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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Ray Ratto

Group shot of the 1919 White Sox. They would after this year be known as the "Black Sox Scandal" team, due to the allegation that eight members of the team accepted bribes to lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Group Shot of 1919 White Sox

Baseball Frees Its Gambling Ghosts

A passer-by looks on as worker hangs papal bunting over the entrance to the Holy Name Cathedral after Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, had been named as first American leader of the Catholic Church. She's wearing a White Sox hat.

The U.S. Reacts To First American Pope In History

Which Accursed Chicago Baseball Fan Base Will Get To Claim Pope Leo XIV?

Cardinal Robert Prevost, newly elected as Pope Leo XIV is seen on the Saint Peter's Basilica balcony, at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican on April 8, 2025.

Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected As Pope Leo XIV

Life's Rich Pageant

Well, They Made A Cubs Fan The Pope [UPDATE]

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David Roth

Elon Musk speaks during a cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025. He's backlit and is doing his Thinking Hands and is wearing a stupid hat. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Podcasts

Beavises In The Code Base, With Tim Marchman

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/">Infinite Inning podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF">Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</a>.</div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>

Steven Goldman

Bill Rariden of the Cincinnati Reds tags Buck Weaver of the Chicago White Sox out at home plate in the second game of the 1919 World Series at Crosley Field.

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Cruelty, Hype, And The American Way In Harry Stein’s Baseball Novel ‘Hoopla’

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Barry Petchesky

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 23: A sign depicting Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf hangs from the upper deck during the ninth inning of a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Baltimore defeated Chicago 8-6. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Baltimore Orioles v Chicago White Sox

South Side Stand Up: Your Owner’s Open Letter Wasn’t The League’s Worst

<a href="https://twitter.com/johnwilmeswords">John Wilmes</a> is a writer and professor in Chicago. His work has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, Chicago Reader, and The New Republic, among other places. He is the author of the novella Jad&#8217;s Dad Milo.

John Wilmes

Andrew Benintendi gives a kind of grim looking thumbs-up in profile after completing a TV interview following his walk-off hit in the Chicago White Sox's win on September 24.

Los Angeles Angels v. Chicago White Sox

“We’re Trying To Focus On Losing”: A Night With The White Sox At The Edge Of History

SAN DIEGO, CA - Chicago White Sox playes look out from the dugout during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, September 22, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox v San Diego Padres

The 2024 White Sox Have Achieved The Abominable

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Samer Kalaf

White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore argues with umpire and gets ejected from the game

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The White Sox Can Always Find A Way To Get Lower

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Lauren Theisen

Travis Jankowski celebrates after the Rangers win

Texas Rangers v Chicago White Sox – Game Two

White Sox Almost Win

Fans look on during the eighth inning between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2022.

Minnesota Twins v Chicago White Sox

At Home With The Worst Team In Baseball

Manager Pedro Grifol of the Chicago White Sox walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians on July 4, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chicago White Sox v Cleveland Guardians

Pedro Grifol Paid The Price For Winning That One Game

Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox exchange a fist-bump during the team's win on August 6, 2024. It was the White Sox's second win since July 10.

Chicago White Sox v Oakland Athletics

Why This Team Sucks: The August 7 Chicago White Sox

Nicky Lopez of the White Sox looks exhausted and sad during a loss to the Minnesota Twins on August 4, 2024.

Chicago White Sox v Minnesota Twins

Why This Team Sucks: The August 6 Chicago White Sox

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on August 04, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the White Sox 13-7.

20 Straight Losses Is Where The Real Blight Sox Begin

Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet throws a pitch against the Twins.

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The White Sox Continue To Mock The Law Of Averages

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 28: Victor Robles #10 of the Seattle Mariners scores during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox on July 28, 2024 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.

MLB: JUL 28 Mariners at White Sox

Why Are The White Sox Like This?

Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins on July 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Minnesota Twins v Chicago White Sox – Game Two

The White Sox Can Be Eliminated On August 9, And Other All-Star Break Truths

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Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Tommy Pham is angry.

The White Sox Are Ready To Kick Someone’s Ass, Just Not At Baseball

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 12, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Milwaukee Brewers v Baltimore Orioles

Here’s How The White Sox Can Still Lose 100 Games, But In An Interesting Way

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Kathryn Xu

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on April 24, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Here’s How The White Sox Can Still Win At Least 63 Games

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 12: A general view of Guaranteed Rate Field during the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on April 12, 2024, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

MLB: APR 12 Reds at White Sox

The White Sox Have A Historical Stink

A Rockies fan by birth and a White Sox fan by geographic proximity, Annie Howard spends her non-suffering sports moments ardently rooting for the Nuggets and the Orioles.

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Annie Howard

an aerial view of an empty Guaranteed Rate Field

Ballparks Remain Empty On What Would Have Been Baseball’s Opening Day

How To Fix Chicago’s White Sox–Shaped Black Hole

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Tigers v Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on February 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox