List of Chicago White Sox seasons

View of a baseball stadium, taken from the upper deck and looking out over the field from left. Open roof
Guaranteed Rate Field, home field of the White Sox since the 1991 season.

This is a list of seasons completed by the Chicago White Sox, originally known as the Chicago White Stockings, professional baseball franchise. They have played in the American League from their inception in 1901.

The White Sox in total have completed 121 seasons in Major League Baseball, qualifying for the postseason eleven times and reaching the World Series five times (1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005) with three world championships (1906, 1917, 2005). The White Sox began the first two decades of their inception with relative consistency among the eight teams in the League. In their first season, led by Calvin Griffith, they won the first American League pennant in 1901 with an 83-53-1 record. Pennant winners did not formally meet for the World Series until 1903, but the White Sox reached their first one in 1906 with a 93-58-3 record while managed by Fielder Jones. They won the cross-town series against the Chicago Cubs in six games. The team was relatively mediocre for the next couple of years before returning to form with the talents of players such as Eddie Cicotte and they won 100 games in 1917 for the first time in franchise history while roaring to the pennant. They won the Series in six games. An off year in 1918 set the stage for a riveting 1919 under rookie manager Kid Gleason that would develop into controversy. They won 88 games to win their second pennant in three years, but a number of disgruntled players would associate with gamblers before the Series in order to lose games for money. The White Sox lost five games to three and later saw the banishment of eight of their players (most notably Cicotte and Shoeless Joe Jackson) occur during the end of the 1920 season, which saw them miss the pennant by two games. They would not finish as close as two games out for the next three decades. By the middle of the 1950s, the White Sox were finally building talent to contend for a pennant, most notably with players such as Minnie Minoso, Nellie Fox and Billy Pierce. In 1955, they fell short by five games. Al Lopez was hired in 1957, and he would lead them to the pennant in 1959 with 94 victories. They faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Series and lost in six games. Although Lopez would never have a losing record in his tenure with the White Sox, they never did win another pennant with him as manager, with his final resignation occurring in 1969. For the next 35 years, the White Sox would go through periods of highs and lows that included two division titles under different managers (Tony La Russa in 1983 and Gene Lamont in 1993) while cultivating select stars from either the draft such as Frank Thomas and Harold Baines or trades for players like Carlton Fisk. However, it was not until 2005 that the White Sox put together a team that would compete fully for the AL pennant, with Ozzie Guillen leading the White Sox to 99 wins in the regular season on the heels of pitchers such as Mark Buehrle; that year, the White Sox won eleven of twelve postseason games to win their first world championship in 88 years. As of 2023, however, it also ranks as their last postseason series victory, and the 2005 run is the only time they have won a postseason series since 1917. The 2020 and 2021 seasons saw the White Sox reach the postseason both times, the first time in club history that they had made the postseason in consecutive seasons.

Year by year

World Series Champions
(1903–present)
AL Champions
(1901–present)
*
Division Champions
(1969–present)
^
Wild Card Berth
(1994–present)
¤
Season Level League Division Finish Won Lost Win% GB Postseason Awards
Chicago White Stockings
1901 MLB AL * 1st 83 53 .610
1902 MLB AL 4th 74 60 .552 8
1903 MLB AL 7th 60 77 .438 30.5
Chicago White Sox
1904 MLB AL 3rd 89 65 .578 6
1905 MLB AL 2nd 92 60 .605 2
1906 MLB † AL * 1st 93 58 .616 Won World Series (Cubs) 4–2 †
1907 MLB AL 3rd 87 64 .576 5.5
1908 MLB AL 3rd 88 64 .579 1.5
1909 MLB AL 4th 78 74 .513 20
1910 MLB AL 6th 68 85 .444 35.5
1911 MLB AL 5th 77 74 .510 24
1912 MLB AL 4th 78 76 .506 28
1913 MLB AL 5th 78 74 .513 17.5
1914 MLB AL 6th 70 84 .455 30
1915 MLB AL 3rd 93 61 .604 9.5
1916 MLB AL 2nd 89 65 .578 2
1917 MLB † AL * 1st 100 54 .649 Won World Series (Giants) 4–2 †
1918 MLB AL 6th 57 67 .460 17
1919 MLB AL * 1st 88 52 .629 Lost World Series (Reds) 5–3 *
1920 MLB AL 2nd 96 58 .623 2
1921 MLB AL 7th 62 92 .403 36.5
1922 MLB AL 5th 77 77 .500 17
1923 MLB AL 7th 69 85 .448 30
1924 MLB AL 8th 66 87 .431 25.5
1925 MLB AL 5th 66 87 .431 18.5
1926 MLB AL 5th 81 72 .529 9.5
1927 MLB AL 5th 70 83 .458 39.5
1928 MLB AL 5th 72 82 .468 29
1929 MLB AL 7th 59 93 .388 46
1930 MLB AL 7th 62 92 .403 40
1931 MLB AL 8th 56 97 .366 51.5
1932 MLB AL 7th 49 102 .325 56.5
1933 MLB AL 6th 67 83 .447 31
1934 MLB AL 8th 53 99 .349 47
1935 MLB AL 8th 74 78 .487 19.5
1936 MLB AL 4th 81 70 .536 20
1937 MLB AL 3rd 86 68 .558 16
1938 MLB AL 6th 65 83 .439 32
1939 MLB AL 4th 85 69 .552 22.5
1940 MLB AL 4th 82 72 .532 8
1941 MLB AL 3rd 77 77 .500 24
1942 MLB AL 6th 66 82 .446 34
1943 MLB AL 4th 82 72 .532 16
1944 MLB AL 7th 71 83 .461 18
1945 MLB AL 6th 71 78 .477 15
1946 MLB AL 5th 74 80 .481 30
1947 MLB AL 6th 70 84 .455 27
1948 MLB AL 8th 51 101 .336 44.5
1949 MLB AL 6th 63 91 .409 34
1950 MLB AL 6th 60 94 .390 38
1951 MLB AL 4th 81 73 .526 17
1952 MLB AL 3rd 81 73 .526 14
1953 MLB AL 3rd 89 65 .578 11.5
1954 MLB AL 3rd 94 60 .610 17
1955 MLB AL 3rd 91 63 .591 5
1956 MLB AL 3rd 85 69 .552 12 Luis Aparicio (ROY)
1957 MLB AL 2nd 90 64 .584 8
1958 MLB AL 2nd 82 72 .532 10
1959 MLB AL * 1st 94 60 .610 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2 * Nellie Fox (MVP)
Early Wynn (CYA)
1960 MLB AL 3rd 87 67 .565 10
1961 MLB AL 4th 86 76 .531 23
1962 MLB AL 5th 85 77 .525 11
1963 MLB AL 2nd 94 68 .580 10.5 Gary Peters (ROY)
1964 MLB AL 2nd 98 64 .605 1
1965 MLB AL 2nd 95 67 .586 7
1966 MLB AL 4th 83 79 .512 15 Tommie Agee (ROY)
1967 MLB AL 4th 89 73 .549 3
1968 MLB AL 8th 67 95 .414 36
1969 MLB AL West 5th 68 94 .420 29
1970 MLB AL West 6th 56 106 .346 42
1971 MLB AL West 3rd 79 83 .488 22.5
1972 MLB AL West 2nd 87 67 .565 5.5 Dick Allen (MVP)
1973 MLB AL West 5th 77 85 .475 17 Jim Kaat (Gold Glove)
1974 MLB AL West 4th 80 80 .500 9 Jim Kaat (Gold Glove)
1975 MLB AL West 5th 75 86 .466 22.5 Jim Kaat (Gold Glove)
1976 MLB AL West 6th 64 97 .398 25.5
1977 MLB AL West 3rd 90 72 .556 12 Jim Spencer (Gold Glove)
1978 MLB AL West 5th 71 90 .441 20.5
1979 MLB AL West 5th 73 87 .456 14
1980 MLB AL West 5th 70 90 .438 26
1981 MLB AL West 3rd 31 22 .520 Mike Squires (Gold Glove)
Carlton Fisk (Silver Slugger Award)
6th 23 30 .491 7
1982 MLB AL West 3rd 87 75 .537 6
1983 MLB AL West ^ 1st 99 63 .611 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–1 LaMarr Hoyt (CYA)
Ron Kittle (ROY)
Tony La Russa (MOY)
1984 MLB AL West 5th 74 88 .457 10
1985 MLB AL West 3rd 85 77 .525 6 Ozzie Guillén (ROY)
Carlton Fisk (Silver Slugger Award)
1986 MLB AL West 5th 72 90 .444 20
1987 MLB AL West 5th 77 85 .475 8
1988 MLB AL West 5th 71 90 .441 32.5 Carlton Fisk (Silver Slugger Award)
1989 MLB AL West 7th 69 92 .429 29.5 Harold Baines (Silver Slugger Award)
1990 MLB AL West 2nd 94 68 .580 9 Jeff Torborg (MOY)
Ozzie Guillén (Gold Glove)
1991 MLB AL West 2nd 87 75 .537 8 Robin Ventura (Gold Glove)
1992 MLB AL West 3rd 86 76 .531 10 Robin Ventura (Gold Glove)
1993 MLB AL West ^ 1st 94 68 .580 Lost ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2 Frank Thomas (MVP)
Jack McDowell (CYA)
Gene Lamont (MOY)
Robin Ventura (Gold Glove)
Frank Thomas (Silver Slugger Award)
1994 MLB AL Central 1st 67 46 .593 Playoffs cancelled Frank Thomas (MVP)
Frank Thomas (Silver Slugger Award)
Julio Franco (Silver Slugger Award)
1995 MLB AL Central 3rd 68 76 .472 32
1996 MLB AL Central 2nd 85 77 .525 14.5 Robin Ventura (Gold Glove)
1997 MLB AL Central 2nd 80 81 .497 6
1998 MLB AL Central 2nd 80 82 .494 9 Robin Ventura (Gold Glove)
Albert Belle (Silver Slugger Award)
1999 MLB AL Central 2nd 75 86 .466 21.5
2000 MLB AL Central ^ 1st 95 67 .586 Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–0 Jerry Manuel (MOY)
Frank Thomas (Silver Slugger Award)
Magglio Ordóñez (Silver Slugger Award)
2001 MLB AL Central 3rd 83 79 .512 8
2002 MLB AL Central 2nd 81 81 .500 13.5 Magglio Ordóñez (Silver Slugger Award)
2003 MLB AL Central 2nd 86 76 .531 4
2004 MLB AL Central 2nd 83 79 .512 9
2005 MLB † AL * Central ^ 1st 99 63 .611 Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Won ALCS (Angels) 4–1
Won World Series (Astros) 4–0 †
Ozzie Guillén (MOY)
2006 MLB AL Central 3rd 90 72 .556 6 Joe Crede (Silver Slugger Award)
Jermaine Dye (Silver Slugger Award)
Jim Thome (CPOY)
2007 MLB AL Central 4th 72 90 .444 24
2008 MLB AL Central ^ 1st 89 74 .546 Lost ALDS (Rays) 3–1 Carlos Quentin (Silver Slugger Award)
2009 MLB AL Central 3rd 79 83 .488 7.5 Mark Buehrle (Gold Glove)
2010 MLB AL Central 2nd 88 74 .543 6 Mark Buehrle (Gold Glove)
Alexei Ramírez (Silver Slugger Award)
2011 MLB AL Central 3rd 79 83 .488 16 Mark Buehrle (Gold Glove)
2012 MLB AL Central 2nd 85 77 .525 3 Jake Peavy (Gold Glove)
2013 MLB AL Central 5th 63 99 .389 30
2014 MLB AL Central 4th 73 89 .451 17 José Abreu (ROY)
José Abreu (Silver Slugger Award)
Alexei Ramírez (Silver Slugger Award)
2015 MLB AL Central 4th 76 86 .469 19
2016 MLB AL Central 4th 78 84 .481 16.5
2017 MLB AL Central 4th 67 95 .414 35
2018 MLB AL Central 4th 62 100 .383 29 José Abreu (Silver Slugger Award)
2019 MLB AL Central 3rd 72 89 .447 28.5 Yolmer Sánchez (Gold Glove)
2020 MLB AL Central 3rd ¤ 35 25 .583 1 Lost ALWC (Athletics) 2–1 José Abreu (MVP)
José Abreu (All-MLB 2nd Team)
Eloy Jiménez (Silver Slugger Award)
Tim Anderson (Silver Slugger Award)
Luis Robert (Gold Glove)
2021 MLB AL Central ^ 1st 93 69 .574 Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1 Liam Hendriks (RPOY)
Liam Hendriks (All-MLB 1st Team)
Dallas Keuchel (Gold Glove)
2022 MLB AL Central 2nd 81 81 .500 11 Dylan Cease (All-MLB 2nd Team)
2023 MLB AL Central 4th 61 101 .377 26
2024 MLB AL Central 5th 41 121 .253 51.5
Totals Wins Losses Win%
9,553 9,491 .502 All-time regular season record (1901–2023)
30 32 .484 All-time postseason record
9,583 9,523 .502 All-time regular and postseason record

Record by decade

The following table describes the White Sox's MLB win–loss record by decade.

Decade Wins Losses Pct
1900s 744 575 .564
1910s 798 692 .536
1920s 731 804 .476
1930s 678 841 .446
1940s 707 820 .463
1950s 847 693 .550
1960s 852 760 .529
1970s 752 853 .469
1980s 758 802 .486
1990s 816 735 .526
2000s 857 764 .529
2010s 743 876 .459
2020s 311 397 .439
All-time 9594 9612 .500

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Chicago White Sox History & Encyclopedia,[1] except where noted, and are current as of October 2024.

Post-season record by year

The White Sox have made the postseason eleven times in their history, with their first being in 1906 and the most recent being in 2021.

Year Finish Round Opponent Result
1906 World Series Champions World Series Chicago Cubs Won 4 2
1917 World Series Champions World Series New York Giants Won 4 2
1919 American League Champions World Series Cincinnati Reds Lost 3 5
1959 American League Champions World Series Los Angeles Dodgers Lost 2 4
1983 American League West Champions ALCS Baltimore Orioles Lost 1 3
1993 American League West Champions ALCS Toronto Blue Jays Lost 2 4
2000 American League Central Champions ALDS Seattle Mariners Lost 0 3
2005 World Series Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 0
ALCS Anaheim Angels Won 4 1
World Series Houston Astros Won 4 0
2008 American League Central Champions ALDS Tampa Bay Rays Lost 1 3
2020 American League Wild Card ALWCS Oakland Athletics Lost 1 2
2021 American League Central Champions ALDS Houston Astros Lost 1 3
11 Totals 5–8 30 32

References

  1. ^ "Chicago White Sox History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.