fielding error by center fielder Dominic Fletcher.[21]
Riley Greene hit a 412-foot double, scoring Ibáñez and extending Detroit's lead to 3–1. Later in the inning, another wild pitch thrown by Fraser Ellard scored Vierling, pushing Detroit's lead to 4–1.[21]
Detroit relied entirely on their bullpen for pitching, with multiple relievers combining to effectively limit the White Sox to a single run. After Brett Hanifee started the game, rookie Brant Hurter was credited with the win after pitching four innings, while back end relievers Tyler Holton, Will Vest, and Jason Foley pitched the late innings, with Foley picking up his 28th save of the season.[21]
The game's final out came when Andrew Vaughn flied out to right fielder Wenceel Perez (who bumped into Meadows and fell as he made the catch) to end the game, send the Detroit crowd into a frenzy, and seal the White Sox fate in the history books.[21]
Line score
[edit]| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chicago White Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Detroit Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs: Away: Zach DeLoach (1) Home: None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calls
[edit]
Chicago
[edit]John Schriffen, who called the game for NBC Sports Chicago, dejectedly announced the historic nature of the game at its end:[1]
“It’s official, that is loss No. 121. And the 2024 White Sox now have more losses than any team in modern baseball history.”
— John Schriffen, NBC Sports Chicago
Chicago color commentator Steve Stone remarked at the on-field celebrations of the Detroit Tigers right after clinching their playoff berth:[1]
These Tigers will go to the playoffs. They don't know who awaits them. It's either...Baltimore in Baltimore, Houston in Houston. Those are their two choices. We'll see how it plays out...But the Tigers, right now, their whole world is right there in the infield.
— Steve Stone
Detroit
[edit]Detroit commentator Jason Benetti, who formerly commentated for the White Sox until he was let go in 2023 primarily due to a "contentious relationship" with White Sox Senior vice president Brooks Boyer, ecstatically screamed following the final play:[1][22]
“The Tigers, for the first time in 10 years, are going to the playoffs. It’s actually happening!"
— Jason Benetti, Bally Sports Detroit
After being silent for multiple seconds to capture the stadium's reaction to the playoff berth, he said in a nod to legendary Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell:[1]
“Everyone else stood there like the house by the side of the road and let the Tigers go by.”
— Jason Benetti, Bally Sports Detroit
Aftermath
[edit]Chicago White Sox
[edit]The White Sox's defeat marked their 121st loss of the season, surpassing the previous modern-era (post-1900) record of 120 losses that was set by the expansion New York Mets in their inaugural 1962 season, and holding the most number of losses of all time since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who finished with a 20–134 record.[21]
Interim White Sox manager Grady Sizemore stated that the season was "not the year we wanted" following the game,[23] and expressed that while he began to grow frustrated well before the team was close to the loss record he stated that he was not sure if he would feel different if he had lost only 115 or 110 games instead.[21][23] Pitcher Garrett Crochet remarked on the record: "Obviously it sucks." and that "We put ourselves in this position early on. We are where we are because of the way we played. But that's just all it is."[18][23]
Following the game, the official Chicago White Sox Twitter page posted an image of a computer containing a list of "Things we'd rather do than read comments" as well as an image of the White Sox mascot huddled in a dark corner captioned "slams laptop shut 'til tomorrow".[18] Several White Sox fans posted derogatory and sarcastic images and comments mocking the team for making history with their loss record following the game.[24]
Detroit Tigers
[edit]The Tigers' victory—their sixth straight and 10th in 11 games—secured a wild card spot in the American League playoffs, representing a significant turnaround for the Detroit franchise, which had not made in the postseason since 2014.[25]
The game itself encapsulated the Tigers' incredible late-season turnaround that saw them to make the playoffs despite being eight games under .500 (55–63) as recently as August 11, before winning 31 of their next 42 games and passing five teams in the process. They were the first team to rebound from 8 or more games under .500 in the month of August to make the postseason since the 1973 National League Champion New York Mets.[21][26][27]
Greene said after the game that “We never stopped believing, and that’s what did it for us.” Regarding the White Sox's performance, first baseman Spencer Torkelson stated that "They were still playing for something” in reference to them attempting to not break the modern major league loss record.[21]
See also
[edit]- List of Major League Baseball longest losing streaks
- List of nicknamed Major League Baseball games and plays
- List of worst Major League Baseball season win–loss records
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Dixon, Michael (2024-09-28). "John Schriffen & Jason Benetti calls show stark differences in directions of White Sox, Tigers". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Apstein, Stephanie (September 27, 2024). "How the White Sox' Ineptitude Resulted in an Historic MLB Low With Loss No. 121". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Greenberg, Steve (September 24, 2024). "White Sox fans, happy loss No. 121 day! Try to laugh at it, unless you've just stopped caring". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Loss #121: The Hilarious Immortality of the 2024 Chicago White Sox on YouTube
- ^ Pope, Lamond (September 28, 2024). "121 for the books: Chicago White Sox set the modern MLB record for most losses in a season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b c Nadkarni, Rohan (September 27, 2024). "Chicago White Sox lose 121st game this season, most in baseball history". NBC News. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "MLB Playoff Odds". www.fangraphs.com. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b "MLB Playoff Odds - coolstandings.com". www.coolstandings.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ "White Sox drop to 3-22 as Julien hits 2 of Twins' 5 homers in 6-3 win for 4-game sweep". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 25, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
Chicago matched Cincinnati in 2022, Detroit in 2003 and Washington in 1894 as teams that opened 3-22. Baltimore began 2-23 in 1988.
- ^ Murphy, Brian (September 22, 2024). "These teams lost at least 110 games". MLB.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ "Duran, Valdez homer as Red Sox hand White Sox 14th straight loss, 14-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 7, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
The Boston Red Sox handed the White Sox their franchise-record 14th straight loss...The White Sox surpassed a mark set by the 1924 team...
- ^ "White Sox fall to Mets, set franchise record with 107th loss". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
Chicago (31-107) broke the club mark for losses set by the 1970 team. The White Sox also completed the first 0-10 homestand in franchise history, becoming the first team since the 1965 Mets to have three 10-game losing streaks in one season...The worst White Sox homestand prior to this one was when they went 0-7 from May 23 to May 29.
- ^ "Toronto's bullpen delivers as the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 3-1 after Manoah gets hurt". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 29, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
The White Sox have lost a season-high eight straight games and 12 of 13 overall. With sweeps by Baltimore (four games) and Toronto (three), it was the first winless homestand of at least seven games in franchise history.
- ^ a b "Bobby Witt Jr. hits grand slam and the Royals hand the White Sox their 15th straight loss". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 30, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
The Royals handed the major league worst White Sox a franchise-record 15th straight loss.
- ^ Langs, Sarah (August 7, 2024). "Longest losing streaks in MLB history". MLB.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "White Sox lose 120th game to tie post-1900 record by the 1962 expansion New York Mets". ESPN. Associated Press. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Olney, Buster; Rogers, Jesse (September 25, 2024). "Inside the 2024 White Sox's road to MLB's all-time worst record". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "White Sox suffer record 121st defeat of season". BBC Sport. September 28, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Jesse (September 26, 2024). "White Sox sweep Angels in home finale, avoid record 121 loss". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Merkin, Scott (September 26, 2024). "White Sox stave off history, win fourth straight at home". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tigers clinch AL wild card, ending playoff drought with 4-1 win over record-breaking White Sox". ESPN. Associated Press. September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "Jason Benetti's departure from White Sox hastened by contentious relationship with exec Brooks Boyer". Chicago Sun-Times. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b c Rogers, Jesse (September 27, 2024). "White Sox fall to Tigers for MLB-record 121st loss of season". ESPN. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Peters, Andrew (September 27, 2024). "White Sox Lose 121st Game to Break Modern MLB Record; Fans Troll Team's Historic Loss". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ DeAndrea, Joe (September 28, 2024). "What are the longest postseason droughts in MLB history?". ESPN. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Beck, Jason (September 28, 2024). "Tigers overcome odds -- and time -- to clinch 1st playoff berth since 2014". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Petzold, Evan (September 28, 2024). "Simply Wild!: Tigers whomp woeful White Sox to lock up first playoff spot since 2014". Detroit Free Press. p. B1. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
