White Sox: There are similarities to the 1985 Chicago Bears
It has been said that there will never be another team-in any sport-like the 1985 Chicago Bears. It was a cast of characters that managed to capture the attention of even the most casual of sports fan all while playing with a flair and enjoyment of the game that couldn’t be matched. By the way, they were also the best at what they did, capping the ’85-’86 season with a Super Bowl title.
Since that time, I’ve never seen a team that can rival it in terms of engaging, cartoon-like personalities, love of playing the game and on-field success. However, I think this year’s version of the Chicago White Sox could be the closest team to do it in any sport. Don’t get me wrong. They are not the ’85 Bears and their overall popularity isn’t close to what the Monsters of the Midway had.
Still, in looking up and down the White Sox lineup, I noticed a number of commonalities between several individuals on both teams and thought maybe this could end up leading to a similar title outcome for the south siders.
In comparing the two teams, perhaps the biggest difference is in marketing. The Bears were all over tv and radio. Be it in ads, appearances on shows and, of course, “The Super Bowl Shuffle” video.
The 2021 Chicago White Sox and 1985 Chicago Bears have a lot in common.
Baseball players just haven’t been able to match that type of exposure, let alone have the league try to market its stars in a way that generates a buzz the way the Bears did. So, here is a look at a few White Sox players and who they most resemble from that Bears team:
Tony LaRussa coaches the Chicago White Sox and it resembles Mike Ditka.
We have to start with the guys at the top for each team, that being Tony LaRussa and Mike Ditka. Both come from the old school in each respective sport. As Ditka did before him, LaRussa has had to find a way to connect with a group of free spirits who brought a different perspective on how to play the game.
Ditka had a true collection of characters he had to coach and despite how difficult they may have made things for him at times, they found a way to come together when needed to get the job done.
Things are not much different for LaRussa with his current roster. His “old school” philosophy has been tested at times, especially when it comes to swinging at three-oh count pitches. There is one glaring difference between the two.
Ditka embraced the celebrity that came with his team’s success, Ditka’s players weren’t the only ones to become pitchmen for a variety of products as Da Coach was sought out as as much if not more than his guys to push just about any product. LaRussa has put off-field time into his animal rescue foundation, but did manage to give his acting chops a go by doing a commercial back in the day.
Tim Anderson is beloved by the White Sox as much as Walter Payton was by the Bears.
On the surface one may say this isn’t a great comparison since Payton is arguably the greatest to ever play the game. Anderson is as solid as they come but probably won’t have himself immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
It’s what Anderson does between the lines and in the locker room that makes him the Walter Payton of the White Sox. Payton played with a confidence and swagger that couldn’t be matched and he backed that up with production that made him, at the time of his retirement, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. When he talked teammates listened and they fed off his commitment to playing the game.
Anderson is cut from the same mold. His confidence in his abilities was on full display when the White Sox entertained signing Manny Machado several years ago. He is a team leader who has the respect of his teammates and is a guy LaRussa points to who can guide the team both vocally and by the example he sets in how he plays the game.
In the same way Payton was known for his signature stiff-arms to would be tacklers and high stepping away from defenders, Anderson has his trademark bat flip.
Eloy Jimenez brings the White Sox a Jim McMahon like character everyday.
The “Punky QB” was about two things: winning and having fun doing so. Payton may have been the focal point of the offense but McMahon was the guy who made it go. Guys loved playing with him and for him on the offense and his carefree yet competitive personality rubbed off on his teammates who fed off of that.
He made the head-butt a common way to celebrate. He tucked the sleeves of his jersey under his pads before it was common for offensive skill players to do it. His headband and sunglasses became fashion trends. Most importantly, he could play. He was one-of-a-kind and was exactly what the team needed to guide the offense.
Jimenez, while not as brash as McMahon, is cut from the same cloth. His love for playing the game is infectious and his outgoing personality endears him to his teammates. He has charisma and enjoys each day he walks onto the field. He, too, can play and the White Sox knew they needed to have him for the long term and signed him to a nice deal in 2019.
Both players missed time due to injury but while their teams managed to remain good, they weren’t as dangerous without them in the lineup. Like McMahon bucking the trend of traditional uniform appearance, Jimenez sports his own on-field look with the gold chains, unbuttoned jersey and red batting gloves.
Jose Abreu is a Mike Singletary like leader for the 2021 Chicago White Sox.
Heart. Dedication. Toughness. Those three things are the characteristics that endeared both Abreu and Singletary to fans and made each of them the consummate leaders on their respective teams. Singletary was the leader of arguably the greatest defense in NFL history.
He manned the middle linebacker spot with an aggressiveness and intelligence that stymied offenses. The defense was feared by opponents as symbolized by the look in Singletary’s eyes. You knew he meant business when he stepped into position and he delivered.
Abreu has been a steadying force in the White Sox lineup since coming to the majors in 2014. Once inserted into the lineup, pitchers had to account for his offensive abilities. Singletary produced in the middle of the defense and Abreu does the same in the heart of the White Sox lineup.
Toughness is a part of each guy’s makeup. Suffering an injury in football is nothing new and Singletary wasn’t about to let a thing like a missing finger keep him from playing. Abreu-while not having lost a digit- has had his fare share of painful moments on the diamond. Yet, he too, either was back soon after producing as usual or stayed in the game. Nothing was going to keep either guy from taking the field.
Both men are the calming forces management could trust to lead their teams. Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan knew Singletary was the quarterback of the defense and put his trust in him to execute the schemes he wanted by getting his teammates on the same page. In Abreu, LaRussa sees that same type of guy whose devotion to his craft makes him special to his teammates and the organization.
Honorable Mentions
The White Sox have had a lot of great players contribute this year just like the 85 Bears.
William “The Refridgerator” Perry and Yermin “The Yerminator” Mercedes-both made people fall in love with them because of their carefree, likeable attitudes as well as how they produced on the field. Their enthusiasm to play was infectious and Mercedes even had a burger named after him.
Kevin Butler and Andrew Vaughn each have made (in Vaughn’s case still making) significant contributions to their teams in just their rookie years. In ’85 Butler led the NFL in scoring on his way to being named to the All-Rookie Team.
Vaughn has been extremely valuable to the White Sox by playing terrific ball for Jimenez while he was injured. He’s moved around to several positions as needed and has been more than solid in the field and at the plate. He could possibly take home the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
One other attribute that both teams share is their youth. The Bears were one of the youngest teams in the league when they took home the Lombardi Trophy and the White Sox are the ninth youngest in MLB. The Bears owned their division (and the NFC for that matter) as the White Sox are currently doing in the AL Central.
The Bears managed to finish the job winning it all in January of ’86. As for the White Sox, their ride to a potential title continues. It has been entertaining so far and hopefully, will be capped off with a World Series title of their own. Whether or not they can come up with a “World Series Shuffle” video is another story.