About a month ago, I reviewed the tough starts faced by the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox, comparing their historical standings and current trajectories. Since then, the White Sox have seen some improvement—not great, but better—while the Rockies have unfortunately slipped further.
The Rockies currently hold a 9-50 record this season, having been swept by the New York Mets recently. This marks 50 losses before reaching 10 wins, starting with a dreadful 1932 season when the Boston Red Sox lost badly early on. The Rockies are now just one loss shy of that historic low mark, tracking towards an astonishing 137 losses.
In contrast, the White Sox improved from 8-23 to 18-41, boosting their winning percentage from .258 to .305, but they are still projected to lose about 113 games. While this is progress, it remains far from satisfactory.
Here are the ten worst modern-era records by losses from 1901 to 2024, with the White Sox currently holding the worst loss record at 41-121 (.253 win percentage):
1. 2024 Chicago White Sox: 41-121, .253 W%
2. 1962 New York Mets: 40-120, .250 W%
3. 2003 Detroit Tigers: 43-119, .265 W%
4. 1916 Philadelphia Athletics: 36-117, .235 W%
5. 2018 Baltimore Orioles: 47-115, .290 W%
5. 1935 Boston Braves: 38-115, .248 W%
7. 2019 Detroit Tigers: 47-114, .292 W%
8. 1904 Washington Senators: 38-113, .252 W%
9. 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates: 42-112, .273 W%
9. 2023 Auckland Athletics: 50-112, .308 W%
9. 1965 New York Mets: 50-112, .308 W%
(Note: Differences in rankings occur due to varying season lengths before the 162-game schedule was introduced in 1961.)
It’s unlikely the Rockies will avoid joining this infamous list by season’s end, while the White Sox, despite improvements, must still lose at least 113 games to make it. May brought some steadiness for the White Sox, helped by pitchers like Shaun Burke, who posted a 2.73 ERA over five starts.
The Rockies, however, worsened their standing after being 6-25 a month ago, doubling their losses with only three additional wins. Although they may not reach 137 losses, their performance points toward a continuation of historically poor play.
Examining win percentages offers further insight into team standings:
Top 10 worst records by winning percentage (1901-2024):
1. 1916 Philadelphia Athletics: 36-117, .235 W%
2. 1935 Boston Braves: 38-115, .248 W%
3. 1962 New York Mets: 40-120, .250 W%
4. 1904 Washington Senators: 38-113, .252 W%
5. 2024 Chicago White Sox: 41-121, .253 W%
6. 1919 Philadelphia Athletics: 36-104, .257 W%
7. 2003 Detroit Tigers: 43-119, .265 W%
8. 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates: 42-112, .273 W%
9. 1909 Washington Senators: 42-110, .276 W%
10. 1942 Philadelphia Phillies: 42-109, .278 W%
The Rockies have a .158 win rate, leaving some theoretical room above the historical low of the 1916 Athletics. The White Sox, buoyed by May’s performance, have generally avoided sinking further but remain vulnerable.
Other MLB teams are also struggling, like the Athletics, who were 20-16 on May 5th but fell to 3-21 afterward, pacing toward 100 losses. The Orioles, Pirates, and Marlins also risk reaching troubling loss totals this season. Historically, having five teams lose 100 games in one MLB season is unprecedented, yet it’s a possibility this year.
While there’s still much of the season left and room for change, the Rockies and White Sox situations carry significant historical and competitive implications that fans and analysts alike should monitor as the year progresses.
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Fan Take: This ongoing battle at the bottom of the standings highlights the challenges some franchises face in rebuilding and competing in MLB. For fans, this story underscores the importance of patience and hope, as even teams in historic slumps can turn things around and reinvigorate the sport’s competitive spirit.
