Chicago White Sox break 2003 Detroit Tigers' AL record of 119 losses
The 2003 Detroit Tigers are off the proverbial historical hook.
The Tigers' American League record of 119 losses was broken Sunday by the anemic 2024 Chicago White Sox. The White Sox coughed up an eighth-inning lead in a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. The loss also tied the White Sox with the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern MLB history. The White Sox are also on pace to set the MLB record for worst winning percentage; their .231 mark is just behind the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics' .235 (36-117). Chicago would need to win three more games to finish with a .241 winning percentage.
The White Sox are 36-120 with six games remaining; they face the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series in Chicago on Tuesday-Thursday, then finish the season with three games against the Tigers in Detroit.
The 2003 Tigers, managed by franchise great Alan Trammell, finished 43-119, 47 games behind the AL Central Division winner Minnesota Twins (90-72). Current Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was a catcher on the 2003 team, appearing in 27 games and batting .203.
The Padres scored three runs in the eighth to erase a 2-1 deficit and sweep the White Sox. Luis Arraez hit a tying double, Jurickson Profar hit a sacrifice fly for the lead, and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run for the final advantage.
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Hinch, in his fourth season as Tigers manager, has led Detroit to the precipice of its first playoff berth in 10 years, and on Sunday secured the first winning season since 2016.
Marlowe Alter is a Sports Assistant Editor at the Detroit Free Press. Email him at: malter@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chicago White Sox break 2003 Detroit Tigers AL record of 119 losses
