Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox MLB Rivalry
The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox is an old-school baseball rivalry that has endured because of regional proximity, class identity, and a shared struggle to reach the playoffs throughout their history. Although the teams play in different leagues, a yearly cross-city series has helped keep the rivalry alive.
Rivalry Overview
The rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox is one of the longest-standing and most unusual feuds in professional baseball. Unlike the competitive dominance found in other iconic rivalries, this one has been fueled by both teams’ continued lack of success in the postseason. The stage was set for the rivalry as soon as Charles Cominsky moved his minor league team to Chicago in 1900, competing in the newly formed American League and playing in the working-class South Side neighborhood. The already established Cubs, who played in Chicago’s more affluent North Side, and competed in the National League, saw the new team as a threat to their popularity.
The teams met for the first and only time in a World Series a few years later, when the White Sox defeated the Cubs for the championship in 1906. The city was captivated by the series, which helped lay the basis for the rivalry. Healthy competition was already being encouraged, with a sanctioned City Series between the two teams held every postseason that neither made the playoffs, starting in 1903. This series now takes the form of the Crosstown Cup, which is awarded yearly to the regular-season series winner. The White Sox have won more of these series, but recently the competition has been fairly even.
Since they were in separate leagues, the teams did not face each other outside of a postseason matchup. This changed in 1997 when MLB began interleague play during the regular season. The teams now play six games each season, with tickets for these games always commanding a premium.
Notable Rivalry Games
Cubs at White Sox on October 14, 1906: The White Sox defeated the Cubs in Game 6 of the World Series, winning the championship. This was the first and only World Series meeting between the two rivals.
Cubs at White Sox on June 28, 2002: Thanks to two home runs from Paul Konerko, the White Sox rallied from an 8-0 deficit to beat the Cubs 13-9.
Cubs at White Sox on May 20, 2006: Cubs catcher Michael Barrett punched White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in retaliation for colliding with him while scoring. A bench-clearing brawl ensued.
Cubs at White Sox on June 20, 2011: Cubs manager Ozzie Guillén argued a fair-foul call, leading him to be ejected. Guillén then kicked the Cubs catcher’s mask on the ground in protest before leaving.
Notable Players and Coaches in the Rivalry
Charles Comiskey, Chicago White Sox owner from 1901-1931: A former professional pitcher, Charles Comiskey was the first owner of the White Sox, establishing the team in Chicago in 1900.
Michael Barrett, Former Cubs catcher from 2004-2007: Cubs catcher Michael Barrett punched A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox after he ran into Barrett while scoring in 2006. A brawl ensued, and both were ejected.
Ozzie Guillén, Former White Sox shortstop from 1985-1997: A Gold Glove-winning shortstop for the White Sox in the 1980s and 90s, Ozzie Guillén returned as a manager to lead the team to their 2005 World Series victory.
A.J. Pierzynski, Former White Sox catcher from 2005-2012: A catcher for the White Sox, A.J. Pierzynski collided with Cubs catcher Michael Barrett while attempting to score, prompting retaliation and a brawl.
John Mabry, Former Cubs first baseman in 2006: Now a coach for the Kansas City Royals, John Mabry played for several teams during his career, including the Cubs. He was playing first base for Chicago during the Barrett-Pierzynski incident and was ejected for participating in the brawl.
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FAQ
Why are the Cubs and the White Sox rivals?
The Cubs and the White Sox are rivals because both teams play in Chicago, and both have struggled to win in the playoffs, typically to the satisfaction of the opposing fans. When the White Sox moved to town, the already established Cubs viewed it as a slight. A special series between the teams was soon established, and ever since, both teams have been engaged in a yearly battle to edge out their rival from across the city.
When did the rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox start?
The rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox started in 1900 when the owner of the minor league St. Paul Saints moved his team to Chicago to establish a franchise in the newly created American League. The new team was renamed the White Stockings and viewed as a challenge to the Cubs, the city’s existing National League team. A sanctioned yearly postseason series between the teams began in 1903, and they met in the World Series in 1906.
What is the matchup between the Cubs and White Sox called?
The matchup between the Cubs and White Sox has had many nicknames over the years, recently and notably the Crosstown Cup. Since 2010, a trophy called the Crosstown Cup has been awarded yearly to the team with the most wins across regular-season games between the Cubs and White Sox. Other names for the matchup include Chicago Showdown, Crosstown Showdown, City Series, Windy City Showdown, North-South Showdown, Crosstown Series, and Crosstown Classic.