2020 Chicago White Sox season

2020 Chicago White Sox
American League Wild Card Winners
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionCentral
BallparkGuaranteed Rate Field
CityChicago
Record35–25 (.583)
Divisional place3rd
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
General managersRick Hahn
ManagersRick Renteria
TelevisionNBC Sports Chicago
NBC Sports Chicago+
(Jason Benetti, Steve Stone, Tom Paciorek, Tony Graffanino)
RadioWGN-AM
Chicago White Sox Radio Network
(Andy Masur, Darrin Jackson)
WRTO-AM (Spanish)
(Hector Molina, Billy Russo)
StatsESPN.com
Baseball Reference
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The 2020 season was the Chicago White Sox' 121st season in Chicago and 120th in the American League. The Sox played their home games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[3]

Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.[4] On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders on the season would be seven innings.[5]

On April 1, 2020, longtime White Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer died at the age of 70.[6]

On September 17, with a win against the Minnesota Twins, the White Sox clinched their first playoff spot since 2008. This was their first winning season since 2012. They lost in three games to the Oakland Athletics in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series.

  1. ^ Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. ^ Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "MLB reduces doubleheaders to 7 innings for '20". ESPN.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "White Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer dies". NBC Sports Chicago. April 2, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.