As the 2024 Major League Baseball season approaches its conclusion, the Chicago White Sox find themselves on the precipice of an ignominious chapter in the history books. With a record of 36-120, the team has already matched the infamous 1962 New York Mets' century-old mark for futility, and six games remain to cement or escape this unenviable status.
Statistically, this season has been a perfect storm of offensive inefficiency and defensive weaknesses. The team's slash line reads .220/.278/.339, collapsing well below the league average of .244/.312/.400. Their 76 OPS+ indicates that they are 24% worse than the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power. The lack of home run power is particularly glaring, with the team managing a league-worst total of 127 home runs, and not a single player achieving the 20-home run milestone.
Unsurprisingly, these offensive struggles have translated to a league-low average of just 3.07 runs per game. This is starkly contrasted by the Tampa Bay Rays who, despite ranking 29th, average a comparatively robust 3.78 runs. The White Sox's offensive inefficiency is highlighted by the fact that Andrew Vaughn leads the team in both RBIs and runs scored, with modest totals of 67 and 54, respectively. Vaughn's performance places him 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title.
On the defensive side, the White Sox boast the worst record in total zone runs at -83, significantly lagging behind the 29th-ranked Miami Marlins, who have -53. The defensive woes only compound the team’s overall struggles, evidenced by a staggering run differential of -320, as they have been outscored 799-479 over the course of the season.
Even on the individual front, there has been very little for White Sox fans to cheer about. Erick Fedde, the team's leader in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), hasn't pitched since July 27. The collective performances build up to FanGraphs' WAR calculation of -6.8 for the team, marking them as the only team in the league with a negative figure. In stark contrast, the Rockies, who rank 29th, have a positive WAR of 4.1.
The team's records at home and on the road further illustrate their woeful season. Their 16-62 road record and 20-58 home mark are both the worst in the league. Before this disheartening campaign, the franchise had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
Long losing streaks have also marred the White Sox's season. They have endured three protracted slumps of 21, 14, and 12 consecutive losses. Additional losing streaks of seven, six, and two instances of five games each, with one currently active, have placed them in one of the gloomiest realms in baseball history. Before this season, such extended funks had only occurred three times in White Sox history—in 1924, 1927, and 1967.
The second half of the season has been particularly grueling. Since the All-Star break, the team has managed a dismal 9-49 record. No team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half, a record held by the Philadelphia Athletics, who went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943.
There's been scant respite across the months. The White Sox's best months were May and June, where they went 9-19. Their nadir came in July, during which they recorded a miserable 3-22 mark.
Ironically, the team has managed winning records against five teams—Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1)—but these isolated successes are little solace given their 12-41 record against the rest of the American League Central.
As this long, dreary season comes to a close, it’s clear that the 2024 campaign stands out as the worst in Major League Baseball history for the Chicago White Sox, leaving fans and players alike searching for answers and looking towards the future with hope for better days ahead.