With just one week left in the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Chicago White Sox find themselves on the brink of an unenviable milestone—finishing with the worst record in modern baseball history. Currently holding a dismal 36-120 record, the White Sox have already matched the infamous 1962 New York Mets' tally of 120 losses, with six games remaining in their schedule.
The statistics surrounding their season have been nothing short of alarming. Offensively, the team has severely underperformed, managing a lackluster slash line of .220/.278/.339. This is well below the league-average of .244/.312/.400. An overall OPS+ of 76 further indicates the team is 24% worse than the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power. Home runs have been particularly scarce, with the team recording just 127 dingers this season, and not a single player reaching the 20-home run benchmark.
The offensive struggles have also manifested in their pitiable 3.07 runs scored per game, the lowest in the league. For context, the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 29th in this category, average 3.78 runs per game. The dire offensive production has translated to a staggering -320 run differential, as the White Sox have been outscored 799-479.
Individual performances have also reflected the team's collective struggles. Andrew Vaughn, who leads the team in RBIs and runs with 67 and 54 respectively, ranks 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title. Likewise, Erick Fedde, the team’s leader in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), has been sidelined since July 27, leaving the team with a collective FanGraphs' WAR of -6.8—making them the only team with a negative figure. The closest team, the Colorado Rockies, have a positive 4.1 WAR.
Defensively, the White Sox have been equally dismal. Their total zone runs of -83 rank them dead last in the league, a considerable distance behind the Miami Marlins, who are 29th at -53. The Brewers and Mariners, by contrast, are tied for first with a total zone run figure of 46, encapsulating the contrast in defensive efficiency.
The season has seen the White Sox set personal records in futility. Their 16-62 road record and 20-58 home record are both the worst in the league, outpacing the Rockies' 24 road wins and the Marlins' 30 home wins, respectively. The team had never previously lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
Long losing streaks have further marked this disastrous season. The team has endured slumps of 21, 14, and 12 straight losses, and additional losing streaks of seven, six, and two stints of five—one of which remains active. Before this season, the White Sox had only encountered losing streaks of 12 games or more three times in their history, specifically in 1924, 1927, and 1967.
Post-All-Star break, the White Sox's record is an abysmal 9-49. Notably, no team has ever registered fewer than 15 wins in an entire second half; a tarnished record held by the A's, who went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943. The White Sox’s best monthly performances came in May and June, both with a 9-19 record, while their worst was in July, going 3-22.
The team achieved winning records against only five opponents: the Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1). However, within their own division, the AL Central, the record stands at a humbling 12-41.
In what could be classified as the worst season in Major League Baseball history for the franchise, the Chicago White Sox have set a new standard for underachievement. Fans and analysts alike can only hope the team learns from this catastrophic year as they look towards rebuilding for a more competitive future.