The Chicago White Sox have matched the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern-day MLB history.
The ’62 expansion Mets went 40-120 in their first season. The Sox are 39-120 and tied the mark Sunday in San Diego. The 120 losses are a franchise record. After sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in the final home series of the season, the Sox have three games remaining.
Latest loss: 4-2 to the San Diego Padres (Sunday)
The 1962 Mets are no longer the sole standard for Major League Baseball futility after the White Sox lost their 120th game Sunday 4-2 to the Padres.
A sellout crowd of 45,197 at Petco Park witnessed the Padres stage an eighth-inning rally Sunday.
Fernando Tatis Jr. had a home run to help complete the Padres’ three-game sweep. It’s the 24th time the Sox have been swept this season.
The Sox went 1-5 on the trip that included two extra-inning losses.
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- Column: A crazy night on the South Side saw White Sox fans conflicted over making history
- Column: How did the White Sox fall to such depths? Gradually — and then suddenly.
- ‘The whole thing is too bad’: 1962 New York Mets pitcher Jay Hook feels the White Sox’s pain as they near loss record
- Column: Jerry Reinsdorf concedes the obvious — it’s a ‘very painful’ season for White Sox fans
- White Sox are not alone in their losing. Disappointment is a common theme throughout Chicago’s sports history.
- Column: Past, present and future meld together on the White Sox’s road to infamy
- The magic number is 120, but White Sox fans will tell you it’s just a number
- Column: The 2024 White Sox — while not as beloved as the 1962 Mets — have had as many ridiculous moments
Remaining schedule
- Friday: at Detroit Tigers, 5:40 p.m., NBCSCH
- Saturday: at Detroit Tigers, 12:10 p.m., NBCSCH
- Sunday: at Detroit Tigers, 2:10 p.m., NBCSCH
Notable streaks this season
The Sox had three double-digit losing streaks — 14 games from May 22-June 6, an AL record-tying 21 straight from July 10-Aug. 5 and 12 consecutive from Aug. 23-Sept. 3.
Their skid of 20 straight series losses ended Sunday after back-to-back wins over the Oakland Athletics. Those two victories also broke a streak of not having won consecutive games since a stretch of three straight victories June 27-29.
The Sox on Sept. 14 snapped their stretch of 16 consecutive home losses, which also was a franchise record.
Seasons with 100+ losses
Looking back at the franchise’s 124-season history, the Sox have lost 100 or more games just six times. Three of those, however, have happened since 2018.
Sources: Tribune reporting; Baseball Reference
