If you’re a Chicago White Sox fan, you don’t walk into your team’s potential record-breaking loss without a sense of self-deprecating humor and a burning fury toward team owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
Both were on display Tuesday.
With the White Sox playing the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago fans embraced the surreality of a team on the verge of its 121st loss, which would break the MLB record set by the 1962 Mets. Fans were full ready to watch their team slip into infamy, with cheers for the Angels, chants for Reinsdorf to sell the team and, ultimately, jeers when the White Sox made an improbable comeback in a 3-2 win.
These fans absolutely knew what they were walking into.
A large “SELL THE TEAM” banner made its way into the park, unfurled behind home plate.
One bold fan went as far as proposing to his girlfriend, if the White Sox video board is to be believed. We do not know how Veronica responded, but we’re rooting for her.
The most White Sox of moments arrived in the fifth inning, when a Mickey Moniak infield pop-up resulted in pitcher, catcher, first baseman and third baseman all converging for an easy out. A Little League-esque miscommunication resulted in the ball hitting the ground, and another “sell the team” chant followed.
After the White Sox let a pop fly drop in the infield in the fifth and a stolen base, a chant of “Sell The Team” starts at Guaranteed Rate Field. pic.twitter.com/77n5e2ph0r
— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) September 25, 2024
The crowd was so in it to lose it that when Angels second baseman Jack López homered in the eighth inning to put the team from Anaheim up 2-0, there were resounding cheers, in addition to boos, chants, muttering and who knows what else.
It was a weird night.
The reaction was much clearer when the game ended. After an eighth-inning rally, the White Sox took the lead and kept it with a save by former Angel Justin Anderson.
The home crowd booed the home team.
So the White Sox avoided their 121st loss for one night, but that likely won’t change the vibe for their final two home games against the Angels. Barring a miracle, the record is coming, and Chicago fans will likely accept it if it pushes Reinsdorf any closer to selling this beleaguered franchise.
