From 121 losses to an Astros sweep: 10 moments that explain the White Sox’s remarkable turnaround

From 121 losses to an Astros sweep: 10 moments that explain the White Sox’s remarkable turnaround originally appeared on The Sporting News. White Sox fans have spent the last several years finding ways to stay invested in a franchise that had lost 121 games in a single season. This remarkable turnaround culminated Wednesday with a playoff series victory over Houston, marking the team’s first postseason success since winning the 2005 World Series. Here are 10 key moments that explain the White Sox’s resurgence:

1. The 2005 World Series win against Houston started a long tradition of October success for the White Sox. Scott Podsednik’s walk-off home run in the 2005 playoffs remains a memorable example of a player stepping up in critical moments.

2. The 2021 team posted a 93-69 record, the highest win total since 2005. However, Houston’s postseason appearance ended Chicago’s chances that year, making the Astros a central figure in the team’s recent history.

3. The 2022 season saw the White Sox finish 81-81, their lowest winning percentage since the 2005 World Championship run. This marked a stark contrast to the team’s potential and signaled the start of a difficult period.

4. The 2023 campaign took the White Sox to 61-101, a 20-win decline from the previous year and a run differential of minus-200. This period represented a significant organizational setback for a team that had shown promise just a year earlier.

5. The 2024 season shattered records with a 41-121 record, the worst in modern MLB history. The 21-game losing streak tied the American League record set by the 1988 Orioles. The White Sox finally broke the streak with a 5-1 victory over Oakland, providing a much-needed respite from the historic losing streak.

6. The December 2024 trade of Garrett Crochet for Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman González was a significant move that contributed to the team’s postseason breakthrough. These players have proven instrumental in Chicago’s success.

7. Despite struggling with 102 losses in 2024, the White Sox improved to a 60-102 record in 2025, marking a 19-win improvement over the previous year. This improvement, however, still placed the team in a third consecutive 100-loss season, raising the stakes for the upcoming postseason.

8. In 2026, the White Sox showed significant progress by finishing 84-78, a 24-win improvement over 2025. They also outscored their opponents with 776 runs while allowing 720, resulting in a positive run differential of 56. Notably, Chicago had a better regular-season record (84-78) than Houston (81-81) in the Wild Card series.

9. On September 29, Colson Montgomery made his postseason debut with a home run, providing an early October moment for the new era of the White Sox.

These ten moments illustrate the extraordinary journey the White Sox have taken from 121 losses to an Astros sweep, highlighting the resilience and determination of a franchise that finally found its way back to meaningful October baseball.