The 2024 Chicago White Sox might be the team that surpasses the 1962 New York Mets as the worst team in modern baseball history. The 1962 Mets were 40-120. After 24 games, the White Sox are 3-21, which translates to a 20-142 record over 162 games. Forget the 1962 Mets \u2013 such a record would be worse than even the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. Yes, it\u2019s early in the season. But nothing is pointing to a fast turnaround, or any kind of turnaround, for the Chisox.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, where the 1962 Mets were a lovable underdog, the White Sox are generally detested by their fans, if social media is any indication. The White Sox are the only large market team in a relatively weak division, in a league that gives a disproportionate advantage to large market teams. Their fans find it unconscionable that their team could be so bad.<\/p>\n
In contrast, the Mets were an expansion team with low expectations. The day before their home opener, the Mets were given a parade in New York. The parade stopped at the steps of City Hall. It was there with the entire team present that attorney William Shea, who was instrumental in getting the expansion team for New York, asked for patience until they could get some good players.<\/p>\n
The Mets hired New York Yankee legend Casey Stengel<\/a> to be their first manager. The Houston Colt .45s (today the Astros) entered the National League in 1962 as well. Both teams selected unprotected players from the other 18 major league teams in the 1961 expansion draft. With their first pick in the draft, the Mets chose catcher Hobie Landrith<\/a>. Asked to explain the choice, Stengel said, \u201cYou gotta have a catcher or you\u2019re gonna have a lot of passed balls.\u201d Of another catcher, Greg Goossen<\/a>, Stengel said, \u201cHe\u2019s 20 years old and in 10 years, he\u2019s got a chance to be 30\u201d. The Mets had two pitchers named Bob Miller<\/a>. They were differentiated in box scores by their middle initials. Mets fans called Bob L. Miller the \u201cbetter\u201d Bob Miller. Stengel called Bob G. Miller \u201cNelson.\u201d While the Mets finished 40-120, Houston drafted smarter and finished 64-96.
\n