Indians-White Sox rivalry

The Indians-White Sox rivalry started in 1901 when the two teams joined the American League and Major League Baseball. The two teams have ten 1/2 finishes which is just one short of the famed Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. The two cities are six hours apart and are both lakefront cities. The two teams are now in the American League Central.
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Predivisional era
The Indians and the White Sox played the first game and series in their histories against each other with the White Sox winning the first game and the four game series. In 1906 the Indians and the White Sox played in their first pennant race with the White Sox winning the A.L pennant and the 1906 World Series. The White Sox defeated the Indians in the A.L Standings by five games and the Indians were in 3rd place. The two teams were reasonably competitive the next year with the White Sox 5.5 games behind the Tigers for the A.L pennant and the Indians were eight games behind the Tigers for the A.L pennant. In 1908 was when the three midwestern teams in the American league (Cleveland,Detroit,Chicago) were in a pennant race with each other with the Tigers winning the A.L pennant while Cleveland was only 0.5 games behind Detroit and Chicago was 1.5 games behind the Tigers. Also in 1908 was arguably on of the great pitching duels of all time when the White Sox Ed Walsh Struck out 15 batters but lost because Addie Joss of Cleveland pitched a no-hit perfect game. In 1919 the White Sox won the A.L pennant by 3.5 games over the Indians only to go on to lost the 1919 World Series which was the series associated with the Black Sox Scandal and Shoeless Joe Jackson also played for Cleveland in 1910-1915 before going to the White Sox. Also the next year the Indians would get revenge by winning the A.L pennant over the White Sox by two games and would go on to win the 1920 World Series. The White Sox would struggle the next thirty years as the Cleveland Indians wouldn't win another A.L pennant until 1948 which was the last World Series victory for the Indians to date. In 1952 the Indians were 2 games behind the Yankees for the A.L pennant while the Chicago White Sox were 14 games behind. In 1953 the Indians were 8.5 games behind the Yankees for the A.L pennant while the White Sox were 11.5 games behind the Yankees. In 1954 the Indians won 111 games winning the A.L pennant while the White Sox won 94 games but were 17 games behind the Indians and in third place. In 1955 the Indians were three games behind the Yankees in the A.L pennant race while the White Sox were five games behind the Yankees.In 1959 Chicago would finish five games over Cleveland in the A.L pennant race to go on to the 1959 World Series. The rivalry would be on hiatus in 1969-1993 while the two teams were in opposite divisions.
1994-2001 the rivalry intensifies and the corked bat incident
See Also: 1994 Cleveland Indians corked bat incident
In 1994 the rivalry would intensify for the next several years. In a game in July Albert Belle was batting and Gene Lamont the White Sox manager told the umpires that Belle's bat was corked which later the umpires put the bat in the umpire's room at U.S Cellular Field. Meanwhile the Indians, who knew the bat was corked sent Jason Grimsley into the clubhouse and he went into the are above the false ceiling and went into the umpire's room with a flashlight in his mouth to steal the bat from the umpire's room and replaced it with a bat that belonged to Paul Sorrento and his bat was not corked.The White Sox were one game ahead of the Indians in the strike-shortened season. The Indians in 1995 would win 100 games and the White Sox were 32 games behind and in 3rd place. In 1996 the White Sox were 14.5 games behind the Indians and in 2nd place. During the offseason Albert Belle bolted Cleveland to go to the White Sox which angered many Cleveland fans. During his return to Jacobs Field Indians fans threw fake money, ice and hot dogs on the field and the game was delayed twice. At the trade deadline later that year was the infamous White Flag Trade where the White Sox traded three of their best pitchers which angered White Sox fans. The White Sox were just 3.5 games behind the Indians when the trade happened and the Indians would win the Central by six games. In 1998 the Indians would win the A.L Central again finishing nine games ahead of the White Sox. In 1999 the Indians won the A.L Central again by 21.5 games. In 2000 Chicago would finally win an A.L Central pennant against the Indians defeating the Tribe by five games and Cleveland was one game behind the Mariners for the wild card. In 2001 the White Sox would finish eight games behind the Indians and in 3rd place behind the Indians and the Minnesota Twins.

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