White Sox drop historic 121st loss as Tigers climb into playoffs

The Chicago White Sox lost their post-1900s, major league-record 121st game Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Detroit Tigers.

The White Sox broke the mark of 120 set by the New York Mets in 1962 in their first season. The Cleveland Spiders hold the overall record, going 20-134 in 1899.

The closest any team had come to New York’s record was the 2003 Tigers, who won their final two games to finish with 119 losses. That remained the American League record until the White Sox hit 120 on Sunday in San Diego.

After avoiding the record by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels at home, the White Sox lost to a Tigers team that wrapped up a postseason spot in front of 44,435 raucous fans.

The White Sox were the ones going to the postseason as recently as 2021.

“It’s tough watching them celebrate, because that was us just a couple years ago,” starting pitcher Garrett Crochet said.

The White Sox, who are last in the American League in runs scored and runs allowed, have threatened the 120-loss barrier since starting the season with 25 losses in their first 28 games. They also had a 20-game losing streak beginning in June.