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Re-Ranking the White Sox Greatest Rivals

ByJon Michael Walters|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 25: James McCann #33 of the Chicago White Sox looks on as Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins slides safely into home plate to score during the first inning of the game on May 25, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 25: James McCann #33 of the Chicago White Sox looks on as Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins slides safely into home plate to score during the first inning of the game on May 25, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Who are the White Sox greatest rivals? The Cubs, Twins, and Tigers currently lead the pack when taking it to account recent history.

Who are the White Sox biggest rivals? During the offseason I wrote an article about this. Now that we are 50 games into the season, it’s time to do a re-ranking and see how much has changed.

Currently, the pack is led by the team on the north side of town, with the Twins ranked second as we are in the middle of a series against them.

The New Rankings:

  1. Chicago Cubs- The Cubs are indeed the White Sox biggest rival. Originally I thought the White Sox biggest rival should be one that is in the same league as them, but now I don’t think it matters. The Cubs are the first team the White Sox ever played in the playoffs(1906!) and whether both teams are good or not the rivalry and competition is still there, given that they play in the same city. The fans also care about this one the most.
  2. Minnesota Twins – Although neither the Sox nor Twins have been good in the same year since 2010, they remain the Sox biggest AL Rival. They have been in the same division as the White Sox longer than any other team, dating back to 1961, or 1901 if you count their time as the original Washington  Senators.
  3. Detroit Tigers – Chicago vs. Detroit is an automatic rivalry, in pretty much all sports. Since 2006, it seems that the White Sox have always been finishing right behind the Tigers, whether that’s at the top of the division (2012) or at the bottom of it (2018).
  4. Kansas City Royals – The recent fights that have broken out between the teams involving Tim Anderson have helped this rivalry grow, and after many years of being dominated it seems the Sox are finally better than the Royals are. Keep flipping those bats, Timmy!
  5. Cleveland Indians – These teams hate each other, but they haven’t been good in the same year since 2005.
  6. San Diego Padres – The signing of Manny Machado is the main reason for this one, as it changed the future of both franchises. Though the White Sox and Padres seem to exchange players a lot, and the Padres usually seem to get the better end.
  7. Boston Red Sox – Boy did they massacre the White Sox recently. These teams have a lot in common, with the notable exception that the Red Sox spend actual money and get their money’s worth for it.
  8. Milwaukee Brewers – After the Cubs, the Brewers are the geographically closest team to the White Sox. They could have had a rivalry on par with Bears-Packers, if not for Bud Selig. Thanks, Bud.
  9. Houston Astros – Playing them always brings back good memories, and the White Sox held their own in their last series against them, winning two of four games on the road.
  10. Baltimore Orioles – This is more of a thing of the past, but perhaps some older White Sox fans are still bothered by 1983, as the Sox haven’t made the playoffs that often since.

Honorable mention goes to the New York Yankees, who in theory would be a great White Sox rival but the franchise hasn’t been good enough recently to really be in their league. The White Sox are one of the few AL teams to never play the Yankees in the playoffs, but if they ever do face the Yankees they will make this list.

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