The White Sox entered September of 2026 in rarefied air for them, in first place. This is an unfortunately rare accomplishment for the franchise, who have only led the division on September 1st 8 times since 2000. Here is where they have been every year on September 1st and where they untimely finished.
2026: 1st place (72-65) Up 3 G on Cleveland, Ultimate finish: TBD
2025: 5th place (50-88) 29.5 GB, Ultimate finish: 5th place (60-102) 28 GB.
2024: 5th place (31-107) 47.5 GB, Ultimate finish: 5th place (41-121) 51.5 GB. Honestly how did we survive this year?
2023: 4th place (53-82) 17 GB, Ultimate finish: 4th place (61-101) 26 GB.
2022: 3rd place (65-66) 4 GB, Ultimate finish: 2nd place (81-81) 11 GB.
2021: 1st place (78-56) up 10 G on Cleveland, Ultimate finish: Division Champs (93-69). Won by 13 Games.
2020: 1st place (22-14) tied w Cleveland, Ultimate finish: 3rd place (35-25) 1GB. Won Wild Card
2019: 3rd place (60-76) 24 GB, Ultimate finish: 3rd place (72-89) 28.5 GB.
2018: 4th place (54-82) 23.5 GB, Ultimate finish: 4th place (62-100) 29 GB
2017: 5th place (52-81) 25.5 GB, Ultimate Finish: 4th place (67-95) 35 GB.
2016: 4th place (63-70) 13.5 GB, Ultimate finish: 4th place (78-84) 16.5 GB.
2015: 4th place (61-69) 18.5 GB, Ultimate finish: 4th place (76-86) 19 GB.
2014: 4th place (62-76) 13 GB, Ultimate finish: 4th place (73-89) 17GB.
2013: 5th place (56-79) 23 GB, Ultimate finish: 5th place (63-99) 30 GB.
2012: 1st place (72-60) up 1 G on DET, Ultimate finish: 2nd place (85-77) 3GB.
2011: 2nd place (68-66) 5.5 GB, ultimate finish: 3rd place (79-83) 16 GB c
2010: 2nd place (73-60) 4 GB, ultimate finish: 2nd place (88-74) 6 GB.
2009: 3rd place (64-69) 7 GB, ultimate finish: 3rd place (79-83) 7.5 GB.
2008: 1st place (77-60) tied with Minnesota: Ultimate finish: Division Champions (89-74). Won tiebreaker.
2007: 5th place (57-79) 21.5 GB, ultimate finish: 4th place (72-90) 24 GB.
2006: 2nd place (78-56) 5.5 GB, ultimate finish: 3rd place (92-70) 6 GB.
2005: 1st place (81-51) up 7.5 G on Cleveland, ultimate finish: Season cancelled -ESPN.
2004: 3rd place (65-66) 8.5 GB, ultimate finish: 2nd place (83-79) 9 GB
2003: 1st place (73-64) up 2 G on KC, ultimate finish: 2nd place (86-76) 4 GB.
2002: 2nd place (66-70) 13 GB, ultimate finish: 2nd place (81-81) 13.5 GB.
2001: 3rd place (68-66) 8.5 GB, ultimate finish: 3rd place (83-79) 8 GB
2000: 1st place (80-54) up 7.5 G on Cleveland, Ultimate finish: Division Champions (95-67) won by 5 G.
As seen from the list, the Sox have lead the division on 9/1 7 times previous since the turn or the century. Of those:
Twice they have missed the playoffs (2012, 2003)
Once the failed to win the division but made the wild card (2020)
Four times they won the division (2000, 2005, 2008, 2021)
Historical odds seem to favor that the Sox will at least make the playoffs. Curious your thoughts? I know this whole season the 2012 collapse has been in the back of my head, but I would really like to believe this is more like 2021 than 2012.