Worst to first comes your way once in a lifetime. Maybe. That job, promotion, special someone or something. We say “once” for those who do a lot of losing. You expect someone else to win. That gig, the girl, or giant jackpot always goes to the other guy. This story is for you. Consider baseball, the White Sox, and how in the world losers win.
White Flag Sox
The numerical epitome of major league losing is 100 lost games. Of 162 on the MLB schedule, your team drops 100 games and they are officially losers. Lose a century number of games three years in a row… and mockery moves in to stay. Top out at a record 121 loses… and ready yourself for ridicule. That distinction is owned by the Chicago White Sox, our lifelong family team. The Sox 2023, ’24, ’25 seasons defined worst.
Worst to First
Again, when the team sinks, fans not jumping ship go down with it in oh so many ways. Derision knows no limits. Adults can give and take it. But my Sox cap-wearing grandson dismissed by… his little league coach? Indeed. But that was then. This year, incredibly, is now for the Sox. It’s August, 50 games to go, and fresh off last year’s 101 losses, the Chicago White Sox… are 1st in the American League Central Division.
Baseball Reality
However, many a baseball pundit still doubts there’s any reality to this run. Who goes from worst to first... in one leap? The AL is weak (true). Cleveland has playoff experience (yes). The Sox don’t have enough pitching (likely true). They’re very young (correct again). Sox lack playoff veterans (yep). But the three-year re-rebuild has yielded fruit after all of those sour grape years. Doubters will doubt and reality will be real by October.
Nevertheless, baseball’s best story this season lives in late summer. The White Sox were buyers not sellers at the August 3 trade deadline, a traditional gauge of confidence. These players grind as they say. No quit. Rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami is back from injury, and swatting home runs with fellow All-Star Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uBD7-A5Mvhk
Major League Losing No More
True and beleaguered believers are back at the ballpark on the Southside. But how many will last year’s losers win… how far might they go? Who can know. Epic all-time losers include the 1938 – 1942 Philadelphia Phillies 5-season run of 100 losses each year. Quickest turnaround? After their inaugural season, the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks racked up +35 more “W”s and 100 total wins.
It Could Happen
That may be a stretch for the White Sox. And the quirky way baseball plays out, the winning spigot may shut off at any time. There are no guarantees. Other than the White Sox will not lose 100 games this year, they are positioned to battle for a playoff slot, and maybe, they make some headlines in October. If they do… don’t wake me until the worst to first dream is over.
