“New City Connect Jerseys for White Sox: A Glimpse of Hope Amidst a Legacy of Missteps”

All the Chicago White Sox managed last year was concluding with the current era MLB record for the highest number of defeats in a single season. The South Siders finished 41-121 overall in a season where they accumulated nearly 100 fewer runs than the next poorest offense in baseball. In response to their unprecedented ineptitude, the White Sox engaged in virtually no activity during the offseason other than changing the manager. Chicago only allocated $15.2 million this winter, which shouldn’t be shocking for a franchise that has never issued a contract larger than Andrew Benintendi’s $75 million agreement.

The White Sox are exceedingly poor again this season, presently holding a 7-21 overall record that remains the worst in the AL by a significant margin. The Sox have a robust argument as the most lamentable franchise in American professional sports, and it can all be traced back to their 89-year-old proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf. The Sox aren’t the sole Chicago franchise Reinsdorf has tarnished: he’s also led the Chicago Bulls into stagnant mediocrity with the same absentee landlord management style that has characterized his last two decades in baseball.

Is there any optimism for the Bulls and White Sox in the near future? Frankly, no. Now Chicago sports enthusiasts have a reminder of how low both franchises have plummeted with the new City Connect jerseys from the White Sox that give a clear nod to Reinsdorf’s other team.

The Bulls-White Sox crossover that no one solicited is here. As someone who grew up supporting both teams, I actually find it somewhat appealing, but it also intensifies my contempt for Reinsdorf.

Chicago sports commentators had a field day with this uniform unveiling:

The collar featuring the championship years for both franchises is a nice detail. The Bulls will probably thrive off their ‘90s dynasty forever, but if you exclude 1991-1998, the organization has a 47 percent winning percentage historically. The White Sox have achieved absolutely nothing since their stunning journey to the 2005 World Series championship. The Sox’s last rebuild floundered disastrously following the Chris Sale trade, making it difficult to extend them the benefit of the doubt on the new rebuild they’re pursuing.

This isn’t the inaugural Bulls-White Sox crossover on the South Side this season. Derrick Rose also tossed out the first pitch in the home opener. Chicago teams are so eager for a nostalgic attendance boost that the Bulls planned two distinct nights to honor Rose, one this past season to commemorate his retirement, and another next season to retire his No. 1. It’s all a blatant attempt to generate revenue for franchises that haven’t been nationally significant since Bill Clinton and George W. Bush held the presidency.

Some of the design elements here are fairly impressive, but it’s challenging to envision many individuals wanting to hand over their money to Reinsdorf. The only positive news for the White Sox is that the Ishbia brothers reportedly now own 35 percent of the franchise. Mat Ishbia has driven the Phoenix Suns into decline in the NBA, but at least he invests money. Reinsdorf is so stingy and so negligent with his staffing that his teams never truly have an opportunity.

Chicago sports will never experience tranquility as long as Jerry Reinsdorf is present. This Bulls-White Sox crossover serves merely as another illustration of that.