Today in White Sox History: April 29

1985
A new, yearly tradition was established in the first annual “Crosstown Classic” charity game matching the White Sox and Cubs. Down through the years, both teams played each other on and off in Spring Training or during an open date in the regular season. From the late 40’s through the early 70’s, the “Boys Benefit Game” was played helping raise funds for youth baseball. There was also a postseason City Series that was eventually stopped by request of Major League Baseball because it felt those games were drawing interest away from the World Series. (The White Sox were 91-60-3 in City Series games, and captured 19 of 25 series overall.)

This was the first time both teams agreed to play on a yearly basis with a corporate sponsor (Busch). The game alternated between Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field, and was played every year through 1995, when the labor impasse saw two games played that season. The Sox won the opener at Comiskey Park, 7-4, but it was only the start of a remarkable run.

The two teams played a total of 12 games, and the Sox never lost one. They’d go 10-0-2 during that time period. After 1995, the series was dropped. It was never publicly explained why, but reports persisted that the cancellation of the series was at the Cubs’ request, due at least in part to performance embarrassment. Plus, interleague play was on the horizon, and despite the CC being devoted to charity, it may have been felt by some that the game was now meaningless.

1988
The Baltimore Orioles snapped their all-time MLB record 0-21 start to the season with a 9-0 rout of the White Sox at Comiskey Park. Future Hall-of-Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray homered in the game, victimizing Jack McDowell for five runs (four earned) in his second season loss.

2023
Before the start of the 2017 season the White Sox announced they were starting a rebuild that would lead to years when they had legitimate chances to compete for championships.

Most fans embraced the badly-needed change, and hoped it would lead to the type of success the Astros and Cubs saw after they tore down and rebuilt their teams.

On this date that dream officially died, as the Sox suffered their 10th straight loss to fall to 7-21 on the season. After leading Tampa 3-0 going into the seventh inning, the Rays scored 10 runs and wound up winning 12-3.

It was the team’s first 10 game losing streak since 2013. The loss also gave the 2023 club the worst 28-game start in team history. (That mark that would last one year, as the 2024 White Sox started 6-22. In 2025, the White Sox also started 7-21. Quite a three-year run!)

Fans took to wearing bags over their heads at Guaranteed Rate Field and the Chicago media for the first time began openly calling for the firing of GM Rick Hahn.