The struggle of being a White Sox fan at NT

Sox fans continue to be a minority in the hallways

Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, left, scuffles with Chicago White Sox's A.J Pierzynski after a collision between the two at home plate as White Sox's Scott Podsednik (22) comes in to break up the scuffle during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 20, 2006, in Chicago. The scuffle set off a bench-clearing brawl. Cubs pitcher Rich Hill stands at front. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, left, scuffles with Chicago White Sox’s A.J Pierzynski after a collision between the two at home plate as White Sox’s Scott Podsednik (22) comes in to break up the scuffle during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 20, 2006, in Chicago. The scuffle set off a bench-clearing brawl. Cubs pitcher Rich Hill stands at front. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Jake Freedman, Staff Reporter
April 29, 2016

Most consider the White Sox and Cubs to be the ultimate rivalry, but at New Trier, there is no contest which team has more support.
Sox fans at New Trier feel isolated and sometimes lonely. Junior Jacob Bleiweis said, “It feels like everyone I talk to is a Cubs fan, so it’s a big surprise when I find a White Sox fan.”

Although there are few Sox fans, the small community has a bond that Cubs fans cannot boast. English teacher Paul Easton, said, “There are a few hardcore, dedicated fans to the White Sox, and outside of New Trier, there are hundreds of thousands of White Sox fans, you run across them everywhere.”
Every year, the current staff and retired teachers board a bus down to U.S. Cellular field to take in a White Sox game. According to Easton, the trip ranges from 15-50 people, and the tradition has been going on for more than 30 years.

The White Sox were founded in 1900, 30 years after the Cubs. The Cubs won the World Series in 1907 and 1908, going back to back, after the White Sox won in 1906, against the Cubs.

Early on titles were coming quickly for both teams, but after the White Sox won in 1917, baseball in Chicago went on one of the longest title droughts ever, finally ending 88 years later when the Sox won the series in 2005.

The Cubs are still looking for their redemption, 107 years later.

The title drought may be why there has been so much excitement about the Cubs over the past year. “I think that a lot more Cubs fans have appeared recently due to their success,” Junior Charlie Keller said “The percentage of Cubs fans and Sox fans is about 90-10, but the percentage of real Sox fans to real Cubs fans is about 50-50.”

The success Keller is talking about is the Cubs making the playoffs last year for the first time since 2008 and winning a series, coming two steps away from making the World Series. There were noticeably more Cubs jerseys seen on opening day than in years past and for good reason.

Junior Tristan Jones said “It’s great to be a fan of the best team in baseball” while also saying “Sox fans must feel like they’re all alone. Cubs fans dominate New Trier.” The amount of excitement north siders show is seen in attendance numbers at Wrigley. According to espn.com, the Cubs averaged over 36,000 fans a game, good for sixth in the league, while the White Sox get about 22,000, 5th lowest in MLB.

Bleiweis, a self proclaimed avid Sox fan, said “It’s hard to be a White Sox fan at New Trier because you feel like every time you say something about them, ten Cubs fans are ready to tell you why the Cubs are better.”

While last year was a harsh one for Sox fans, this year is looking much better. Keller said “I’m excited about this year because we have a lot of new additions like Frazier and Lawrie.”

Both the Sox and Cubs are off to strong starts, creating excitement on both sides and hope for Sox fans that a rivalry can be restored at what is a Cubs dominated school right now.