Chicago White Sox championship history #postseason #worldseries

I waited until the end of the Cubs/Indians world series to post this. Before the Cubs won last night, the White Sox brought a world series victory to Chicago. It seemed to have been forgotten during the excitement over the Cubs.

Unfortunately I never worked on such a post when the Sox advanced to the World Series and then ultimately swept the Houston Astros. Over the years I did one for both the Bears and Black Hawks when they advanced to their respective World Championship rounds. So this post is really 11 years in the making.

Now with the success of the Cubs not only winning their first pennant in 71 years, but winning their first world series in 108 years. It's time to revisit the Sox who missed the playoffs this year and changed managers. Ironically the new manager is Rick Renteria who managed the Cubs in 2014 the season before Joe Maddon took the reins at Wrigley.

As a charter member of the American League which started in 1901, the Sox also won their first pennant that year. The world series as we know it began in 1903. Thus the Sox also won World Series titles in 1906, 1917, and of course 2005. In addition to 1901 they also won pennants in 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, and of course 2005.

As a side note in 1906, the Sox faced off against the Cubs in the World Series. The only year both teams faced off against each other in a crosstown world series. And the White Sox claimed their first world series victory in this series.

Also the 1919 White Sox team was the subject of the film Eight Men Out. That movie was basically a dramatization of the Black Sox Scandal which took place during the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnatti Reds. Needless to say eight Sox players were banned for life from baseball after an investigation.

In 1969, Major League Baseball had been realigned where each league had been broken up into two divisions. Each division winner would play in an League Championship Series to determine who will play in the World Series.

By 1995, the major leagues would also be re-aligned again with three divisions per league and an extra round in the baseball postseason - League Division Series. Three division winners or those who clinched division titles with a wild card team with that round determining who advances to the ALCS (or conversely NLCS). In 2012 MLB created another round a one-game playoff between two wild card teams where one will advance to the ALDS (or NLDS).

Since 1969, the White Sox have won division titles in 1983, 1993, 2000, 2005, and 2008. The Sox as of yet have never clinched a wild card berth in the baseball postseason.

Also since we broached the subject of a crosstown series between Cubs and Sox. In 2003 the Cubs and Sox were close to both securing a berth in the postseason, unfortunately the south siders fell out of contention. The Cubs would enjoy a memorable run in 2003 even if they fell short.

In 2008, however, both teams were in the postseason winning their central division in their respective leagues. Unfortunately both teams were eliminated after their respective league division series.

The period between White Sox world series titles had been 88 years between 1917 and 2005. Between world series appearances had been 46 years between 1959 and 2005. Not nearly as long of a drought as the Cubs, however, the Sox were the first to bring a major league world series title back to Chicago.

108 years of waiting is over #cubs #postseason #flythew

71 years of waiting for an NL pennant ended last month. Now 108 years for a World Series championship is over. In 10 innings the Cubs scored the final out in Cleveland against the Indians and clinched a title over a century in waiting. It was a back and forth game between the Indians and Cubs both teams seemed to have wanted it, but in the end it was the Cubs.

2016 as it turns out IS their year!!!

BTW, tomorrow to honor the Chicago White Sox who 11 years ago brought their own world series title back to Chicago I will post a championship history for them. The first Chicago championship history written on this blog was for the Bears. I had the time not sure why it wasn't done in 2005 well they get one now!

For now this blog will "fly the w" for the Cubs. Formally a Cubs world series image will be shown on the blog eventually. Perhaps within the next day or so.

World Series Champions. #FlyTheW

A photo posted by cubs (@cubs) on Nov 2, 2016 at 9:47pm PDT

Onto Game 6 #flythew #postseason

Cleveland vs. Chicago MLB World Series after game 5 at Wrigley Field baseball fans learned one thing. It's not over yet!!! Cubs stave off a Cleveland world series win 3-2 on Sunday night. Series is now at 3-2 Cleveland. Back to the former Jacob's Field (Progressive Field) on Tuesday at 8 PM.

Steve Goodman: A Dying #Cubs Fan's Last Request #postseason #flythew

[VIDEO] A nice song by the late Steve Goodman. The response to this song caused him to write the Cubs anthem - Go Cubs Go - you may hear at Wrigley Field after Cubs victories, especially if you're actually there at a game also when you watch a TV broadcast.

Goodman unfortunately would die of cancer in September 1984, that year the Cubs faced the San Diego Padres and would lose the NLCS that year and went the full five games. Up until 1985, the NLCS was best three out of five games.

All the same this silly but somewhat sad song has a new meaning as there have been generations of Cubs fans who have been waiting for a Cubs world series. They got one and now they hope of a long time in coming world series victory.

We shall see as game 1 of the 2016 world series against another long suffering team - Cleveland Indians - will start Tuesday night.

In the meanwhile I can only hope that Mr. Goodman is smiling from the stars especially when the Cubs clinched the National League pennant!

I want to refer you to the last two posts regarding the Cubs. The first is the championship history of the Cubs which dates all the way back to the founding of the National League in 1876. Then there is another post and my history of Cubs fandom.

Chicago #Cubs championship history #postseason

I've done it for both the Bears and Black Hawks and with the latest success of the Chicago Cubs it's time to do one for them too. I started this post last year when the Cubs lost in the NLCS swept by the NY Mets. This year in the NLCS they face the LA Dodgers and have earned their spot in the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians!

Besides we expect so much from Theo Epstein who also catapulted another so-called cursed team the Boston Red Sox to several three world series titles in this century. The Red Sox before 2004 had last won it all in 1918.

As for the Cubs needless to say they last won it all in 1908, their only other title was the year before in 1907. So it'll be 108 years since the Cubs last won it all as of 2016. That's quite a title drought.

For the Red Sox their curse was as the result of them trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919. The curse of the bambino saw the Yankees begin their rise to success in baseball to the point where today they're a valuable sports franchise.

Now 71 years ago a man wanted to take his goat to Wrigley Field but was denied. While accounts vary how the curse came to be the Cubs still haven't won a world series since 1908 nor have they appeared in one since 1945.

So the Cubs haven't won it all in 108 years and the last world series appearance was 1945. What years have the Cubs also won the National League Championship? Keep in mind the world series as we know it has  existed since 1903 and the National League started in 1876 which predates the first world series.

So the Cubs NL pennants according to Wikipedia are 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885, 1886, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, & 1945. 1906 is the year of Chicago's only - so far - crosstown world series and the Chicago White Sox won their first world series that year.

In addition the  Cubs have also won division titles in 1984, 1989, 2003, 2007, 2008 & 2016. Won wild card berths in 1998 & 2015. It was a big deal in 2003 & 2015 that the Cubs were successful in advancing in the MLB playoffs although they still haven't quite sealed the deal on making the "fall classic".

Now before 1969, the AL and NL pennant winners were largely determined by who won the most games during the course of the season. Thus the two winningest teams in either league get to play in the World Series. Then in 1969 is the creation of the League Championship Series where the two division winners in each league play in a best of five until 1985 after that year best of seven.

In 1993 Major League Baseball approved the League Divison Series which is a best of five to be played before the League Championship Series. Also with the new playoff format each league has a wild card berth for the fourth ranked team. With the new playoff format each league has three division winners and one wild card with the best record who isn't a division winner.

In 2012, MLB started another round of the baseball postseason a one-game wild card playoff. In 2015 the Cubs played in the wild card playoff against the Pittsburgh Pirates which they won. And in 2016, the Cubs played against the San Francisco Giants who won the wild card playoff against NY Mets.

During the 2015 playoff run of the Cubs people kept bringing up the Steve Bartman episode of 2003 and some sports fans haven't allowed the Cubs to live down the 1969 collapse against the  NY Mets. As a Cubs fan I look forward to the day when they live down those low points once and for all!

In 2016, the Cubs have decidedly kicked the "curse of the goat". Now best wishes to the Cubs for the MLB world series! Here's the schedule for the world series against the Indians.

The Chicago Cubs are going to the World Series! #FlyTheW

A photo posted by cubs (@cubs) on Oct 22, 2016 at 7:45pm PDT

#Cubs win

I barely paid attention to this baseball season, but have heard how well the Cubs this year winning over 100 games. Never had the opportunity to see most of those wins, but elated to see them edge the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS this year.

Having lost game three in San Francisco in extra innings the Cubs came back to beat the Giants tonight. Having seen the score at 5-2, Giants I decided it wasn't looking too good. Then later learned that the Cubs won game four in San Francisco.

I think about 1989 when the Cubs was blanked by the Giants in the NLCS - back in 1989 there were two divisions per league and whoever won their respective divisions played in the NLCS. Regardless I had that in mind during the recent playoffs. I'm ecstatic to learn that the Cubs didn't repeat that performance.

Now the next question is who will we play for the National League pennant.

Cubs face Mets on Saturday in the NLCS

Last night I found out the Cubs are facing the NY Mets in their first National League Championship Series since 2003. When the Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates last week to move on the NLDS it was a big deal because this was another notch in winning a playoff series.

The deal is the Cubs haven't had much success in the playoffs although starting in 1984 (with other playoff appearances in 1989, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008 and of course 2015) the Cubs have been going to the postseason on rare occasions. Before 1984 - when they couldn't get past San Diego Padres in the NLCS -  the Cubbies last postseason appearance was in the 1945 world series.

2003 was exciting to see the Cubs advance in their first postseason series since the playoff format began in 1969. At first two division winners in each league played in their respective league's championship series and then in 1995 a wild card team play against division winners in a best 3 out of 5 to play in their respective league's championship series. Now the current format is a one-game wild card playoff with the winner advancing to their respective league's division series and then their respective league's championship series.

And just think prior to 1969 the only way to advance to the world series was to win the pennant in each league. The Cubs had done that as recently as 1945 which was as stated the last time they appeared in a world series.

In spite of this talk of "Doc Brown" wanting to throw the first pitch in a possible Cubs world series or even bringing back former Cubs legend Sammy Sosa who also wants to throw a first pitch for now I'll just settle for a Cubs NL pennant. 2003 was a great season for the Cubs and they have always been a successful team in spite of what happened in Wrigleyville during the NLCS they will always have a place in my memories. But if they're successful in the 2015 NLCS here's hoping 2003 will just be a not more than a memory and we can also put the last 70 years to rest.

Back to the Future and the Cubs

Jake Arrieta spins shutout, Schwarber and @dexfowler homer as #Cubs advance to #NLDS. #FlyTheW

A photo posted by cubs (@cubs) on Oct 7, 2015 at 9:20pm PDT

I had the great fortune of seeing the Cubs in the 9th inning clinch the NL Wild Card in 2015. Since it is 2015 we're also talking about the "prediction" that this Cubs will win the World Series in 2015. Wow!

Even the screenwriter for Back to the Future 2 is starting to realize how a joke may be taken seriously. But even he owns up to how he thought it was unlikely yet if the Cubs win it all this year he becomes a visionary.

Go Cubs Go

So I hear the Cubs are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They're going but will they have a wild card spot or could they win the NL center? Time will tell but we're about a week or so away from the end of the baseball season.

On Saturday they lost their game against Pittsburgh but they still had a celebration at their clubhouse at Wrigley Field.

Just think as of this season it will have been 70 years since the Cubs have even won the pennant. I'm hoping for great success in the playoffs this year. Looking forward to following them in the playoffs.

#HawksWin Puck Dynasty

I saw the final period of last night's game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lighting. Today we learned that the Black Hawks won the cup on home ice for the first time since their second Stanley Cup victory in 1938.

It was cool to see the cup come home in Chicago. The last two times the cup was won by the Hawks it had been in Philadelphia and Boston respectively.

I never would've thought in years that the Hawks would have a cup dynasty in this decade. Surely Black Hawks fans would've just hoped for at least one in their lifetime, but three in six seasons is just incredible. Been waiting a longtime myself as a fan and it didn't just happen once it happened thrice. We can say dynasty akin to the Bull's dynasty of the 1990s.

Just think that I gave up the last few minutes of Monday Night Raw to see another cup come to Chicago. It's not like anything was missed that I couldn't catch up to later.

Now to the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Two teams who aren't know for championship success with one team - Cleveland Cavaliers  - never having won NBA title facing a team - Golden State Warriors -  who has had that success. And the Warriors are up by a game in that series!

#Hawkswin

[AUDIO] Tonight the Chicago Black Hawks have returned to the Stanley Cup finals with their game seven victory over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks winning 5-3. In honor of this victory I share the Chicago Black Hawks fight song that had been shared here back in 2010.

In 2010 the Hawks won their first Stanley Cup in almost 50 years defeating the Philadelphia Flyers and in 2013 the Hawks won another cup against the Boston Bruins!

#Blackhawks beat the #Blues #becauseitsthecup

GO BLACK HAWKS

The image you see above I often posted whenever the Black Hawks posted a victory in the playoffs in 2010. Usually it was done after a win in an individual game but usually it was posted when the Hawks finally one a playoff series. So now it's makes it's return to this blog.

So on Sunday, the Chicago Black Hawks have beaten the St. Louis Blues and the series ends at 4 games to 2. In keeping with another playoff tradition involving the Hawks it's time for more game highlights. The first three games were already posted, now to post the last three.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Game 4 @ Chicago [VIDEO]

Game 5 @ St. Louis [VIDEO]

Game 6 @ Chicago [VIDEO]

Black Hawks in the playoffs!

As has been a tradition in both of the Black Hawks' Stanley Cup wins in 2010 and 2014 it's time to start showing highlights of the playoff games. Unfortunately I haven't done a great job of following the Hawks during their playoff run so far. Still the Hawks were down by two games until their victory last night at the United Center last night over the St. Louis Blues. The earlier games were both determined with OT wins by the Blues.




Game 1 @ St. Louis [VIDEO]

Game 2 @ St. Louis [VIDEO]

Game 3 @ Chicago [VIDEO]

Chicago Black Hawks: 2013 Stanley Cup champions

Not long after the victory in Boston last night I posted a pic in the sidebar marking this accomplishment. So the Hawk won their 2nd Stanley Cup in four years in Boston. That brings that count up to 5 cups total for this original 6 franchise the last one was in 2010 of course and I was with them every step of the way back then and this time as well.

Below are highlights from games 5 & 6. The Hawks won this series in six games letting two games go against the Bruins. Alas they won this one away from home however better there than to possibly lose at home although we can't be thinking that way can we?

GAME 5 Bruins @ Hawks - Hawks win! [VIDEO]

 

GAME 6 Hawks @ Bruins - Hawks win Stanley Cup! [VIDEO]

Besides with great credit to the other original 6 team Boston Bruins they truly made this a series to remember. They didn't go down without a fight in the end it wasn't meant to be for them. If they had it would've been their second cup in four years as they had won it all in 2011.

Stanley Cup Final series tied

In Boston just like in Chicago, both teams were able to win a game on each team's home ice. In Boston, the Bruins won game three and then game four belonged to the Hawks in sudden death OT. The first two games of this series went into sudden death OT. In Game 3 the only non OT decided game, the Hawks were shutout.

In Game 4 OT, the winning goal was scored by Brent Seabrook. Game 4 was a real game and both teams were trading goals between each other.

Below are the highlights of Games 3 & 4 and game 5 will be played at the United Center with faceoff at about 7 PM Chicago time.

GAME 3 Hawks @ Bruins - Bruins win [VIDEO]

GAME 4 Hawks @ Bruins - Hawks win [VIDEO]

BTW, how about that NBA Finals Lebron the cocky punk got him another championship ring! Now that it's all over all eyes on the Stanley Cup final series!

Game 2 highlights Bruins @ Hawks

[VIDEO] Tonight's game in Boston sees the Stanley Cup Final series even at 1 game a piece between the Hawks and Bruins. Saturday's game once again went into OT with the Bruins' Daniel Paille scoring the game winning goal. Let's see if the Hawks can once again get ahead in this series tonight.

Alas I won't be able to watch this game tonight, hopefully I will have some highlights tomorrow. Hopefully in a much more timely fashion that these highlights.

Chicago defeats Boston in game one of Stanley Cup final series



[VIDEO] Here are the highlights from last night's game against the Boston Bruins at the United Center.  The Hawks won this game in sudden death triple OT. The winning goal was scored by Andrew Shaw. When I heard the call from Mike Emrick of NBC, I really paid attention because I almost expected this to go into another OT period.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

Chicago defeats LA to play for the Stanley Cup

Alright, the Western Conference Finals has concluded. The game at the United Center Saturday night went into double OT and ended with a Chicago 4 to 1 series victory and they advance to play against the Bruins for the Stanley Cup. It was a great game for certain! Patrick Kane scored the series winning goal in 2OT and it was the last of his "hat trick" scores.

A few nights ago the last post regarding the the first three games LA came back to win one. They made game 5 of this series a real game, but in the end the defending Cup champs fell short. The last two games which are Black Hawks victories are below.

GAME 4 - Hawks @ Kings - Hawks win! [VIDEO]

GAME 5 - Kings @ Hawks - Hawks win! [VIDEO]

BTW, the Chicago Black Hawks will face another original 6 franchise in the Boston Bruins. They swept the Pittburgh Penguins in their series Friday night to advance to the finals. The final four NHL teams in the playoffs had all won the Stanley Cup so two former champions with the Hawks in 2010 and Bruins in 2011 will faceoff for game 1 at the United Center on Wednesday at 7 PM CST.

Who will be the Stanley Cup champions of 2013?

NHL Conference Finals Hawks still up 2-1 against LA

I saw Tuesday night's game where the Black Hawks faced the LA Kings at the Staples Center. The highlight of the night was where the Hawks' Duncan Keith gave a high stick to the Kings' Jeff Carter. It was considered an accident with Keith attempting to apologize on ice, however, it didn't mean that a suspension wouldn't be handed out as he would be suspended for game 4 which will be played again tonight at the Staples Center in LA with a 8 PM faceoff.

In the meanwhile we should check out the last three games of this Conference Finals series. The winners of this round will play for the Stanley Cup.

GAME 1 Kings @ Hawks - Hawks win [VIDEO]

GAME 2 Kings @ Hawks - Hawks win [VIDEO]

GAME 3 Hawks @ Kings - Kings win [VIDEO]

What will game 4 bring this evening? We shall see if the Hawks will get a victory on the west coast!

Game 7 - Red Wings @ Hawks - Hawks win

[VIDEO] The Black Hawks are moving on to the Conference finals against the defending Stanley Cup champions LA Kings. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings last night at the United Center. The game went into sudden death overtime and it was Brent Seabrook that scored the series winning goal.

The Hawks were down 3-1 in the series against Detroit, but remarkably they were close to down for the count only to come back and eventually win game 7. So a 4-3 series victory for the Hawks and on to the next round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs!

The Hawks will host the Kings at the United Center on Saturday on June 1st with faceoff scheduled at 4 PM CST. In the Eastern Conference the Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Boston Bruins at the CONSOL Energy Center also on June 1st with a faceoff at 8 PM EST.

There are times like this where I wish I knew how to be a prognosticator. It has been noted by many sports fans that the Stanley Cup final four were the most recent Stanley Cup champs. The Kings in 2012, the Bruins in 2011, the Hawks in 2010, and the Penguins in 2009. This should be very interesting!