Chicago White Sox Set Franchise Record for Longest Single-Season Losing Streak
The Chicago White Sox's 2023 season has reached a new low. Struggling to find form, the White Sox marked their 15th consecutive loss, setting a new franchise record. This unwanted milestone came after a crushing 8-5 defeat against the Kansas City Royals, despite initially holding a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning.
The collapse was brutal. The White Sox appeared on track to finally snap their losing streak, but the Royals staged a late-game rally. A six-run burst in the final innings, punctuated by Bobby Witt Jr.'s grand slam in the ninth, sealed Chicago's fate.
Witt Jr.'s remarkable performance—going 4 for 5 that night—was a continuation of his hot streak. In July alone, Witt Jr. boasted a .468/.488/.810 slash line, with six home runs in 20 games, pushing his OPS from .897 to an impressive .988.
For the White Sox, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. Their season record now stands at a dismal 27-82, and they are on pace for a staggering 122 losses. This streak surpasses the team's previous longest single-season losing streak of 14 games from May 22 to June 6. The only other longer streak in franchise history spanned two seasons between 1967 and 1968.
In MLB's recent history, the Baltimore Orioles hold the longest losing streak. They dropped 19 consecutive games in August 2021 and experienced another 14-game losing streak in the same season. Such comparisons bring little solace to Chicago fans as their team dives deeper into an abyss of losses.
As the trade deadline approaches, the White Sox are making significant roster changes. Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham have been traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, while Michael Kopech is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team deal. Moreover, All-Star Garrett Crochet is rumored to be on the trading block, with a high chance of moving before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday.
The organization is clearly in a state of flux, trying to rebuild and hopefully find a more successful path forward. For now, White Sox fans can only watch and hope that the team can eventually turn the tide, ending one of the darkest chapters in its 123-year history. The next few games will be critical as the team fights to avoid further historical infamy.