Cubs–White Sox rivalry

Major League Baseball cross-town rivalry in Chicago

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Cubs–White Sox rivalry

Cubs pitcher Jack Pfiester throws a pitch in the 1906 World Series.

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Location| Chicago
First meeting| World Series:
October 9, 1906
West Side Park
White Sox 2, Cubs 1

Regular season:
June 16, 1997[1]
Comiskey Park (II)
Cubs 8, White Sox 3
Latest meeting| August 10, 2024[1]
Guaranteed Rate Field
Cubs 3, White Sox 1
Next meeting| May 16, 2025
Wrigley Field
Stadiums| Cubs: Wrigley Field
White Sox: Rate Field
Statistics
Meetings total| 152[2]
All-time series| White Sox, 78–74 (.513)[2]
Regular season series| White Sox, 74–72 (.507)[1]
Postseason results| White Sox, 4–2 (.667)[2]
Largest victory|

* Cubs, 10–0 (September 25, 2020)[3]
* White Sox, 13–1 (August 29, 2021)[4]

Longest win streak|

* Cubs, 6 (June 22, 2007–June 22, 2008)[1]
* White Sox, 5 (June 27, 2009–June 12, 2010)[1]

Current win streak| Cubs, 5[1]
Post-season history

* 1906 World Series: White Sox won, 4–2

3km
1.9miles

White Sox

Cubs

Locations of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox

The Cubs–White Sox rivalry (also known as the Crosstown Classic, The Windy City Showdown,[5] Chicago Showdown, North–South Showdown,[6] City Series, Crosstown Series,[7] Crosstown Cup, or Crosstown Showdown[7]) refers to the Major League Baseball (MLB) geographical rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. The Cubs are a member club of MLB's National League (NL) Central division, and play their home games at Wrigley Field, located on Chicago's North Side. The White Sox are a member club of MLB's American League (AL) Central division, and play their home games at Rate Field, located on Chicago's South Side.

The terms "North Siders" and "South Siders" are synonymous with the respective teams and their fans, setting up an enduring rivalry. Through the 2024 season, the White Sox lead the regular season series 74–72. There have been eight 3-game series sweeps since interleague play began: four by the Cubs in 1998, 2004, 2007, 2008, and four by the White Sox in 1999, 2008, 2012 and 2021. There have been three season series sweeps, all by the Cubs in 1998 (3 games), 2013 (4 games) and 2024 (4 games). The Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line train has stops within a block of both ballparks: Addison station for Wrigley Field and Sox–35th station for Rate Field.

## History

[edit]

While teams in New York City (such as the Yankees, Giants, and Brooklyn Dodgers) routinely played against each other in World Series matchups throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the two Chicago teams only met once in the 1906 World Series, a celebrated event that seemingly put the city on hold for a full week. The heavily favored but young Cubs (who had won 116 games in the regular season) lost in six games to the veteran and pitching-strong White Sox, the "Hitless Wonders".

From 1903 until 1942, excluding the years one team or the other won the pennant, the Cubs and White Sox played each other in a best-of-seven postseason City Series. These series were officially sanctioned by the National Baseball Commission and, later, the Commissioner of Baseball. The first series was played in 1903 and was a best-of-15. That year, the Cubs had a 6–3 series lead before the White Sox came back to force a 7–7 tie. Thanks to a rainout, they did not play the decisive 15th game as the players' contracts expired on October 15. Starting in 1905, the series became best-of-seven and remained that way until 1942. In all, they played 25 City Series with the White Sox winning 18 and the Cubs winning six to go along with the tie of 1903. The 1912 version marked the first time in a Major League Baseball postseason series that a team overcame a 3–0 series deficit as the White Sox won the final four games of the series.[8]

1985 saw the start of an annual "Windy City Classic" charity game. The series alternated between the respective teams' ballparks, with Comiskey Park hosting the first year followed by Wrigley Field the next. The Sox would go 10–0–2 in this affair that lasted through 1995 (two games were played in 1995). One exhibition between the teams at Wrigley Field on April 7, 1994, was notable for the White Sox having Michael Jordan playing right field – Jordan was playing for a White Sox minor-league affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, during the first of his nearly two seasons of his first retirement from the NBA before his comeback with the Bulls.[9]

Since inter-league play began in 1997, the White Sox and Cubs have routinely played each other four or six times each year (one two or three-game series at each stadium). Based on the availability of tickets and the prices offered through ticket brokers, these games are among the most anticipated of the season.

In 2008, the teams played each other as leaders of their respective divisions for the first time ever: the White Sox in the American League Central and the Cubs in the National League Central. Also for the first time in the rivalry's history, both Sunday games to end each series were televised nationally on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The Chicago Cubs swept the White Sox in the first weekend series at Wrigley Field, and the White Sox subsequently swept the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field during the second weekend series, thus splitting the series 3–3 and resulting in an all-time inter-league series tie of 33–33 through 2008.

The Crosstown Cup trophy was introduced in 2010 and the White Sox won the trophy the first three seasons before the Cubs finally won it in 2013. The Cubs winning the 4 games of their 2013 series marks the inter-league series at 49–45 to the White Sox. In 2014 the White Sox reclaimed the Crosstown Cup after winning the first three games of their four-game series. They won the first two games at Wrigley Field 3–1 in 12 and 4–1 respectively, came back to U.S. Cellular Field to win 8–3 before getting blown out in the final game 12–5.

In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the trophy was sponsored by oil and gas company BP and was known as the BP Crosstown Cup. From 2013 to 2018 there was no corporate sponsor. In 2019 the trophy was sponsored by the financial holding company Wintrust and was therefore called the Wintrust Crosstown Cup.[10] In 2020, the teams faced each other as leaders of their divisions for the first time since 2008 in the Pandemic shortened season with the White Sox taking the three game series at Wrigley and the Cubs taking the three game series on the Southside. Both teams also made the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 2008 but both were eliminated in the Wild Card Round. On August 8, 2021, MLB aired a game on ABC for the first time since 1995 with the game between the White Sox and Cubs at Wrigley Field with the White Sox winning the game 9–3.[11] In a game on August 27, 2021, the White Sox and Cubs combined for 30 runs in a 17–13 White Sox victory at Guaranteed Rate Field, the most runs scored in a game between the two teams. It was also the most runs scored by the White Sox against the Cubs. It also included a combined six home runs, four from the Cubs, and two from the White Sox. It also saw White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal hit two home runs and tying a White Sox franchise record with 8 RBI's in his first game since July 5 the same year after coming back from a knee injury.[12]

### Barrett vs. Pierzynski

[edit]

The rivalry turned physical on May 20, 2006, when a brawl broke out during a White Sox-Cubs game at U.S. Cellular Field.[13] In the bottom of the second inning, Brian Anderson of the White Sox hit a sacrifice fly, attempting to score catcher A. J. Pierzynski.[13] Pierzynski collided with Cubs' catcher Michael Barrett. Barrett dropped the ball in the collision and Pierzynski was safe. After slapping home plate in celebration, Pierzynski began to walk away, but Barrett blocked his path and punched him in the jaw. Both benches cleared and a brawl broke out.[13] Umpires debated for 15 minutes before ejecting Pierzynski, Barrett, White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson and Cubs first baseman John Mabry from the game.[14] When play finally resumed, outfielder Scott Podsednik promptly got on base, loading the bases up, and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi cleared them with a grand-slam. The White Sox won the game, 7-0.[15] Michael Barrett was suspended for 10 games, while Brian Anderson was suspended for five and A. J. Pierzynski was fined.[16]

In 2006, Pierzynski was named one of the five American League players in the All-Star Final Vote. Soon afterwards the Chicago White Sox organization began an election campaign using the slogan "Punch A.J.", inspired by the May 20, 2006 collision and slugging incident between Pierzynski and Michael Barrett. Pierzynski received 3.6 million votes, the most votes in the American League, subsequently sending him to his second All-Star appearance.[14][17]

## Stadiums

[edit]

Rate Field, Home of the Chicago White Sox Wrigley Field, Home of the Chicago Cubs

### White Sox

[edit]

The White Sox have always been located on the south side. At the time the White Sox came to town, the Cubs' home field was West Side Park, in an older section of the city which is now the West Campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago and near the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. (Coincidentally, for a few seasons in the early 1890s the Cubs home park was within a block of the sites of the future Sox ballparks). In 1916 the Cubs moved from the west to the north side, taking over Weeghman Park, the abandoned Federal League facility (later renamed Wrigley Field), thus setting up the current separation.

When the new Comiskey Park (now called Rate Field) was built, many in the media and baseball (including both Cubs and White Sox fans) called the park "sterile", and lacking the beauty and personality of the old park, even though many seats at the old park were cramped, behind posts, or in the outfield. Others contend that in contrast Wrigley Field is dirty, uncomfortable, and generally unpleasant to be in. Regardless, this again set up a point of rivalry as Cubs fans had their classic park, while White Sox fans had their modern park. Former Sox manager Ozzie Guillén said of Wrigley, "But one thing about Wrigley Field, I puke every time I go there", further polarizing this point of contention. While several renovations to Rate Field have silenced many criticisms, such as the improved upper deck and bleachers, the difference between the fields remains a point of rivalry between fans of the teams.

### Cubs

[edit]

When the Tribune Company bought the Cubs, they immediately started pressing for night baseball, threatening to abandon Wrigley Field otherwise. Night baseball was finally added in 1988, and after some further negotiations with the city, in the winter of 2005–2006 they expanded Wrigley's bleachers for the first time since 1938.

Even the neighborhoods around the stadiums show the difference between the fans. Wrigleyville, a part of the Lake View neighborhood, surrounds the Cubs' stadium, and comprises middle- and upper-middle-class housing, as well as many restaurants, bars and music venues for fans to visit before and after games. In contrast, the Bridgeport neighborhood directly west of the White Sox home field has a more "blue-collar" reputation. There are bars and restaurants in Bridgeport, too, but White Sox fans must walk or drive a few blocks from Rate Field to get to them. Until April 2011, the White Sox opened a brand-new bar and restaurant located at Gate 5 of Rate Field, known as ChiSox Bar & Grill.[18] The new bar and restaurant do not require a game ticket to enter.

## Television coverage

[edit]

Until 2004, WGN-TV and the now-defunct FSN Chicago would "switch off" during interleague games: for the Cubs home games, the Cubs commentary team would call the game, while the Sox commentary team would have the call for their home games. Starting in 2005, both WGN and then newly created NBC Sports Chicago show the games on each network with both commentary crews at the same time, allowing the viewer to watch the game without an opposing team bias. The stations generally switched off each day. For example, in a series at Wrigley Field, WGN would treat the game on Friday as a Cubs home game with NBCSC treating it as a White Sox away game; on Sunday WGN would broadcast a White Sox away game and NBCSC showed a Cubs home game; with the other game alternating between the two channels). The shared game status ended following the 2019 season of both teams, the last time WGN broadcast the FTA matchups of both teams, with NBCSC becoming the full time home of the White Sox while the Cubs move on to a team-owned cable channel, Marquee Sports Network. Starting in 2025, the White Sox games would air on the new Chicago Sports Network.

## Performance

[edit]

While New York of the 1940s and 1950s often had two or three teams vying for championships, the two Chicago teams had comparatively little to celebrate for a long time, except for pennants in 1945 (Cubs) and 1959 (Sox), until the White Sox won the 2005 World Series and the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. Historically, each team's fans felt bad for their own team's relatively poor performance, but took solace in that the other team was doing just as badly. Thus, the rivalry often was one in which fans of one team are just as happy for the poor play of the other team as they are for the good play of their own (schadenfreude). This above all is what made the Chicago rivalry unique in Major League Baseball. An examination of other great rivalries (Yankees–Red Sox, Mets–Yankees, A's–Giants, Dodgers–Giants) shows that both teams have made World Series appearances on a fairly regular basis.

The animosity among fans (that only rarely escalates to violence) is summed up in the lines from the song "The Ballad of the South Side Irish", echoing sentiments often expressed by at least one side of any number of sports rivalries in America: "When it comes to baseball I've got two favorite clubs, the 'go-go White Sox'... and whoever plays the Cubs." Ardent fans such as the late columnist Mike Royko, a Cubs fan, and late writer Nelson Algren, a Sox fan, would take their shots at the other team. Royko once wrote that the reason Sox fans have a "bad attitude" is that when they would go to games at Comiskey Park, the stench of the Union Stock Yards would fill their nostrils and remind them of the status of their team. The stockyards closed in 1971.

Several Cubs and White Sox fans have made a cottage industry selling shirts, hats, and other souvenirs that include slogans intended to take swipes at the opposing teams, rather than support their own. Time reported that 36% of Cubs fans were rooting against the White Sox during the 2005 World Series.[19] White Sox Fans wave the Blue Cubs Loss flag after their team defeats the Cubs in mockery of the Cubs Win Flag tradition, in reverse the white Win Flag is waved by the Cubs fans in every win against the White Sox and "Go, Cubs, Go" is played during home victories as well.

Team owners naturally encourage such rivalries (two-time Sox owner Bill Veeck was a master at it) in the hope that they will translate to increased gate receipts, and the Cubs-Sox inter-league games have borne out that theory.

President Barack Obama, an avid White Sox fan, has taken verbal jabs at the Cubs on several occasions. When the New York Yankees (managed by former Cub Joe Girardi) visited the White House in honor of their 2009 World Series championship, Obama said, "It's been nine years since your last title--which must have felt like eternity for Yankee fans. I think other teams would be just fine with a spell like that. The Cubs, for example."[20] Obama however, has stated that while he is aware that many people hate the other team, he does not hate the Cubs and wants them to win as long as they are not playing the White Sox.[21] On the other hand, his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, has been a lifelong Cubs fan and following the Cubs' 2016 World Series victory, Barack went as far as to invite them to the White House, tweeting that the Cubs' historic win was "change that even [he] can believe in". The Cubs came to the White House four days before the end of Obama's presidency.

## "Cursed" teams

[edit]

While not meant in the most literal sense to most fans, there is an overall feeling that both teams' misfortunes began with unfortunate events which some claim have cursed both teams into their poor play. This adds to the overall downtrodden feelings that fans feel for their own teams, making it much easier to revel in the poor play of the other. The two teams have the longest droughts in the MLB. The Cubs had a 108-year drought that went from 1908 to 2016, and the White Sox had an 88-year drought that went from 1917 to 2005.

The Chicago Cubs won ten National League championships between 1901 and 1945, and also had among the best winning percentages in the NL up to that time (3,796–3,022 for a 0.557 winning percentage). The Cubs had a 2 games to 1 lead over the Detroit Tigers in the 1945 World Series, when on October 6, 1945, Cubs fan and local tavern owner Billy Sianis was prevented from reaching his seat because he was accompanied by his pet billy goat. Local legend says that he responded by placing a curse on the Cubs to never again win the World Series, which they were not able to do until 2016. The Cubs, on more than one occasion, have featured a tongue-in-cheek promotion where billy goats are brought into the stadium to be offered as an apology.

Further information: Curse of the Billy Goat

Some historians argue that the genesis of the curse goes back much farther; that the allegedly underhanded way they won the 1908 pennant (leading to their last World Series win) angered the "baseball gods". For lack of a standard term, this could be called the curse of Fred Merkle, since he was at the center of the controversy. Every post-season they have participated in since then seems to have featured a disaster of some kind, from Hack Wilson losing a fly ball in the sun, to Babe Ruth's called shot, to the "Steve Bartman incident". When they won the division in 1984, their first title since 1945, manager Jim Frey shouted in the champagne-soaked clubhouse, "The monkey's off our back!" Some fans took that as the kiss of death... which it proved to be, as the Padres late-inning rally in the final game in San Diego featured a ground ball slipping under the glove of first baseman Leon Durham... an eerie precursor to a similar and much-more-memorialized incident with the Red Sox and former Cubs first baseman Bill Buckner that would occur two years later. That requires a quick mention of the "Ex-Cubs Factor", an offshoot of the main Cubs "curse": that any team reaching the post-season since the 1945 Series, and having three or more ex-Cubs, was almost certainly doomed to lose in either the playoffs or the Series due to "a critical mass of Cubness". The 1960 Pirates had been the lone exception until 2001, when the Diamondbacks effectively ended talk of that curse by winning the Series in a dramatic finish that featured two of the three ex-Cubs, one of them (Luis Gonzalez) providing the series-winning RBI.

The White Sox had the best winning percentage of any American League team from 1901 to 1920 (1,638–1,325 for a 0.553 winning percentage), but quickly slipped to among the worst teams after that. Many point to the Black Sox scandal surrounding the 1919 World Series as the point in history that changed the White Sox fortunes. Eight White Sox players conspired to intentionally lose the World Series, and in 1920 were banned from baseball for life. While the White Sox won 4 AL titles in the first 20 years of their existence, they would win only one more league championship in the twentieth century. The term "curse" has seldom been used as such, since the scandal was perceived to be something the players did to themselves rather than being wrought by the front office conducting ill-advised transactions or committing public relations gaffes. In fact, many White Sox fans take offense to the term "curse". Still, a pall seemed to settle on the franchise (along with a slim budget), and it would be the last years of the Eisenhower administration before they would win the league championship again. When the White Sox clinched the pennant in 1959, broadcaster Jack Brickhouse capped his play-by-play with, "A forty year wait has now ended!" The 2005 pennant ended a forty-six-year wait for the next one, while the 2005 World Championship ended an 88-year wait for a World Series victory. This adds a decidedly interesting twist on the rivalry as there were, until 2005, very few fans for either team who were alive to see one side actually claim a title while the other waited.

## Club success

[edit]

Team  | World Series Titles | League pennants  | Division titles  | Wild Card Berths | Playoff Appearances  | World Series Appearances | All-time Regular Season record  | Win Percentage  | Seasons played

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chicago Cubs[22] | 3  | 17 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 11 | 11,244–10,688–161 | .513 | 151
Chicago White Sox[23] | 3  | 6  | 6  | 1  | 11  | 5  | 9,492–9,390–103  | .502  | 123
Combined  | 6  | 23  | 14  | 4  | 32  | 16  | 20,736–20,078–264  | .508  | 151 in CHI
274 total

Note: Pennants won by both teams include pennants won before the modern World Series.
As of October 2, 2023.

### Summary of results

[edit]

| Cubs wins  | White Sox wins  | Cubs runs  | White Sox runs

|
|
|
|

Regular season  | 72  | 74  | 677  | 668
World Series  | 2  | 4  | 18  | 22
Total  | 74  | 78  | 695  | 690

Updated to most recent meeting, August 10, 2024.

## Season-by-season results

[edit]

Note: In the history of the Crosstown cup, if the series is tied, the cup is awarded to the previous season winner.

Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox Season-by-Season Results

1900s (White Sox, 4–2)

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1906 World Series | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
4‍-‍2 | Only World Series meeting between the two franchises.

1990s (Tie, 6–6)

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

1997 | White Sox | 2‍-‍1 | no games | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
6‍-‍3  | Interleague play was introduced in the 1997, the first time the Cubs and White Sox played each other in the regular season.
1998 | Cubs | 3‍-‍0 | Cubs, 3‍-‍0  | no games | Tie
6‍-‍6  | Cubs sweep the season series for the first time. Cubs sweep also extended their winning streak to 9 games.
1999 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
10‍-‍8  | First year of 6-game home-and-home series.

2000s (White Sox, 31–29)

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2000 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
13‍-‍11  | On June 9, White Sox beat the Cubs 6–5 in 14 innings, the longest game recorded in the rivalry.
2001 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
17‍-‍13  |
2002 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
20‍-‍16  |
2003 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
24‍-‍18  |
2004 | Cubs | 4‍-‍2 | Cubs, 3‍-‍0  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
26‍-‍22  | Cubs sweep White Sox at Wrigley Field.
2005 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
29‍-‍25  | White Sox win 2005 World Series, their first in 88 years and ending the Curse of the Black Sox.
2006 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
33‍-‍27  | A. J. Pierzynski, Michael Barrett incident.
On July 2, Cubs beat the White Sox 15–11, their most runs in a game against the White Sox.
2007 | Cubs | 5‍-‍1 | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | Cubs, 3‍-‍0  | White Sox
34‍-‍32  | Cubs sweep White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
2008 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | Cubs, 3‍-‍0  | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | White Sox
37‍-‍35  | First time the two teams played as leaders of their respective divisions
Both teams won their division
Both teams qualified for playoffs in the same season for the first time since 1906
First time the home team wins all games of the season series.
2009 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
41‍-‍37  | Cubs' home game on June 16 was postponed and rescheduled to September 3 due to rain.

2010s (Tie, 25–25)

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2010 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
45‍-‍39  | First Crosstown Cup series.
Carlos Zambrano tirade
After their loss to the Cubs on June 13 at Wrigley Field, White Sox go on a 11–game winning streak, which was snapped with the Cubs' victory on June 27 at U.S. Cellular Field.
2011 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
49‍-‍41  |
2012 | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
53‍-‍43  | White Sox sweep Cubs at Wrigley Field
2013 | Cubs | 4‍-‍0 | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox
53‍-‍47  | Series changed to four-game format with two in each ballpark except in years the AL Central plays the NL Central (2015, 2018, 2020, 2021).
Game on May 28 at U.S. Cellular Field was rescheduled to July 8 due to rain.
Cubs sweep the season series for the second time.
2014 | White Sox | 3‍-‍1 | White Sox, 2‍-‍0  | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | White Sox
56‍-‍48  | White Sox sweep Cubs at Wrigley Field.
2015 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
59‍-‍51  | White Sox retain the Crosstown Cup.
2016 | Tie | 2‍-‍2 | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox
61‍-‍53  | White Sox retain the Crosstown Cup
Cubs win the 2016 World Series, their first in 108 years, and ending the Curse of the Billy Goat.
Away team wins all games in the season series for the first time.
2017 | Cubs | 3‍-‍1 | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox
62‍-‍56  | Cubs sweep at Guaranteed Rate Field.
2018 | Cubs | 4‍-‍2 | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
64‍-‍60  |
2019 | Tie | 2‍-‍2 | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | White Sox
66‍-‍62  | Cubs retain the Crosstown Cup. First time the season series is split at both locations.

2020s (Tie, 12–12)

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Overall series | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2020 | Tie | 3‍-‍3 | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
69‍-‍65  | Cubs retain the Crosstown Cup.
On September 25, Cubs beat the White Sox 10-0, their largest margin of victory in a game against the White Sox.
Both teams qualified for playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season.
Series at Guaranteed Rate Field Series at Guaranteed Rate Field marked the conclusion of the season.
2021 | White Sox | 5‍-‍1 | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | White Sox, 2‍-‍1  | White Sox
74‍-‍66  | On August 27, the White Sox beat the Cubs 17–13, their most runs scored in a game against the Cubs and also the most runs scored combined in a game between the two teams with 30 runs.
On August 29, the White Sox beat the Cubs 13–1, their largest margin of victory in a game against the Cubs.
White Sox sweep at Wrigley Field.
2022 | White Sox | 3‍-‍1 | White Sox, 2‍-‍0  | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | White Sox
77‍-‍67  | White Sox sweep at Wrigley Field.
2023 | Cubs | 3‍-‍1 | Tie, 1‍-‍1  | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox
78‍-‍70  | All MLB teams start playing each other in a season; Four-game series format used for interleague rivals.
Cubs sweep at Guaranteed Rate Field.
2024 | Cubs | 4‍-‍0 | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍0  | White Sox
78‍-‍74  | Cubs sweep the season series for the third time. White Sox lose 121 games, the most in modern MLB history.
2025 |  |  | May 16–18 | July 25–27 |  | Return of six-game format with each team hosting a three-game weekend series.

Summary of Results

| Season | Season series | at Chicago Cubs | at Chicago White Sox | Notes

|
|
|
|

Regular Season games  | White Sox | 74‍-‍72 | White Sox, 38‍-‍35  | Cubs, 37‍-‍36  |
Postseason games  | White Sox | 4‍-‍2 | White Sox, 3‍-‍0  | Cubs, 2‍-‍1  |
Postseason series  | White Sox | 1‍-‍0 | White Sox, 1‍-‍0  | Cubs, 1‍-‍0  | World Series: 1906
Regular and postseason  | White Sox | 78‍-‍74 | White Sox, 41‍-‍35  | Cubs, 39‍-‍37  |

[1]

## Notable players who played for both teams

[edit]

Name | Position(s) | Cubs tenure | White Sox tenure

|
|
|

Alex Avila | C  | 2017  | 2016
George Bell | LF  | 1991  | 1992–1993
Bobby Bonds | RF  | 1981  | 1978
Steve Cishek | P  | 2018–2019  | 2020
Neal Cotts | P  | 2007–2009  | 2003–2006
Goose Gossage | P  | 1988  | 1972–1976
Billy Hamilton | CF  | 2020  | 2021, 2023
Austin Jackson | CF  | 2015  | 2016
Darrin Jackson | OF  | 1985, 1987–1989  | 1994, 1999
Edwin Jackson | P  | 2013–2015  | 2010–2011
Jon Jay | OF  | 2017  | 2019
Lance Johnson | CF  | 1997–1999  | 1988–1995
Don Kessinger | SS  | 1964–1975  | 1977–1979
Craig Kimbrel | P  | 2019–2021  | 2021
Don Larsen | P  | 1967  | 1961
Kenny Lofton | CF  | 2003  | 2002
Nick Madrigal | 2B  | 2022–2024  | 2020–2021
Martín Maldonado | C  | 2019  | 2024
Dave Martinez | OF  | 1986–1988, 2000  | 1995–1997
Juan Pierre | OF  | 2006  | 2010–2011
Juan Pizarro | P  | 1970-1973  | 1961-1966
José Quintana | P  | 2017–2020  | 2012–2017
David Robertson | P  | 2022  | 2015–2017
Jeff Samardzija | P  | 2008–2014  | 2015
Ron Santo | 3B  | 1960–1973  | 1974
Sammy Sosa | RF  | 1992–2004  | 1989–1991
Geovany Soto | C  | 2005–2012  | 2015, 2017
Steve Stone | P  | 1974–1976  | 1973, 1977–1978
Ryan Tepera | P  | 2020–2021  | 2021
Luis Vizcaíno | P  | 2009  | 2005

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball portal

* Major League Baseball rivalries
* Bay Bridge Series, Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants
* Freeway Series, Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
* Subway Series/Mets–Yankees, New York Mets vs. New York Yankees, etc.
* Beltway Series, Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals
* Citrus Series, Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays
* Show-Me Series, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals
* Ohio Cup, Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Indians
* Lone Star Series, Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers

### Former Chicago-based rivalry

[edit]

* Bears–Cardinals rivalry

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Head-to-Head Records — Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox from 1997 to 2024". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
2. ^ a b c "mcubed.net : MLB : Series records : Chicago Cubs against Chicago White Sox". mcubed.net. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
3. ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: September 25, 2020". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
4. ^ "Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: August 29, 2021". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
5. ^ Merkin, Scott (June 21, 2007). "Buehrle Opens Windy City Showdown". MLB.com. WhiteSox.com.[dead link]
6. ^ Jameson, Deirdre. "This Weekend[permanent dead link]". USA Today Sports Section. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
7. ^ a b Dodd, Mike; Keen, Judy (October 3, 2008). "There Are Two Sides To the Story for Cubs and White Sox Fans". USA Today.
8. ^ Chicago's Civil War
9. ^ Michael Jordan plays right field for the White Sox Major League Baseball on YouTube
10. ^ Bannon, Tim (June 17, 2019). "7 Things to Know about the Cubs-Sox City Series, Including Whatever Happened to the BP Cup and WGN-TV's Swan Song". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
11. ^ "Sunday Night Baseball to Air Exclusively on ABC for First Time as Chicago Cubs Host American League Central-Leading Chicago White Sox at Historic Wrigley Field". August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
12. ^ "Grandal 8 RBIs in return from IL, White Sox beat Cubs 17-13". Retrieved August 27, 2021.
13. ^ a b c "Cubs' Barrett slugs Pierzynski, leads to melee". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 20, 2006.
14. ^ a b "Cubs' Barrett slugs Pierzynski, leads to melee". ESPN. May 20, 2006. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
15. ^ "Cubs' tempers boil, bats fizzle as ChiSox win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 20, 2006. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
16. ^ "Barrett suspended 10 games for igniting brawl". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 26, 2006.
17. ^ Newman, Mark (July 6, 2006). "Nomar, A.J. named Final Vote winners". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
18. ^ "White Sox Open New Bar And Restaurant". CBS News Chicago. March 29, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
19. ^ Thigpen, David (October 23, 2005). "Every Year, a Miracle". Time. Archived from the original on October 27, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
20. ^ "Obama Tweaks Cubs. Again". Chicagoist. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010.
21. ^ Hinog, Mark (October 25, 2016). "President Obama, lifelong White Sox fan, is rooting for the Cubs to win the World Series". SBNation.com. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
22. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/ Chicago Cubs history at baseball-reference.com
23. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/ Chicago White Sox history at baseball-reference.com

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Cubs

* Established in 1874
* Formerly the Chicago White Stockings, Chicago Colts and the Chicago Orphans
* Based in Chicago, Illinois

Franchise|

* History
* Seasons
* Awards
* Records
* No-hitters
* Players
* Managers
* Owners and executives
* Broadcasters
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* First-round draft picks

Ballparks|

* 23rd Street Grounds
* Lakefront Park
* West Side Park I
* South Side Park
* West Side Park II
* Wrigley Field
* History
* List of events
* Renovations
* Wrigley Rooftops

Culture|

* Tinker to Evers to Chance
* Bleacher Bums
* The Dugout
* Wayne Messmer
* Ronnie Woo Woo
* Jerry Pritikin
* Yosh Kawano
* Life's Greatest Game
* Alibi Ike
* Mike Royko
* Holy Cow!
* Grant DePorter
* Wrigley Company
* Wrigley Field ivy
* Hey Hey Holy Mackerel
* Bill Holden
* The Heckler
* The Curse: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Or Do They?
* We Believe: Chicago and Its Cubs
* Arne Harris
* "Go, Cubs, Go"
* "Sweet Home Chicago"
* "All the Way"
* "Jump"
* Cubs Win Flag
* Eamus Catuli
* Addison Red Line Station
* Sheridan Red Line Station
* Clark Street
* Addison Street
* The Winning Team
* Elmer, the Great
* Ferris Bueller's Day Off
* Rookie of the Year
* This Old Cub
* The Natural
* Taking Care of Business
* A League of Their Own
* The Cubs Fan's Guide To Happiness
* Pat Pieper
* The Cubby Bear
* Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
* Bohemian National Cemetery Columbarium
* Clark
* Back to the Future Part II

Lore|

* Curse of the Billy Goat
* Ex-Cubs Factor
* Babe Ruth's called shot
* Steve Bartman incident
* Homer in the Gloamin'
* 1998 home run chase
* Brock for Broglio
* Merkle's Boner
* College of Coaches
* Ken Hubbs
* Billy Jurges incident
* June 23, 1984 game
* 1998 NL Wild Card tie-breaker game
* 2015 NL Wild Card Game
* 2015 NL Division Series
* 2016 NL Championship Series
* 2016 World Series
* 2018 NL Central tie-breaker game
* 2019 MLB Little League Classic
* MLB at Field of Dreams
* 2023 MLB London Series
* MLB Tokyo Series 2025

Rivalries|

* Chicago White Sox
* Milwaukee Brewers
* St. Louis Cardinals

Key personnel|

* Owner: Joe Ricketts family
* Chairman: Tom Ricketts
* President of Baseball Operations: Jed Hoyer
* General Manager: Carter Hawkins
* Manager: Craig Counsell

World Series
championships (3)|

* 1907
* 1908
* 2016

National League
championships (17)|

* 1876
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1885
* 1886
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1910
* 1918
* 1929
* 1932
* 1935
* 1938
* 1945
* 2016

Division
championships|

| East (2)|

* 1984
* 1989

|

Central (6)|

* 2003
* 2007
* 2008
* 2016
* 2017
* 2020

Wild Card (3)|

* 1998
* 2015
* 2018

Minor league
affiliates|

* Iowa Cubs (Triple-A)
* Knoxville Smokies (Double-A)
* South Bend Cubs (High-A)
* Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A)
* ACL Cubs (Rookie)
* DSL Cubs Blue (Rookie)
* DSL Cubs Red (Rookie)

Broadcasting|

| Television|

* Marquee Sports Network

|

Radio|

* Radio network
* WSCR

Broadcasters|

| Television|

* Jon Sciambi
* Jim Deshaies
* Alex Cohen

|

Radio|

* Pat Hughes
* Ron Coomer
* Zach Zaidman

Seasons (151)

1870s|

* 1870 ·  1871
* 1872 · 1873 ·  1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879

1880s|

* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889

1890s|

* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899

1900s|

* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909

1910s|

* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919

1920s|

* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929

1930s|

* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939

1940s|

* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949

1950s|

* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959

1960s|

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Chicago White Sox

* Established in 1900
* Based in Chicago, Illinois

Franchise|

* History
* Seasons
* Owners and executives
* Managers
* Players
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* first-round draft picks
* Broadcasters
* Team records
* Award winners
* No-hitters

Ballparks|

* South Side Park
* Comiskey Park
* Rate Field

* Spring training:
* Recreation Park
* Palm Springs Stadium
* Plant Field
* Al Lopez Field
* Payne Park
* Ed Smith Stadium
* Tucson Electric Park
* Camelback Ranch

Culture|

* Andy the Clown
* Armour Square/Bridgeport
* Black Betsy
* Black Sox Scandal
* Curse of the Black Sox
* Eight Men Out
* The Fix
* Field of Dreams
* Shoeless Joe
* Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers
* Gene Honda
* "Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox"
* Nancy Faust
* Nicknames
* Only The Lonely
* The Sodfather
* Southpaw
* Sox–35th
* Sportsvision
* The Stratton Story
* "Sweet Home Chicago"
* Turn Back the Clock
* White Flag Trade

Lore|

* 1994 bat burglary
* 2008 Blackout Game
* 2015 crowdless game
* Artnell Company v. Commissioner
* Disco Demolition Night
* The Hitless Wonders
* Perfect games
* Charlie Robertson
* Mark Buehrle
* Philip Humber
* South Side Hitmen
* Winning Ugly
* MLB at Field of Dreams
* 41–121

Rivalries|

* Chicago Cubs
* Detroit Tigers
* Minnesota Twins

Key personnel|

* Chairman: Jerry Reinsdorf
* General Manager: Chris Getz
* Special Assistant to the GM: Jim Thome
* Manager: Will Venable

World Series
championships (3)|

* 1906
* 1917
* 2005

American League
championships (6)|

* 1901
* 1906
* 1917
* 1919
* 1959
* 2005

Division championships (6)|

* West: 1983
* 1993
* Central: 2000
* 2005
* 2008
* 2021

Wild Card berths (1)|

* 2020

Minor league
affiliates|

* Charlotte Knights (Triple-A)
* Birmingham Barons (Double-A)
* Winston-Salem Dash (High-A)
* Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A)
* ACL White Sox (Rookie)
* DSL White Sox (Rookie)

Media|

* Chicago Sports Network
* ESPN Radio 1000
* White Sox Radio Network
* ESPN Deportes 1220 AM

Seasons (125)

1900s|

* 1900 ·  1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909

1910s|

* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919

1920s|

* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929

1930s|

* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939

1940s|

* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949

1950s|

* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959

1960s|

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Chicago White Sox 1906 World Series champions

Nick Altrock
George Davis
Jiggs Donahue
Patsy Dougherty
Ed Hahn
Frank Isbell
Fielder Jones
Ed McFarland
Bill O'Neill
Frank Owen
George Rohe
Billy Sullivan
Lee Tannehill
Babe Towne
Ed Walsh
Doc White

Manager
Fielder Jones

Regular season
Windy City Showdown

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball rivalries

American League|

| East|

* Rays–Red Sox
* Yankees–Red Sox

|

Central|

* Tigers–White Sox
* Twins–White Sox

West|

* Angels–Athletics
* Angels–Rangers
* Astros–Rangers

National League|

| East|

* Braves–Mets
* Mets–Phillies
* Nationals–Phillies

|

Central|

* Brewers–Cubs
* Cardinals–Cubs
* Pirates–Reds

West|

* Diamondbacks–Dodgers
* Dodgers–Giants
* Dodgers–Padres

Interdivisional|

* Cardinals–Dodgers
* Phillies–Pirates

Interleague|

* Angels–Dodgers
* Cubs–White Sox
* Guardians–Reds
* Mets–Yankees (Subway Series)
* Nationals–Orioles

Historical|

* Athletics–Giants
* Athletics–Phillies
* Blue Jays–Expos
* Dodgers–Yankees
* Giants–Yankees

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