Chicago Dreams of a World Series Between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox

This year marks 100 years of Chicago Cubs baseball without a World Series championship and 63 years since the Cubs have even been to a World Series. On the south side of Chicago, the Chicago White Sox won a World Series in 2005, but 1917 was their last World Series win previous to that. With all of the baseball futility in the city of Chicago, it would be wonderful if the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox could both find a way into the World Series this year. Such an occurrence would be similar to the 2000 World Series between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. The difference would be the monumental amount of disappointment that Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox baseball has inflicted on the city of Chicago over the last 100 years.

The only time the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs have met in the World Series was in 1906. The Chicago White Sox beat the Chicago Cubs for the championship four games to two in the first World Series appearance for either club. The Chicago Cubs had been the favorite as they led major league baseball in wins with 116 and won the next two World Series despite losing this World Series to the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago Cubs (the "lovable losers") have two World Series championships (1907 and 1908) in ten World Series appearances. As of this article, the Chicago Cubs have a five game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers and appear to have the better chance of the two Chicago baseball teams to make the World Series.

With strong pitching and a good offense, the Chicago Cubs have more talent than the club has had in a very long time. With the acquisition of pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland A's, the Chicago Cubs strengthened an already good pitching staff. They appear to have a clear path to the postseason, and should have a good chance to advance in the postseason with their starting pitching.

On the other side of Chicago, the Chicago White Sox have more World Series championships (3) than the Cubs in half as many World Series appearances. Before their World Series win in 2005, the Chicago White Sox were last in the World Series in 1959 and last won in 1917.

The Chicago White Sox have a very slim one game lead over the hot Minnesota Twins. The pitching in the first half of the season for the Chicago White Sox was stellar. However, the White Sox pitchers have not pitched nearly as well since the All-Star break. In addition, the Chicago White Sox offense has been inconsistent all season long. The acquisition of Ken Griffey Jr. may help. Then again, it may not. In either case, the Chicago White Sox will need improved pitching and offense to maintain their lead in the division.

The odds are stacked against the possibility, but it would be karmic payback for the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox to meet in the 2008 World Series. Both teams and their fan bases have suffered too much over the past 100 years of Chicago baseball. The only possible downside of a "subway" series between the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs would be the polarization of the city by team affiliation for the duration of the World Series. However, that would be a small price that the city of Chicago would surely pay to see its two baseball teams face off in the World Series.

Sources:
Baseball Almanac
Wikipedia
ESPN.com