DETROIT — The worst season in the modern-day history of baseball, brought to by the White Sox, came to a merciful end Sunday. Inappropriately enough, the Sox were leading the playoff-bound Tigers 5-0 in the fourth inning, trying to take a series on the road for only the second time.
As the game unfolded, Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released a letter to the fans, thanking them for support through “an embarrassing season,” accepting responsibility and calling fan reaction, which was beyond harsh at times, “completely understandable.”
“By all measures, our on-field performance this season was a failure,” Reinsdorf said. “As the leader of this organization, that is my ultimate responsibility. There are no excuses.”
“You all deserved better,” said Reinsdorf, 88, who has overseen two consecutive seasons with 101 losses or more and very well could be facing another in 2025. “This season’s performance was completely unacceptable and the varying reactions and emotions from our fanbase are completely understandable.”
Booing, cheering an opponent, chanting “Sell the team” and other more vulgar things about Reinsdorf were commonplace at Guaranteed Rate Field, especially in the last week when the Sox were one loss away from breaking the 1962 Mets record for futility.
Reinsdorf noted changes being made by first year general manager Chris Getz in player development, scouting, evaluating trade and free agent markets and analytics “with a focus for competing for championships.” Since the 2005 World Series title, the Sox have won two division championships. They’ve averaged 94 losses in the last seven full seasons.
Getz and his staff conducted “a top-to-bottom evaluation” Sox operations
“Some of these changes will be apparent quickly while others will need time to produce the results we all want to see at the major-league level,” Reinsdorf said.
“Our organization’s most important decision in the coming months is to evaluate and identify a new manager and leadership voice for this organization. Chris is well underway with this search. He has identified the key attributes and preferences for our next manager and has already begun an exhaustive search with a wide range of candidates to lead the White Sox in the clubhouse and dugout.”
Reinsdorf touted the Sox prospect rankings and the Double-A Birmingham Barons’ Southern League championship and Low-A Kannapolis reaching the finals of the Carolina League.
“Whether said out loud or written in a statement, words are easy,” Reinsdorf said. “I understand we need to show our progress through action, and I commit to you that everyone associated with the White Sox is focused on returning this organization to the level of success we all expect and desire.
“Above everything else, I am a fan, a fan of baseball, of Chicago and of the White Sox. Every loss this season — every blown save, every defensive miscue, every shutout, every sweep — hurt. It was a long, painful season for us all. We recognize, on a daily basis, that it is our responsibility to earn your trust, attention, time and support. We vow to take that approach daily as we put the work in this offseason to be better.
We owe it to each and every one of you.”