The 2008 Chicago White Sox season was the organization's 109th season in Chicago and 108th in the American League. The White Sox won the American League Central division title for the first time since 2005. They finished the regular season tied with the Minnesota Twins (88–74) and won a one-game playoff for the division title. They subsequently lost the 2008 American League Division Series to Tampa Bay Rays.
Individual highlights for the White Sox included the breakout season of offseason acquisition Carlos Quentin and the strong rookie season of infielder Alexei Ramírez. Gavin Floyd nearly threw a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins on May 6, broken up by Joe Mauer's double in the ninth inning. The White Sox set a new home record at U.S. Cellular Field of 54–28 (.658 pct.) breaking the 2003 home record of 51–30 (.629 pct.).
Finishing fourth in the American League Central division coupled with having both MLB's lowest batting average and on-base percentage in 2007 prompted the White Sox to make numerous transactions, particularly with West Coast teams, to improve their lineup.
Infielder Juan Uribe re-signed with the White Sox for a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Infielder Orlando Cabrera was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for starting pitcher Jon Garland.
Relief pitcher Scott Linebrink was signed to a four-year contract worth $19 million.
Outfielder Carlos Quentin was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Minor League infielder Chris Carter.
Infielder Alexei Ramírez, a former Cuban baseball player, signed with the White Sox.
Nick Swisher was acquired from the Oakland Athletics for three Minor League prospects: pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Fautino de los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.
Octavio Dotel, former reliever for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, was signed to a two-year contract for $11 million.
Other players no longer with the team from the 2007 season are Alex Cintrón, Darin Erstad (signed with Houston), Andy González, Mike Myers, Heath Phillips, Scott Podsednik, and Luis Terrero.
Two coaching staff changes were made, with the hiring of Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Jeff Cox and bullpen coach Juan Nieves. Cox replaces Razor Shines, while Nieves replaces Art Kusnyer.
14–13
On April 13 against the Detroit Tigers, the Sox hit two grand slams in a game, ones by Paul Konerko and Joe Crede. It is the third time in White Sox history to hit two grand slams in a game, first time since May 19, 1996 when Darin Lewis and Robin Ventura homered at Detroit. The first time was September 4, 1995 when Ventura hit two grand slams in one game at Texas.
16–13
On May 6 against the Minnesota Twins, Gavin Floyd nearly threw a no-hitter, when Joe Mauer hit a double in the ninth inning with 1 out. The only run the Sox allowed was unearned, on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kubel in the fourth inning. The Sox held on for a 6–1 victory. If Gavin Floyd had thrown a no-hitter then it would have been the second of three consecutive seasons that the White Sox threw one, succeeding Mark Buehrle in 2007 and preceding Mark Buehrle's perfect game in 2009.
Had AJ Pierzynski got no hitter he would have 5 no hitters 3 with white sox one with Texas Rangers one with Braves
17–10
On June 5 drafted University of Georgia SS Gordon Beckham with the 8th overall pick.
13–12
On July 31, the day of the trade deadline, the White Sox trade relief pitcher Nick Masset and minor leaguer 2nd baseman Danny Richar for Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds.
17–11
On August 5 against the Detroit Tigers, in the top 14, Tigers scored two runs via two-run home run by Plácido Polanco, which made it 8–6. Then in the bottom 14, Sox came back with four via reaching on error by Jermaine Dye and then a walk-off three-run homer by Nick Swisher, which made it 10–8.
On August 14 against the Kansas City Royals, the Sox hit four consecutive home runs in the sixth inning. The player in batting order who hit home runs are Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramírez, and then Juan Uribe. It is the first time that the White Sox hit four consecutive home runs in an inning and sixth time in MLB history, first since April 22, 2007 when Boston Red Sox belted four consecutive home runs in an inning. The Sox swept the Royals with the final score of 9–2.
12–15
The Sox faced three different teams in three consecutive games for the third time in MLB history (the White Sox and Cleveland Indians each having done so in September 2000). The Sox won all three games, the regularly scheduled season finale against the Cleveland Indians, a game against the Detroit Tigers that had been rescheduled from earlier in the month due to rain, and the tiebreaker game against the Minnesota Twins. Having won, they then faced a fourth team in the next game to begin the playoffs.
The team's first month with a losing record in the entire 2008 season. The month was highlighted with the AL Central Tiebreaker which took place at U.S. Cellular Field on the 30th versus The Minnesota Twins. The White Sox organization called on its fans who went to the game to wear all black, there was almost 100% participation, they called the game "the blackout" game.
1–3
The 2008 playoffs saw the White Sox square off with the Tampa Bay Rays in a matchup of the 2nd and 3rd seeds. The White Sox started Javier Vázquez in game 1. Rays rookie Evan Longoria hit 2 home runs in a 6–4 win for Tampa. Mark Buehrle started game 2 which saw the White Sox unable to hold an early lead, eventually losing 6–4. For games 3 and 4, the series moved to Chicago. The Sox took game 3 by the score of 5–3, with John Danks getting the victory. The Chicago crowd continued the new "blackout" tradition. But the Rays proved to be too much for the Sox in game 4, winning 6–2 and taking the series 3 games to 1.
Season standings
The Chicago White Sox claim their second A.L Central Championship in the last four years.
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Great Falls
The 2008 White Sox became the first team to ever win their last three regular season games, against three different opponents.
