For Sox, maybe Cubs weren't the issue

In baseball, more so than other sports, some teams transcend the majority. It may be that they have had unbelievable success. Or perhaps a long, colorful history. They might play in a vintage ball park. And they may represent a major city. It might be their rabid fan base than makes them known. And draw in out-of-towners to enhance that base. That select group would include the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Cardinals. And maybe the Dodgers. But the vast majority of MLB teams are just working class Joes. Their success in the box office is highly dependent on their success on the field. When theyÂ're playing well, people come out to see them play in droves; when theyÂ're not, there may be quite a view games with empty upper decks. The White Sox are part of the majority. And for all our analysis of the Sox and how they compare with the Cubs (NL vs. AL, North Side vs. South, Wrigley vs. Cell, Tribune vs. Reinsdorf, white collar vs. blue, etc.), perhaps we lose sight of the fact that interest in the White Sox and the attendance they generate puts them methaphorically in the Â"same ball parkÂ" with most other MLB franchises. Look, the Cubs will put asses in the seat no matter where they are in the standings with yuppies and a whole slew of young adults who are going to have Budweiser fun at the old ball park no matter how the Cubs are playing. Out -of-towners stream into town and want to see Wrigley. For Cub interest and Cub attendance, throw out the records. They draw. Just like Boston. But most MLB teams (including the Sox) cannot rely on Cub cuteness to draw. Most are like you and me....we need to experience success to be successful. So with the Cubs aside, how can you explain the weak interest in the Sox down through the years? No AL team has gone as long without a WS championship as the Sox in 1917. Since 1959 virtually every AL team has appeared in the WS with the exceptions of Tampa Bay, Texas, and Seattle (which didnÂ't even exist in 1959. In fact, out of MLB's sixteen original francises, the only one who has gone longer without a WS appearance is the Cubs. ThatÂ's futility, folks. With no ivy, absense of lights, or cool lakefront neighborhood to soften the blow. This is, however, is a new day. The Sox won a pennant and whether they play the Cards or Astros, you know they will be damned competive in the series. And even without a world championship, next yearÂ's season ticket sales and interest in the team will be exceedingly high. If the Sox have really turned a corner, they wonÂ't have to look at the Cubs through their rear view mirrors. Like any other of that vast majority of baseball teams, success on the field will translate into success at the box office. No matter what happens on the North Side of Chicago.>