The Chicago White Sox have reached a new level of ineptitude. The South Siders had been sitting on 120 losses since Sunday, tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the second-most in MLB history. While they delayed the inevitable for a three-game stretch, they couldn't hold off their fate forever. They finally reached the 121-loss mark, stamping their place in MLB history.
The only team with more losses in a season, the Cleveland Spiders more than a century ago, was so bad that even the White Sox can't catch them by season's end. But history will still remember just how brutal a season it has been in the Windy City.
Most Losses in a Single Season — MLB History
| Year | Team | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | Cleveland Spiders | 134 |
| 2024 | Chicago White Sox | 121 |
| 1962 | New York Mets | 120 |
| 2003 | Detroit Tigers | 119 |
| 1916 | Philadelphia Athletics | 117 |
Here's a look at what this historic losing season has looked like through the eyes of bettors.
Record Money Loss
If it isn't already obvious, the White Sox were a losing bet this season. But the degree to which they lost bettors money is astounding.
A $100 bettor would have lost $5,807 betting the White Sox moneyline in every game, according to Bet Labs. How bad is that? If you combined the amount of money lost betting on the four teams above the White Sox in terms of moneyline profitability — Texas Rangers, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays Los Angeles Angels — it still wouldn't add up to Chicago's number.
The White Sox are on pace to be the least profitable team in baseball since 2005. Only the 2018 Baltimore Orioles (47 wins, -$5,188 profitability) and 2019 Detroit Tiger (46 wins, -$4,259 profitability) are even in that realm over that span.
In fact, it's been a brutal few years for the White Sox. They have lost bettors a massive amount of money going back to 2022 with the worst two-year and three-year stretch of any team over the past 20 seasons.
Worst two-year year moneyline run — Past 20 Seasons
23-24 CHW -29.6% (ROI), -$9425
18-19 BAL -21.6% (ROI), -$6988
Worst three-year year moneyline run — Past 20 Seasons
22-24 CHW -22.1% (ROI), -$10607
11-13 HOU -18.4% (ROI), -$8926
Of course, if you've been fading the White Sox, it's been a profitable year. If a better placed a $100 on every White Sox opponent this season, they'd be up $2,883.
Nobody's Favorite
The White Sox were favorites in just eight games this season. Entering Tuesday night, only the Colorado Rockies played fewer games (five) in which they closed as the betting favorite. In those eight games, the White Sox were 5-3. They were 5-0 to start the season and lost their last three games as favorites.
The White Sox haven’t closed as the public betting side (51% or higher on the moneyline ticket %) on the moneyline since July 12. The last team to go from August 1st on without closing a single game as the MLB public betting side was the 2012 Astros — and only two teams have done it in the past 20 years as the 2011 Orioles did so as well.
Fewest Games as Public Side, ML This Season
4 – Rockies
6 – White Sox
17 – Marlins
The White Sox have 39 wins this season. The Dodgers have 39 wins when trailing at any point in the game. The Dodgers (39), Diamondbacks (39) and Padres (41) all have as many wins since the All-Star Break as the White Sox (39) have all season.
Evan Abrams contributed research for this article.
